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Abiotic plastic leaching contributes to ocean acidification
Cristina Romera-Castillo1, Arturo Lucas1, Rebeca Mallenco-Fornies1
1Instituto de Ciencias del Mar-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
The Science of the Total Environment
|September 13, 2022
Summary
Plastic degradation in oceans lowers seawater pH, especially with aged plastics and sunlight. This plastic leaching effect, releasing organic acids and CO2, significantly contributes to ocean acidification, particularly in coastal zones.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Oceanography
- Chemistry
Background:
- Ocean acidification and plastic pollution are critical planetary boundary threats.
- Surface ocean pH has dropped by 0.1 units since the Industrial Revolution.
- 13 million metric tonnes of plastic entered oceans in 2018, with both issues worsening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of plastic leaching on seawater inorganic chemistry.
- To quantify the pH decrease caused by abiotic plastic degradation.
- To assess the role of aged plastics and solar radiation in this process.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory experiments simulating abiotic plastic degradation in seawater.
- Analysis of pH changes in relation to plastic aging and solar radiation.
- Quantification of leached dissolved organic carbon and its correlation with acidification.
Main Results:
- Abiotic plastic degradation causes a decrease in seawater pH.
- Aged plastics and solar radiation significantly enhance this pH decrease.
- Higher dissolved organic carbon leaching correlates with increased ocean acidification.
- Coastal plastic accumulation could lower pH by up to 0.5 units.
Conclusions:
- Plastic leaching is a significant, understudied driver of ocean acidification.
- This effect is comparable to projected anthropogenic acidification by 2100.
- Mitigating plastic pollution is crucial for preserving ocean chemistry and ecosystems.
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