Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
10:16
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
49.6K
Environmental Markers of Plastics and Microplastics
Camila Q V Costa1, Inês I Afonso1, Joana Cruz1
1Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
Environmental Science & Technology
|April 30, 2024
Summary
Plastic microplastics (PE, PS, PVC) degrade into identifiable compounds on silica and sand. These markers, particularly from PE and PS, can be used to screen microplastic contamination in natural environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Polymer Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Plastics exhibit slow degradation rates but release harmful particles and compounds into ecosystems.
- Microplastic contamination from polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) poses environmental and health risks.
- Identifying degradation markers is crucial for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify compounds resulting from the chemical and photochemical degradation of PE, PS, and PVC microplastics.
- To evaluate the potential of these compounds as markers for screening microplastics on natural sand.
- To compare degradation product yields on silica versus natural sand.
Main Methods:
- Microplastics (PE, PS, PVC) were subjected to chemical oxidation and photo-irradiation on silica and sand.
- Degradation products were identified using targeted and untargeted liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS).
- Analysis focused on detecting specific dicarboxylic acids and aromatic compounds released by each polymer type.
Main Results:
- PE degraded into dicarboxylic acids; PS released chalcone, dypnone, phenylpropiophenone, and dibenzoylmethane; PVC yielded dicarboxylic acids and aromatics on silica.
- Photochemical degradation of PS yielded similar compounds to chemical oxidation, but at lower concentrations. PE remained stable.
- Degradation markers were detected on sand, but at lower concentrations than on silica due to pore retention. PE and PS markers were successfully used for screening.
Conclusions:
- Specific compounds released during PE and PS microplastic degradation can serve as effective markers for environmental screening.
- The detection of these markers on natural sand demonstrates a viable method for microplastic contamination assessment.
- PVC degradation markers were less detectable due to limited compound release and analytical challenges, hindering its screening potential.
