Characteristics, fate, and impact of marine plastic debris exposed to sunlight: A review

The increase of plastic production from the middle of the twentieth century was inevitably followed by an increase in the amount of plastic dumped in the natural environment. There, the plastic debris are exposed to sunlight, temperature, humidity, and physical stress. This can induce photo-oxidativ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2021-10, Vol.171, p.112701, Article 112701
Main Authors: Masry, Maria, Rossignol, Stéphanie, Gardette, Jean-Luc, Therias, Sandrine, Bussière, Pierre-Olivier, Wong-Wah-Chung, Pascal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical techniques
Biodegradation
Chemical properties
Chemical Sciences
Chemicophysical properties
Debris
Detritus
Fragmentation
Leakage
Marine environment
Marine organisms
Oxidation
Photochemistry
Photodegradation
Physical stress
Physicochemical properties
Plastic debris
Pollutants
Stabilizers
Sunlight
Thermal degradation
Toxicity
Weathering
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Summary:The increase of plastic production from the middle of the twentieth century was inevitably followed by an increase in the amount of plastic dumped in the natural environment. There, the plastic debris are exposed to sunlight, temperature, humidity, and physical stress. This can induce photo-oxidative and thermal degradation. This review discusses the mechanism of plastics UV weathering and its characteristics. Comparison of the photodegradation rate and physico-chemical properties are made according to the weathering mode (natural/accelerated) and medium (air/water). Since the photodegradation can lead to plastics fragmentation, this phenomenon is described along with the methodologies used in literature to evaluate the fragmentation. The impact of the photodegraded plastic debris on the marine environment is also presented in term of (i) photodegradation products and stabilizers leakage, (ii) organic pollutants accumulation, transfer, and leakage, and (iii) toxicity on marine organisms. [Display omitted] •Plastics exposed to sunlight undergoes visual and physico-chemical modifications.•Exposure medium (air/water) highly affects the photodegradation process.•Fragmentation depends on polymer type, formulation, exposure conditions.•The path and time spent by the plastic in the environment cannot be identified yet.•Plastics risk is associated to organic pollutants and degradation products.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112701