Plastics decompose at sea with toxic effect say scientists
By Anthony Clark
PLASTICS & RUBBER WEEKLY
WASHINGTON (August 25, 2009) -- New research suggests that the prevailing view that ocean-bound plastics are virtually indestructible is wrong – they decompose with unexpected speed, releasing
potentially toxic substances into the water, according to the American Chemical Society.
Head of the study, Dr Katsuhiko Saido, said the discovery was “surprising”, adding: “We found that plastic in the ocean actually decomposes as it is exposed to the rain and sun and other
environmental conditions, giving rise to yet another source of global contamination that will continue into the future.”
He said that polystyrene begins to decompose within one year, releasing components that are detectable in the parts-per-million range. Those chemicals also decompose but as the volume of plastics in
the ocean is increasing those decomposing products remain a potential problem.
Saido, a chemist with the College of Pharmacy, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan, said his team found that when plastics decompose they releases potentially toxic bisphenol A (BPA) and PS oligomer into
the water, causing additional pollution.
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