Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants
Abstract This study reports on plastiglomerate and other new forms of plastic pollution in the tropical marine continent of Indonesia. Twenty-five samples were collected from an island beach in the Java Sea where plastiglomerate, plasticrusts, and pyroplastic were formed by the uncontrolled burning...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37594-z |
| _version_ | 1797789769471623168 |
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| author | Dwi Amanda Utami Lars Reuning Lorenz Schwark Gernot Friedrichs Ludwig Dittmer Ayu Utami Nurhidayati Ahmad Al Fauzan Sri Yudawati Cahyarini |
| author_facet | Dwi Amanda Utami Lars Reuning Lorenz Schwark Gernot Friedrichs Ludwig Dittmer Ayu Utami Nurhidayati Ahmad Al Fauzan Sri Yudawati Cahyarini |
| author_sort | Dwi Amanda Utami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study reports on plastiglomerate and other new forms of plastic pollution in the tropical marine continent of Indonesia. Twenty-five samples were collected from an island beach in the Java Sea where plastiglomerate, plasticrusts, and pyroplastic were formed by the uncontrolled burning of plastic waste. The most common plastic types were polyethylene and polypropylene (PE/PP), as shown by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. However, acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (PU) and a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile were found as well. This suggests that plastiglomerates can form from a wider variety of plastic polymers than previously reported. FTIR analysis also indicates thermo-oxidative weathering, making the charred plastic more brittle and susceptible to microplastic formation. A subset of the samples was analyzed for associated chemical contaminants. One plastiglomerate with a PU matrix showed high concentrations of phthalates. All samples had high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), likely due to the burning of the plastic in open fires. The burning leads to a change in the physical and chemical properties of the plastics contained in the plastiglomerates. Plastiglomerate and plastic waste of similar origin are therefore often more weathered and contaminated with organic pollutants than their parent polymers. The highest PAH concentration was found in a plastitar sample. Plastitar is defined as an agglomerate of tar and plastics that adheres to coastal rocks. In contrast, our study documents a more mobile, clastic plastitar type. This clastic plastitar could pose an additional ecological risk because of its mobility. These new types of plastic pollution could be an important vector for chemical contamination of nearby coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:55:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5228c84ee5444af39349ad0c9a83fc0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:55:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5228c84ee5444af39349ad0c9a83fc0e2023-07-02T11:16:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-06-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-37594-zPlastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutantsDwi Amanda Utami0Lars Reuning1Lorenz Schwark2Gernot Friedrichs3Ludwig Dittmer4Ayu Utami Nurhidayati5Ahmad Al Fauzan6Sri Yudawati Cahyarini7Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of IndonesiaInstitute of Geosciences, Kiel UniversityInstitute of Geosciences, Kiel UniversityInstitute of Physical Chemistry, Kiel UniversityInstitute of Physical Chemistry, Kiel UniversityResearch Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of IndonesiaResearch Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of IndonesiaResearch Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency Republic of IndonesiaAbstract This study reports on plastiglomerate and other new forms of plastic pollution in the tropical marine continent of Indonesia. Twenty-five samples were collected from an island beach in the Java Sea where plastiglomerate, plasticrusts, and pyroplastic were formed by the uncontrolled burning of plastic waste. The most common plastic types were polyethylene and polypropylene (PE/PP), as shown by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. However, acrylates/polyurethane/varnish (PU) and a copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile were found as well. This suggests that plastiglomerates can form from a wider variety of plastic polymers than previously reported. FTIR analysis also indicates thermo-oxidative weathering, making the charred plastic more brittle and susceptible to microplastic formation. A subset of the samples was analyzed for associated chemical contaminants. One plastiglomerate with a PU matrix showed high concentrations of phthalates. All samples had high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), likely due to the burning of the plastic in open fires. The burning leads to a change in the physical and chemical properties of the plastics contained in the plastiglomerates. Plastiglomerate and plastic waste of similar origin are therefore often more weathered and contaminated with organic pollutants than their parent polymers. The highest PAH concentration was found in a plastitar sample. Plastitar is defined as an agglomerate of tar and plastics that adheres to coastal rocks. In contrast, our study documents a more mobile, clastic plastitar type. This clastic plastitar could pose an additional ecological risk because of its mobility. These new types of plastic pollution could be an important vector for chemical contamination of nearby coastal habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37594-z |
| spellingShingle | Dwi Amanda Utami Lars Reuning Lorenz Schwark Gernot Friedrichs Ludwig Dittmer Ayu Utami Nurhidayati Ahmad Al Fauzan Sri Yudawati Cahyarini Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants Scientific Reports |
| title | Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| title_full | Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| title_fullStr | Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| title_short | Plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on Indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| title_sort | plastiglomerates from uncontrolled burning of plastic waste on indonesian beaches contain high contents of organic pollutants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37594-z |
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