Bitumen-based plastitar: a novel plastic form variant in terrestrial environments

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: July 25, 2024

Plastitar has recently been reported in marine environments worldwide. is plastic embedded crude oil residues. This form, i.e., geochemically or -physically altered plastic, proposed to derive from water motion driven plastic-crude oil-interactions pelagic and benthic habitats. In this study, we introduce bitumen-based plastitar: a novel form variant that detected supra-intertidal marina walls, riverbank cobblestone pavements, roads. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified fragments, bottle cap liners, paint chips, had found firmly black joint sealant, as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester epoxide, alkyd varnish. Field observations, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass (PY-GC/MS) FTIR indicated the sealant consisted of bitumen-mineral-mixture commonly used adhesive filler hydraulic engineering road construction. Brittle fragments showed signs melting such bubbles, holes, melt inclusions and, therefore, constituted pyroplastics, incompletely combusted melted plastics with rock-like appearances. Bottle caps chips were deeply pressed into sealant. These findings indicate plastitar formed by being (un)intentionally included heated liquid bitumen hardened bitumen. Our field inspections degraded up 66% over 608 days releasing microplastics (plastics < 0.5 cm) environment. Overall, our study shows, for first time, variants can materials other than residues terrestrial environments. We hope will increase awareness these fixation processes, agglomeration through heat pressure, which could help prevent formation during future construction works.

Language: Английский

Plastiskin: A new form of plastic pollution affecting rocky shore organisms

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 209, P. 117121 - 117121

Published: Oct. 13, 2024

Language: Английский