A comprehensive quantitative study of organic contaminants in marine plastics

Marine plastics act as carriers for a wide range of chemical contaminants, many of which pose serious environmental and health risks. This study investigated organic contaminants such as benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVs), phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bisphenol A (BPA), and antioxidants in beach and ocean plastics collected from multiple geographic locations. A validated analytical method comprising solid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was employed for contaminant identification. Some detected compounds have been classified as persistent organic pollutants and substances of very high concern, including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and UV-328. The highest levels of UV-328 detected in both ocean and beach plastics samples (1040 ± 22 μg/g and 5188 ± 65 ng/g respectively) exceeded permitted limits in plastic as set by European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Other contaminants such as chrysene (558 ± 3 ng/g), BPA (100 ± 1 μg/g) and antioxidant degradation products like tris (2,4-ditert-butylphenyl) phosphate were also detected in some marine plastic samples. Based on these findings, this study highlights the widespread occurrence of organic contaminants in marine plastics and their potential implications for second-life applications and environmental risk. These contaminants may also impact marine ecosystems through leaching and bioaccumulation, with possible consequences for human health via the food web. Overall, the study offers insights into informing policies on plastic waste management, recycling practices, and environmental protection measures aimed at mitigating the chemical hazards associated with marine plastic pollution.