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Marine Debris Polymers on Main Hawaiian Island Beaches, Sea Surface, and Seafloor

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Article in peer-reviewed journal
October 2019, Environmental Science & Technology

Kayla C. Brignac, Melissa R. Jung, Cheryl King, Sarah-Jeanne Royer, Lauren Blickley, Megan R. Lamson, James T. Potemra and Jennifer M. Lynch

  • Publication type: Publication in peer-reviewed journal
  • Journal: Environmental Science & Technology
  • Collaborators: School of Ocean, Earth Science, and Technology and International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa (USA), Center for Marine Debris Research, Hawaii Pacific University (USA), Sharkastics, Kihei (USA), Swell Consulting, Paia (USA), Hawaii Wildlife Fund (USA), Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03561
  • Received: 14.06.2019
  • Revised: 06.09.2019
  • Accepted: 25.09.2019

Abstract

Polymeric differences of plastic debris were assessed across four compartments of the Main Hawaiian Islands (sea surface, windward beaches, leeward beaches, and seafloor) to better describe sources and fate.
Plastic debris pieces (n = 4671) were collected from 11 beaches, three sea surface tows, and three seafloor dives. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy identified the polymers of 3551 pieces. Significant differences (p

  • Marine debris, Polymers, Sea surface, Seafloor
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