Characterization of foamed plastic litter on Danish reference beaches – Pollution assessment and multivariate exploratory analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Characterization of foamed plastic litter on Danish reference beaches – Pollution assessment and multivariate exploratory analysis

AU - Feld, Louise

AU - da Silva, Vitor Hugo

AU - Strand, Jakob

PY - 2022/7

Y1 - 2022/7

N2 - Foamed litter comprise a significant amount of the pollution at beaches globally. This group represents a variety of foamed items and fragments originating from different applications and sources. Although foamed plastic contributes importantly to the marine environmental pollution, there is generally limited knowledge of the composition of this litter pool. The aim of this study was to characterize item types and polymer materials of foamed litter from six Danish reference beaches during the period 2018–2021. The foamed litter were classified into ten categories, including identifiable items, as well as fragments of foamed PS, or pieces of other foamed polymers of rigid or flexible sponges. Foamed PS (42%) and PUR (49%) were identified as the dominant polymers by FTIR analysis. Multivariate exploratory analysis was performed to investigate PUR foam, and specific spectra features for rigid and flexible foam were demonstrated. Furthermore, we assessed different correlation methods for identification of PUR foams.

AB - Foamed litter comprise a significant amount of the pollution at beaches globally. This group represents a variety of foamed items and fragments originating from different applications and sources. Although foamed plastic contributes importantly to the marine environmental pollution, there is generally limited knowledge of the composition of this litter pool. The aim of this study was to characterize item types and polymer materials of foamed litter from six Danish reference beaches during the period 2018–2021. The foamed litter were classified into ten categories, including identifiable items, as well as fragments of foamed PS, or pieces of other foamed polymers of rigid or flexible sponges. Foamed PS (42%) and PUR (49%) were identified as the dominant polymers by FTIR analysis. Multivariate exploratory analysis was performed to investigate PUR foam, and specific spectra features for rigid and flexible foam were demonstrated. Furthermore, we assessed different correlation methods for identification of PUR foams.

KW - Foamed plastic

KW - PUR

KW - Foamed polystyrene

KW - Beach litter

KW - Polymer identification

KW - FTIR analysis

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130514228&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113774

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113774

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35635884

AN - SCOPUS:85130514228

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 180

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 113774

ER -