PCBs and PBDEs in microplastic particles and zooplankton in open water in the Pacific Ocean and around the coast of Japan. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeo, Bee Geok; Takada, Hideshige; Yamashita, Rei; Okazaki, Yohei; Uchida, Keiichi; Tokai, Tadashi; Tanaka, Kosuke; Trenholm, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 151(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Zooplankton -- PCBs -- PBDEs -- Coastal zone -- Open ocean; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: PCBs and PBDEs in microplastics and zooplankton collected in surface water at 27 locations in the Pacific Ocean and around the coast of Japan were investigated. Both PCBs and PBDEs were observed in buoyant microplastics, even in smaller particles of 0.315–1 mm. Concentrations of Σ13 PCBs were 0.04–124 ng/g, and were higher in urban bay areas such as Tokyo Bay. Sporadic moderate to high concentrations of PBDEs were observed in both urban-offshore and rural-offshore locations, consisting mostly of higher-brominated congeners. From the latter, BDE 209 ranged from not detected to 2158 ng/g. The microplastic-to-zooplankton abundance ratio threshold was 0.6 for PCBs and 0.08 for PBDEs, above which exposure would be greater from microplastics than from zooplankton. Highlights: PCBs and PBDEs in microplastics and zooplankton in surface water were investigated. Both contaminants were observed in buoyant microplastics as small as 0.315–1 mm. PCBs were higher in urban bay areas compared to off shore samples. Sporadic high PBDEs were observed in off shore samples–mostly higher BDE congeners. Microplastic-to-zooplankton abundance ratio thresholds for PCB = 0.6 and PBDEs =0.08