Coastal dunes as a sink and secondary source of marine plastics: A study at Perran Beach, southwest England. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Turner, Andrew; Amos, Sara L.; Williams, Tracey
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 173:Part B(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Coastal dunes -- Historical plastic litter -- Food packaging -- Bottles -- Storm surge; 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.2021.113133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Plastic food packaging and containers ( n = 263) have been retrieved from the scarped foredunes at Perran Beach, SW England, following a storm surge. Samples displayed evidence of cracking, scratching, discolouration, staining and hydroxyl and carbonyl stretching, but legible text indicating their origin, dates of manufacture/expiration, packaging codes and logos, coupled with online product searches, allowed 25 food packets and 87 containers to be aged. Estimates of food packaging age spanned a 43-year period (1975–2018), with a median age of 25 years, while estimates for containers spanned 57 years (1962–2019), with a median age of 19 years. Plastic derived from local littering and offshore sources appears to be trapped within the foredunes for years to decades and subsequently released as "fresh" beach litter following surges sufficient to effect scarping. Dunal systems may act as significant reservoirs of historical plastics and play a critical role in their recycling and retention in the coastal zone. Highlights: Plastic food packets and containers retrieved from scarped coastal foredunes have been identified. Median ages for packets and containers were 25 and 19 years, respectively. Samples exhibited variable degrees of visible and chemical weathering. Coastal dunes act as reservoirs and secondary sources of historical plastics. Dunes should be considered in inventories and modelling of plastics in the coastal zone.