Sunday, August 23, 2009

plastics

close
Loading Image...
ScienceDaily: Your source for the latest research news and science breakthroughs -- updated daily
Science News
Share Blog Cite
Print Email Bookmark
Plastics In Oceans Decompose, Release Hazardous Chemicals, Surprising New Study Says

ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 2009) — In the first study to look at what happens over the years to the billions of pounds of plastic waste floating in the world's oceans, scientists are reporting that plastics — reputed to be virtually indestructible — decompose with surprising speed and release potentially toxic substances into the water.
See also:
Matter & Energy

* Materials Science
* Inorganic Chemistry
* Nature of Water

Earth & Climate

* Recycling and Waste
* Hazardous Waste
* Environmental Issues

Reference

* Biodegradation
* Waste
* Recycling
* Plastic

Reporting at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the researchers termed the discovery "surprising." Scientists always believed that plastics in the oceans were unsightly, but a hazard mainly to marine animals that eat or become ensnared in plastic objects.

"Plastics in daily use are generally assumed to be quite stable," said study lead researcher Katsuhiko Saido, Ph.D. "We found that plastic in the ocean actually decomposes as it is exposed to the rain and sun and other environmental conditions, giving rise to yet another source of global contamination that will continue into the future."

He said that polystyrene begins to decompose within one year, releasing components that are detectable in the parts-per-million range. Those chemicals also decompose in the open water and inside marine life. However, the volume of plastics in the ocean is increasing, so that decomposition products remain a potential problem.

Each year as much as 150,000 tons of plastic debris, most notably Styrofoam, wash up on the shores of Japan alone, Saido said. Vast expanses of waste, consisting mainly of plastic, float elsewhere in the oceans. The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch between California and Hawaii was twice the size of Texas and mainly plastic waste.

Saido, a chemist with the College of Pharmacy, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan, said his team found that when plastic decomposes it releases potentially toxic bisphenol A (BPA) and PS oligomer into the water, causing additional pollution. Plastics usually do not break down in an animal's body after being eaten. However, the substances released from decomposing plastic are absorbed and could have adverse effects. BPA and PS oligomer are sources of concern because they can disrupt the functioning of hormones in animals and can seriously affect reproductive systems.

Some studies suggest that low-level exposure to BPA released from certain plastic containers and the linings of cans may have adverse health effects.

Saido described a new method to simulate the breakdown of plastic products at low temperatures, such as those found in the oceans. The process involves modeling plastic decomposition at room temperature, removing heat from the plastic and then using a liquid to extract the BPA and PS oligomer. Typically, he said, Styrofoam is crushed into pieces in the ocean and finding these is no problem. But when the study team was able to degrade the plastic, it discovered that three new compounds not found in nature formed. They are styrene monomer (SM), styrene dimer (SD) and styrene trimer (ST). SM is a known carcinogen and SD and ST are suspected in causing cancer. BPA ands PS oligomer are not found naturally and, therefore, must have been created through the decomposition of the plastic, he said. Trimer yields SM and SD when it decomposes from heat, so trimer also threatens living creatures.

Funding for Saido's research came from Nihon University.
Adapted from materials provided by American Chemical Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Email or share this story:
| More
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
APA

MLA
American Chemical Society (2009, August 20). Plastics In Oceans Decompose, Release Hazardous Chemicals, Surprising New Study Says. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 23, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/08/090819234651.htm
enlarge

A boy in Japan points out Styrofoam debris from the ocean. (Credit: Katsuhiko Saido)
Ads by Google
Advertise here
Hazardous Waste Incinerator
Hazardous waste management for hospitals, industry. Contact us!
www.Jeag.com/Hazardous waste
Biothene®
The environmentally friendly alternative to paper & plastic bags
www.biothene.co.uk
Environmental Issues
Commitment in Environmental protection. Discover the Enel World
www.enel.com
Waste water
New Wastewater Treatment Technology At Higher Performance & Lower Cost!
All-About-Wastewater-Treatment.com
Rowafil - Water Recycling
Biological Carwash Reclaim Systems. The world wide best reclaim system.
www.rowafil.com
Related Stories
'Self-healing' Polymer May Facilitate Recycling Of Hard-to-dispose Plastic (May 1, 2009) — Researchers in The Netherlands are reporting development of a new plastic with potential for use in the first easy-to-recycle computer circuit boards, electrical insulation, and other electronics ... > read more
'Nanohybrid' Plastic May Expand Use Of Biodegradable Plastic (Dec. 9, 2007) — Scientists are reporting development of a new biodegradable "nanohybrid" plastic that can be engineered to decompose much faster than existing plastics used in everything from soft drink bottles to ... > read more
Plastic That Degrades In Seawater Could Be Boon For Cruise Industry (Mar. 28, 2007) — Military, merchant and cruise ships generate large volumes of plastic waste that must be stored onboard until they reach port. Now, a new type of environmentally friendly plastic that degrades in ... > read more
Plastics Recycling Industry 'Starving For Materials' (Oct. 16, 2007) — Consumers have unknowingly put the plastics recycling industry in the United States on a starvation diet by failing to recycle sufficient quantities of soft drink bottles and other waste. A new ... > read more
Welcome To A New Era In Recycling Of Plastics (June 25, 2007) — In an advance toward a new era in recycling of plastics, scientists in Japan are reporting development of a process that breaks certain plastics down into their original chemical ingredients, which ... > read more
Search ScienceDaily
Number of stories in archives: 44,032
Find with keyword(s):

Enter a keyword or phrase to search ScienceDaily's archives for related news topics,
the latest news stories, reference articles, science videos, images, and books.
Ads by Google
Advertise here
Medical Waste Incinerator
Manufacturer of small, multipurpose batchload medical waste incinerator
www.batchloadincinerators.com
EnviroWare
Hazardous Waste Software Leaders Save Time, Reduce Cost
www.enviro-ware.com
HELESI S.A.
Waste Managment Systems Plastic Waste Containers
www.helesi.com

Just In:
Why Sleep? To Boost Efficiency, Minimize Risk
Ultrathin LEDs: New Class Of Displays
Oxycholesterol: Greatest Heart Disease Risk?
Artificial Life One Step Closer?
New Way To Reproduce A Black Hole?
Aphids Saved From Gruesome Death By Virus
Human Appendix: No Biological 'Remnant'
Bioluminescent 'Green Bombers' From The Deep
Bioluminescent 'Green Bombers' From The Deep
Science Video News
Cars of the Future: Plastic Makes Perfect?
New materials for car bodies may soon transform the auto industry. Auto engineers can mold these carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics into virtually any. ... > full story

* Auto Designers Test Possibilities Offered by New Materials
* Turning Old Plastic Bottles Into Valuable Recycled Materials
* Mechanical Engineers Reinforce Flimsy Fishing Lures
* more science videos

Breaking News
... from NewsDaily.com

* Satellites put into orbit for Japan and Australia
* Scientists make "sugar bug" drug for bowel disease
* Gene swap experiment makes altering bugs easier
* Mercury-tainted fish found widely in U.S. streams
* LED display technology gets a twist
* more science news

In Other News ...

* Afghan challenger says election "widely rigged"
* Hundreds flee wildfire torching homes near Athens
* Pakistan Taliban name new leader but doubts remain
* Rival Koreas meet ahead of state funeral
* Australian oil well to gush for nearly two months
* CIA report has new details of prisoner abuse
* Weaker Hurricane Bill moves towards eastern Canada
* North Korea's Kim sends message to South's leader
* more top news

Copyright Reuters 2008. See Restrictions.
Free Subscriptions
... from ScienceDaily
Get the latest science news with our free email newsletters, updated daily and weekly. Or view hourly updated newsfeeds in your RSS reader:

* Email Newsletters
* RSS Newsfeeds

Feedback
... we want to hear from you!
Tell us what you think of the new ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?

* Your Name:
* Your Email:
* Comments:
* Click button to submit feedback:

About This Site | Editorial Staff | Awards & Reviews | Contribute News | Advertise With Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Copyright © 1995-2009 ScienceDaily LLC — All rights reserved — Contact: editor@sciencedaily.com

* Health & Medicine
o Allergy
o Alternative Medicine
o Bird Flu
o Birth Control
o Breast Cancer
o Cancer
o Diabetes
o Diet and Weight Loss
o Diseases and Conditions
o Fitness
o Gene Therapy
o Heart Disease
o HIV and AIDS
o Lung Cancer
o Men's Health
o Nutrition
o Obesity
o Pharmacology
o Pregnancy and Childbirth
o Sexual Health
o Skin Care
o Stem Cells
o Women's Health
o ... more topics
* Mind & Brain
o ADD and ADHD
o Addiction
o Alzheimer's
o Anxiety
o Autism
o Depression
o Gender Difference
o Headaches
o Insomnia
o Intelligence
o Language Acquisition
o Parkinson's
o Perception
o Psychology
o Relationships
o Schizophrenia
o Social Psychology
o ... more topics
* Plants & Animals
o Agriculture and Food
o Animals
o Behavior
o Biology
o Biotechnology
o Cell Biology
o Cloning
o Developmental Biology
o Dogs
o Dolphins and Whales
o Endangered Animals
o Extinction
o Frogs and Reptiles
o Genetically Modified
o Marine Biology
o Microbes and More
o Nature
o New Species
o Pests and Parasites
o Spiders
o Zoology
o ... more topics
* Earth & Climate
o Air Quality
o Climate
o Coral Reefs
o Earthquakes
o Ecology
o Environmental Science
o Geography
o Geology
o Global Warming
o Hurricanes and Cyclones
o Ice Ages
o Oceanography
o Ozone Holes
o Pollution
o Renewable Energy
o Tsunamis
o Weather
o Wildfires
o ... more topics
* Space & Time
o Astronomy
o Astrophysics
o Big Bang
o Black Holes
o Dark Matter
o ESA
o Extrasolar Planets
o Mars
o Moon
o NASA
o Pluto
o Saturn
o Solar System
o Space Missions
o Space Station
o Space Telescopes
o Stars
o Sun
o ... more topics
* Matter & Energy
o Alternative Fuels
o Aviation
o Biochemistry
o Biometric
o Chemistry
o Detectors
o Electronics
o Energy Technology
o Forensics
o Fossil Fuels
o Inorganic Chemistry
o Nanotechnology
o Organic Chemistry
o Physics
o Quantum Physics
o Solar Energy
o Technology
o Wind Energy
o ... more topics
* Computers & Math
o Artificial Intelligence
o Communications
o Computer Graphics
o Computer Modeling
o Computer Science
o Encryption
o Hacking
o Mathematics
o Quantum Computers
o Robotics
o Software
o Statistics
o Video Games
o Virtual Reality
o ... more topics
* Fossils & Ruins
o Ancient Civilizations
o Anthropology
o Archaeology
o Dinosaurs
o Early Climate
o Early Humans
o Early Mammals
o Evolution
o Human Evolution
o Lost Treasures
o Origin of Life
o Paleontology
o Tyrannosaurus Rex
o ... more topics



* News
o Front Page
o Today's Summaries
o Latest Headlines
o Search Archives
o Email Newsletters
o RSS Newsfeeds
o News Sections
o Health & Medicine
o Mind & Brain
o Plants & Animals
o Space & Time
o Earth & Climate
o Matter & Energy
o Computers & Math
o Fossils & Ruins
* Articles
o Health & Medicine
o Mind & Brain
o Plants & Animals
o Space & Time
o Earth & Climate
o Matter & Energy
o Computers & Math
o Fossils & Ruins
* Videos
o Health & Medicine
o Mind & Brain
o Plants & Animals
o Space & Time
o Earth & Climate
o Matter & Energy
o Computers & Math
o Fossils & Ruins
* Images
o Health & Medicine
o Mind & Brain
o Plants & Animals
o Space & Time
o Earth & Climate
o Matter & Energy
o Computers & Math
o Fossils & Ruins
* Books
o Health & Medicine
o Mind & Brain
o Plants & Animals
o Space & Time
o Earth & Climate
o Matter & Energy
o Computers & Math
o Fossils & Ruins

Post this page to your favorite social bookmarking site:
close

* del.icio.us
* Digg
* Furl
* Netscape
* Yahoo! My Web
* StumbleUpon
* Google Bookmarks
* Technorati
* BlinkList
* Newsvine
* ma.gnolia
* reddit
* Facebook
* Tailrank
* Slashdot
* Fark

Include this item in your blog or web site:
close

* Title:
* Link:
* Summary:
* Click button to copy above text for pasting into your site:

Cite this article in your essay, paper, or report:
close

* APA style:
* MLA style:
* Click button to copy above text for pasting into your document:

Email this page's link to a friend or colleague:
close

* To Email:
* Your Name:
* Your Email:
* cc to self

Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.roAm vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro
Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.ro
Am vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.roAm vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.roAm vazut multe ceasuri superbe pe www.topceas.roImi doresc un HTC MagicHTC Magic