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dc.contributor.authorTurner, Andrew
dc.contributor.authorArnold, R
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, T
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-13T14:27:48Z
dc.date.issued2020-07
dc.identifier.issn0269-7491
dc.identifier.issn1873-6424
dc.identifier.other114299
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/15560
dc.description12 months embargo applied minus 1 day to account for leap year.
dc.description.abstract

The residence times of plastics in the oceans are unknown, largely because of the durability of the material and the relatively short (decadal) period of time over which plastic products have been manufactured. In this study, classic LEGO bricks constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and washed up on beaches of southwest England have been subjected to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and the spectra and any other identifiers matched with unweathered blocks stored in collections or sets of known history. Relative to unweathered equivalents, weathered blocks exhibit varying degrees of yellowing, fracturing and fouling, and are of lower mass, average stud height and mechanical strength. These effects are attributed to photo-oxidative degradation and the actions of physical stress and abrasion while exposed to the marine environment. Infrared spectra indicate that the polymer remains largely intact on weathering but with photo-degradation of the polybutadiene phase of ABS, while quantification of XRF spectra reveals that pigments like cadmium sulphoselenide become more heterogeneously distributed in the matrix when in the environment. Using measured mass loss of paired (weathered versus unweathered) equivalents and the age of blocks obtained from storage we estimate residence times of between about 100 and 1300 years for this type and thickness of plastic, with variations reflecting differences in precise additive composition and modes of weathering.

dc.format.extent114299-114299
dc.format.mediumPrint-Electronic
dc.languageen
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.subjectLEGO
dc.subjectPlastic
dc.subjectAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene
dc.subjectMarine
dc.subjectWeathering
dc.subjectResidence times
dc.titleWeathering and persistence of plastic in the marine environment: Lessons from LEGO
dc.typejournal-article
dc.typeJournal Article
plymouth.author-urlhttps://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000533524300134&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=11bb513d99f797142bcfeffcc58ea008
plymouth.volume262
plymouth.publication-statusPublished
plymouth.journalEnvironmental Pollution
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114299
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Faculty of Science and Engineering/School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA07 Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups/BEACh
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Research Groups/Marine Institute
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role
plymouth.organisational-group/Plymouth/Users by role/Academics
dc.publisher.placeEngland
dcterms.dateAccepted2020-02-28
dc.rights.embargodate2021-2-27
dc.identifier.eissn1873-6424
dc.rights.embargoperiodNot known
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114299
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2020-07
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review


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