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Deterioration of marine antifouling coatings fragments and their possible environmental significance
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Ship hulls are coated with paint that prevents barnacles and algae from growing on them, but this paint breaks down into microplastic fragments that leach toxic metals like copper and zinc into the ocean. This new study found that sunlight and wave action speed up this breakdown significantly, meaning more of these contaminated plastic particles could be entering marine waters—and potentially the seafood we eat—than previously realized, especially in sunny, choppy coastal areas near busy ports.
Marine antifouling coatings (AFC) are widely applied to ship submerged surfaces to prevent biofouling, but the release of coating fragments, as biocide-containing microplastics into the environment, remains underexplored. This study investigates the behavior of fragments from three different self-polishing antifouling coatings (SPC #1, SPC #2, and SPC #3) under three simulated environmental conditions: (1) swirling (i.e., mechanical agitation) brackish water with full-spectrum LED light, (2) swirling brackish water in the dark, and (3) static brackish water in the dark. Results showed that both photodegradation and mechanical agitation significantly accelerated the breakdown of coating fragments and enhanced toxic metal leaching. FTIR spectra revealed characteristic broadening of O–H and C=O bands, consistent with hydrolysis and oxidation of the polymer matrix. Cu and Zn concentrations in water continued to rise, likely due to disintegration and exposure of fresh surfaces. These findings highlight the role of light and hydrodynamic conditions in driving the transformation and release of contaminants from AFC material released from ship surfaces.
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Release of microplastics and metals from antifouling paint during weathering in simulated cold climates.
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Researchers subjected marine antifouling paint coatings to UV irradiation, freeze-thaw cycling, and their combination over 42 days, finding that both pathways release microplastics and metals into water — UV through oxidative polymer breakdown and freeze-thaw through ice abrasion — with the combined treatment releasing the highest concentrations of copper and zinc, and paint microplastics retaining chemical signatures traceable back to the source coating.
Characterization of microplastics from antifouling coatings released under controlled conditions with an automated SEM-EDX particle analysis method
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Researchers demonstrated that antifouling coatings on boat hulls release microplastic particles into seawater during normal sailing conditions, with most particles between 1 and 5 micrometers in size. These particles contain both plastic binder material and toxic metals like copper and zinc used as biocides. This study reveals an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in the ocean, where the released particles carry both plastic and heavy metal contamination into marine ecosystems.
Co-occurrence of microplastics and microparticles containing Cu and Zn and other heavy metals in sea-surface microlayer in Osaka Bay, Japan
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Researchers analyzed tiny particles floating on the sea surface in Osaka Bay, Japan, and found microplastics containing heavy metals like copper and zinc from ship antifouling paints. Most of these metal-laden particles were made of acrylic resins commonly used in marine coatings, carrying copper concentrations up to 54,000 mg/kg. The study reveals that antifouling paint fragments are a significant and underrecognized source of toxic metal-containing microplastics in coastal waters.
Understanding the potential release of microplastics from coatings used on commercial ships
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This review examined how polymer-based paints applied to commercial ships contribute to ocean microplastic pollution. The study found that anticorrosive and antifouling coatings shed plastic particles through normal weathering and in-water hull cleaning, with the extent of release depending on coating type, condition, and maintenance practices.
Verification of the existence of copper-based antifouling paint particles in the sea and their implications for marine microplastic degradation
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Researchers collected marine debris near Nagasaki, Japan, and found copper-based antifouling paint particles alongside conventional microplastics at several sampling stations. These copper-based particles differ in chemical composition from typical plastic debris and may influence surrounding microplastic degradation patterns. The co-occurrence raises new questions about combined effects of paint particles and microplastics in marine environments.
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