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Detection and Quantification of Antifouling Paint Particles in Marine Sediments by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.
Summary
Boat paint that flakes off into the ocean doesn't just disappear — it breaks down into tiny plastic particles that can carry toxic chemicals into marine sediment, but until now these particles were hard to accurately measure. Scientists developed a new, more precise test that detects these paint fragments by tracking a natural pine-based ingredient in the paint, and found meaningful levels in sediment near Australian marinas. This matters because these particles may release harmful additives into waterways, and better detection tools are the first step toward understanding how much of this pollution ends up in seafood and, ultimately, in the food we eat.
Antifouling paint particles (APPs), a form of microplastic pollution derived from the fragmentation of marine coatings, have emerged as a notable environmental concern due to their persistence and potential toxicity. However, the accurate extraction, detection, and quantification of the smallest APP size fraction (<500 μm) remain significant challenges. This study reports the development and application of a sensitive analytical method for the detection and quantification of rosin-based APPs in marine sediments using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Rosin, a biobased resin derived from pine sap and widely used as a primary binder or cobinder in antifouling coatings, was targeted as a chemical marker for APPs. The method combines accelerated solvent extraction with Py-GC/MS detection of derivatized rosin pyrolysis products. Recoveries exceeded 95%. The rosin content in commercial antifouling paints varied from 14.3 to 68% (m/m), reflecting formulation differences. Application to sediments from Australian marinas revealed an average rosin concentration of 0.32 mg g sediment, estimated to be 0.47-2.2 mg g of APPs. While rosin serves as a tracer for APP quantification, the environmental concern primarily relates to the overall paint particles, which contain biocides and other additives. This method provides a robust approach for the trace-level quantification of APPs in complex matrices.