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Qualitative and quantitative assessment of microplastics derived from antifouling paint in effluent from ship hull hydroblasting and their emission into the marine environment
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination generated during ship hull hydroblasting, a common maintenance procedure. They found that a single vessel produced billions of paint-derived particles, with the vast majority smaller than 5 millimeters and composed primarily of acrylic polymers. The study identifies ship maintenance activities as a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic emissions into marine environments.
This study focused on microplastic (MP) contamination originating from ship paint, particularly during the hydroblasting of ship hull, to understand the emission characteristics of MPs into the marine environment. We evaluated paint particles generated from the hydroblasting of an ocean-going vessel based on their number, size, polymer type, and mass. Hydroblasting a vessel produced 4.3 × 10 particles, predominantly comprising acrylic particles, 99.9 % of which were smaller than 5 mm. Of the 44.1 kg of antifouling (AF) paint particles generated, 36.5 kg consisted of particles smaller than 5 mm, with 18.2 kg being identified as plastic emissions. Furthermore, we calculated the MP emission factor (8.43 g/m) for hydroblasting on AF paint by dividing the total emission by the wetted surface area (WSA) of the vessel. This factor was then extrapolated by multiplying it with the total WSA of global ships and their hull cleaning frequency to preliminarily estimate the annual global MP emissions. Consequently, a total of 665.6 tons of plastics was generated globally by hydroblasting, with approximately 550.2 tons of these being in the form of MPs. This study highlights the need for developing stricter regulations governing hydroblasting operations and waste disposal practices to protect marine environments from MP pollution.
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Towards a Comprehensive Understanding of Microplastics and Antifouling Paint Particles from Ship-Hull Derusting Wastewater and Their Emissions into the Marine Environment
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Researchers conducted a systematic analysis of microplastics and antifouling paint particles found in wastewater from ship hull cleaning operations. They found that both types of particles are released in significant quantities during derusting, with antifouling particles being particularly toxic due to their high metal and biocide content. The study highlights ship maintenance activities as an important but often overlooked source of marine microplastic and toxic particle pollution.
Quantification and global emission estimates of antifouling paint-derived microplastics released during ship hull in-water cleaning
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When ships get their hulls scrubbed clean underwater to remove algae and barnacles, that process also scrapes off tiny plastic particles from the paint—an estimated 78 tons per year globally—which then end up in the ocean. The good news: treating the wastewater from this cleaning process before it's released can cut this plastic pollution by over 96%, showing a practical fix that could help reduce one more source of microplastics entering seafood and marine ecosystems that humans depend on.
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.
Estimating total microplastic loads to the marine environment as a result of ship biofouling in-water cleaning
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Researchers estimated that the global shipping industry could be releasing thousands of tons of microplastics annually through the wear, maintenance, and cleaning of marine coatings on commercial vessels. Predictive modeling showed that bulk carriers are the largest contributors, and manual biofouling cleaning by divers generates more microplastics than mechanized cleaning systems with debris capture. The study highlights ship coatings as an underappreciated but substantial source of marine microplastic pollution.
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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.
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