An Analysis of Major and Trace Element Pollution Caused by Plastic Litter Using Atactodea striata (Gmelin, 1791) in Yonaguni Island, Okinawa

In this study, the major and trace element pollution from plastics was evaluated by comparing the elemental concentrations in Atactodea striata (Gmelin, 1791) collected from Nama Beach with a lot of plastic litter and Kataburu Beach with little plastic litter in Yonaguni Island, Okinawa. The pollution was also analyzed by focusing on the difference in the amount of plastic litter depending on the season. The results of the pollution analysis using the difference of the amount of plastic litter between the sites suggested the plastic-derived pollution of Al, Ni, Zn and Pb in the analysis of muscle tissue, and the pollution of Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in the analysis of internal organs tissue. Furthermore, the analysis of the pollution using the seasonal difference of the amount of plastic litter suggested that Al, Mn, Zn and Ba were transferred from plastics to organisms in the analysis of internal organs tissue. Al, Mn, Zn and Ba have a high ability to leach from plastic litter in acidic solvents, so it was suggested that such elements can be transferred from plastic to organisms. In addition, Al, Mn, and Zn, which were suggested to be contaminated in both analysis using inter-site and inter-seasonal differences in the amount of plastic litter, were shown to be highly likely to have accumulated in the Atactodea striata from plastics.