We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Rapid Production of Micro- and Nanoplastics by Fragmentation of Expanded Polystyrene Exposed to Sunlight
Summary
Researchers conducted a 24-month outdoor weathering experiment on expanded polystyrene and found it began fragmenting into micro- and nanoplastics within just one month of sunlight exposure. A single square centimeter of weathered EPS could produce approximately 67 million tiny particles. The study highlights that expanded polystyrene debris in the environment can rapidly become a massive source of secondary microplastic and nanoplastic pollution.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a common plastic marine debris found in oceans worldwide. The unique "foamed" structure of EPS, which is composed of thin layers, is more vulnerable to fragmentation than bulk plastics. However, the production rate of micro- and nanoplastics by the fragmentation of EPS following sunlight exposure remains largely unknown. Here, we determined the fragmentation rate and weight loss of EPS in an outdoor weathering experiment that ran for 24 months. It took only 1 month for the weight of an EPS box to decline by 5% due to photodegradation, and approximately 6.7 × 107 micro- and nanoparticles/cm2 could be produced at a latitude of 34 °N. These results indicate that macro EPS debris can continually produce a massive number of particles within a relatively short exposure duration. The findings provide useful information to inform policymakers how rapidly to remove "likely fragmented" plastic litter from the environment.