First record of ‘plasticrusts’ and ‘pyroplastic’ from the European Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

We report the presence of plasticrusts and pyroplastic from coastal habitats in Giglio island, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. These novel plastic debris types have only recently been described for the first time from Madeira island (NE Atlantic Ocean) and the United Kingdom, respectively. While plasticrusts are generated by sea waves smashing plastic debris against intertidal rocks, pyroplastic derives from (un)deliberately burnt plastic waste. Using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, we identified the plasticrust material as polyethylene (PE) and the pyroplastic material as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These polymers are widely used in everyday products and, therefore, contribute heavily to plastic pollution in aquatic and terrestrial environments worldwide. Furthermore, our field surveys suggest that plasticrust abundance is related to wave-exposure and that the pyroplastic derived from beverage bottles which we frequently found along the Giglio coast. Overall, our findings corroborate the notion that plasticrusts and pyroplastic are common debris types in marine coastal habitats.