Fire and Oil Led to Complex Mixtures of PAHs on Burnt and Unburnt Plastic during the M/V <i>X-Press Pearl</i> Disaster

In May 2021, the M/V X-Press Pearl container ship burned for 2 weeks, leading to largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles). The disaster was exacerbated by leakage other cargo and ship’s underway fuel. This affords unique opportunity study a time-stamped, geolocated release plastic under real-world conditions. Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest comprised nurdles exposed heat combustion, burnt pieces (pyroplastic), oil-plastic agglomerates (petroplastic). An unresolved question is whether 1600+ tons spilled recovered should be considered hazardous waste. Due known formation toxicity combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we measured 20 parent 21 alkylated PAHs associated with several types plastic. maximum PAH content sampled pyroplastic had greatest amount recorded marine debris (199,000 ng/g). contrast, unburnt white two orders magnitude less content. composition varied between presented features typical conflicting petrogenic pyrogenic sources. Nevertheless, specific markers compositional changes burning plastics were identified, revealing that fire main source PAHs. Eight months after spill, contents stray reduced more than 50%. their exceeding levels allowable consumer goods, classifying as waste may warranted. Following largely successful cleanup, recommend Lankans re-evaluate identification, handling, disposal potential exposure responders public handling it. underscores type pollution has yet fully explored, despite pervasiveness intentional unintentional globally.