Polystyrene foam as a source and sink of chemicals in the marine environment: An XRF study

Polystyrene foam (expanded and extruded polystyrene: EPS XPS, respectively) is a ubiquitous pervasive type of marine plastic whose physical properties, transport fate are distinctly different to those other common (unfoamed) types thermoplastic litter. In this study, range fragments XPS retrieved from three beaches in southwest England have been characterised by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry order examine the chemical makeup potential biological geochemical impacts interactions waste. Analyses performed through sample faces and, some cases after dissection, material core, revealed variable concentrations Fe, Ti Zn among many instances, within same sample. This likely reflects presence reaction residues pigments arising manufacture polystyrene, for Fe Ti, significant heterogeneous ion mineral acquisition environment during suspension or while beached. Acquired oxides partly responsible fouling observed on face most samples able act as an adsorbent metals, like Pb. Detection Br up 11,500 mg kg?1 results incorporation flame retardant, hexabromocyclododecane, designed (but not necessarily limited to) construction sector. These observations suggest that can both source sink contaminants merit further investigation.