Particles of marine plastic pollution resembling pebbles have been found to be washing up on the UK shores, according to a Science of The Total Environment report.
The report stated that the marine plastic, known as pyroplastic, stems from burning of manufactured plastics and can escape ready detection.
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Beachgoers in Cornwall initially discovered the pyroplastics and requested scientists to research the findings. For the study, scientists analysed 165 pieces of plastic found in Cornwall and Orkney, as well as Ireland and Spain, and found that the marine plastic also contained restricted plastic additives, such as lead.
The scientists wrote: “Pyroplastic is an additional type of plastic litter that is described here, based on observations made on beached samples from south west England. Pyroplastics are derived from the informal or more organised burning of manufactured plastics and may be angular ‘plastiglomerates,’ comprising pieces of plastic debris within a matrix, or rounded plastic ‘pebbles,’ where agglomerated material has been weathered and smoothed into more brittle and neutrally-coloured geogenic-looking clasts.
“Evading ready detection due to their striking visual similarity to geogenic material, pyroplastics may contribute to an underestimation of the stock of beached plastics in many cases.”
Marine plastic pollution initiatives continue to grow
Marine plastic pollution has emerged as a big issue around the world, with many companies and governments now trying to tackle and shed light on the issue.
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