Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Only a small proportion of plastic will be loating or partially immersed in the ocean
whereas the bulk settles down to the sea bottom. UV radiation will fall only on the
former and not on the latter. So the rate of degradation of plastic that is fully immersed
in the ocean is very poor.
Polymers/plastics, which are loating in the sea are prone to biofouling, which
ultimately results in the material being covered by a bioilm. This shields the material
from the exposure to sunlight and heat, which results in a slow rate of degradation,
compared to polymers on land. The non-uniformity of the surface fouling of a
material leads to uneven degradation of the material [43].
Polymers immersed in the
sea do not undergo degradation. Floating polymer debris undergoes biodeterioration
because of the ocean currents and waves which may loosen them for further action
by organisms. Toxic leachates from the polymer may prevent bioilm formation and
biofouling which may decrease the rate of biodegradation. Reinforced plastics and
blends, which are primarily designed for a long life in the sea will be more recalcitrant
than the plastics and thus, may cause more environmental problems in the future.
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