Plastic additives in deep-sea debris collected from the western North Pacific and estimation for their environmental loads

Plastic waste has become a growing concern in terms of marine pollution, but little information is available on plastic debris and its possible risks chemical additives exposure the deep-sea. This study focused identification polymer type additive concentrations 21 collected from deep-sea Sagami Bay, Japan West Pacific Ocean under Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre (KERG) zone (water depth: 1388–5819 m). Polyethylene (PE) was dominant (57% total) samples, followed by polyvinylchloride (PVC), epoxy resin, polyester (PES), polypropylene. In additives, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) detected to be contained PVC sheet at concentration 48%. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) also PE with median 12,000 ng/g. PES clothes were contain dyeing mixtures, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB), up 42,000 Knowing estimated number KE current, minimum burden that 720 kg dibutyl phthalate, 570 BHT, 230 DEHP, 160 1,2,4-TCB exist seabed KERG zone. result strongly suggests enormous amount hazardous lie within abyssal level ocean.