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METHODOLOGYFORSAMPLINGPLASTICPELLETS

forPOPsdetermination

Preparedby:MarilynePflieger(UNG)Withcontributionsfrom:ThomaisVlachogianni(MIOECSDE)

Photo by Jasna ilji

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1. GENERALCONSIDERATIONSINSAMPLINGPLASTICPELLETSWhensamplingandhandlingplasticpelletsand/ormicroplasticsforPOPsdeterminationthefollowinggeneralconsiderationsshouldbetakenintoaccount:

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and OCPs (organochlorine pesticides) arepresentatbackgroundlevelsintheatmosphere.Theseorganiccompoundsareeasilyadsorbedonplastics,especiallypolyethylene,whichiscommonlyusedinpassivesamplingdevices.Thus,oncecollected,thesamplesshouldbestoredinclosedcontainerstoavoidfurtheradsorptionoforganiccompoundsduringthetransferprocesstothelaboratory.

Thehandlingofthesamplesshouldbekeptas lowaspossiblebeforeanalysis.Anytreatmentofthesample,especiallybyheatingoruseofpolarsolvent(e.g.ethanol),mustbeavoided.

Samplesshouldbestoredinthedarkandexposuretoartificiallight,daylightordirectsunlightshouldbeavoided.

Samplesshouldbestored inthe fridge forshortperiods (i.e. fewdays)or inafreezerforlongerperiods(i.e.weekstopreventthevolatilisationofPOPs).

During the sampling and handling process of the pellets any kind of plasticmaterials(e.g.tweezers,etc.)shouldbeavoided,withtheexceptionofTeflon.

2. SAMPLINGMETHODOLOGYTheplasticpelletssamplingshouldproceedthroughthefollowingsteps:

1. Plastic pellets are collected from the beach with solventrinsed1 stainless steeltweezers.

2. Collected pellets arewrapped in solventrinsed aluminium foil1. Paper bag can beusedasanalternative.

3. Ideally, 3 to 5 replicates are collected per location with 10 pellets per replicate.AccordingtotheInternationalPelletsWatchprocedure,100200pellets(atleast50)shouldbecollectedper location/beach inordertohavearepresentativesample. Ifthe required number of pellets cannot be reached, simply collect the maximumpelletspossible.

4. Duringsampletransportationtothelaboratory,atemperatureof25Cshouldnotbeexceeded(e.g.byusingacoolbox).

5. TheAnnexImustbefillin.

3. POSTCOLLECTIONPELLETSTREATMENTINTHELABORATORYOnceinthelaboratory,theplasticpelletsmustbehandledasfollows:

1. Removableparticles(e.g.sand)mustbesoftlywipedofffromthepellets.1Forallmaterialsused(e.g.tweezers,aluminiumfoil,etc)triplerinseswithacetoneorethanol(99%)isrecommended.Alternatively,triplerinseswithacetonefollowedbytriplerinseswithhexanecouldbe made. In case the materials cannot be solventrinsed, it is also possible to 'bake' it at 450Covernightinanoven(e.g.glasscontainers).

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2. Adheringmaterial(e.g.saltcrystals)shouldberemovedbygentlyrinsingthepelletswithdoubledistilledwater(optionalstep).

3. Wet samplesmust be dried in the darkness, at temperature below 25C prior toshipment. To this end, pellets are placed in a desiccator with silica gel. As analternative, theycanbeplaced fordrying in the laboratory (i.e.avoidoutdoorair),but far from turbulent air circulation (i.e.must not be placed under a hood) androomswhere POPsmight be in use (e.g. storage of standards). The drying periodmustbeasshortaspossible.

4. Pelletsshouldbe thenwrapped insolventrinsedaluminium foilandplaced inziplockbags.

5. Ifneeded,thesamplescanbestoredinthefridgeat4Cbeforebeingsent.6. ThesamplesarefinallysenttoSloveniainpaperenveloptogetherwith

a. Acopyofthesurveysheetformonitoringmarinelitteronbeachesb. AnnexeI

7. Thedeliveryaddressis:UniversityofNovaGorica

LaboratoryforEnvironmentalResearchMarilynePflieger(DeFishGear)

Vipavska13SI5001NovaGoricaSlovenia

4. REFERENCESEndo S. et al., 2005. Concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in beached resinpellets: Variability among individual particles and regional differences. Marine PollutionBulletin,50,11031114.HiraiH.etal.,2011.Organicmicropollutants inmarineplasticsdebrisfromtheopenoceanandremoteandurbanbeaches.MarinePollutionBulletin,62,16831692.Ogata Y. et al., 2009. International Pellet Watch: Global monitoring of persitant organicpollutants (POPs) incoastalwaters.1. InitialphasedataonPCBs,DDTsandHCHs.MarinePollutionBulletin,58,14371446.OSPARCommission,JAMPGuidelinesforMonitoringContaminantsinSediments.(lastaccess2April2014:http://www.ospar.org/content/content.asp?menu=00900301400135_000000_000000)

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ANNEXIAdditionalInformation

SAMPLINGSITEAirtemperature:Numberofplasticpelletssampled:Wheredidyoufindthepellets?

Atthesurfaceofthebeach(e.g.onthesand): Underneaththesurface: Nearthesea(e.g.partlyorfullysubmerged,afloat): Other:

LABORATORYWerethepelletsrinsedwithdoubledistilledwater?Werethepelletsdried?Ifyes,how?

Ifyoucouldnotfollowtheexactproceduresuggestedhere,pleasespecifytheappliedalternative(e.g.lightexposure,tweezersnotsolventrinsed,temperature>25C,etc.):