In this work, we evaluated the carbonyl index, which is
a quantitative parameter that can be used to compare
the degree of oxidation of materials. Higher values of
the carbonyl index indicate more advanced degradation.
However, due to the difficulty of defining exposure time
and intensity in marine environments, we compared the
results with laboratory degradation tests, in which these
parameters were carefully controlled.
The degradation analysis in this work was carried out on
plastic samples from marine debris collected along the
coast of Hawai’i (see sections above). It should be noted
that there might be significant differences in the degree
of degradation between samples collected on the coast
and those collected directly from the sea, depending
upon the residence time of the objects in both environments
and weather conditions. There are indications that
the coast is a more aggressive environment with respect
to degradation than the open sea, especially when objects
are completely submerged in water. First, objects
lying on the coast show stronger build-up of heat due
to sun irradiation than objects floating in sea, which are
cooled by the water. As a result, objects on the coast may
reach significantly higher temperatures than the surrounding
air, resulting in an acceleration of light-induced
and thermo-oxidative degradation.
Further, all materials submerged in seawater invariably
undergo fouling. The initial stages of fouling result in the
formation of a biofilm on the surface and gradual enrichment
of the biofilm leads to a rich algal growth. Consequently,
the biofilm becomes opaque, which reduces the
light intensity reaching the object’s surface. Hence, the
rate of photo-degradation at sea appears to be partly
determined by the rate of fouling. Advanced stages of
fouling are characterized by the colonization by macrofoulants,
such as bryozoans, on the affected plastic surfaces.
The excess weight of the macrofoulant might cause the
colonized plastic object to become submerged. As the
ultraviolet portion of sunlight is strongly attenuated in
seawater, submerged plastics will show a slower rate of
photo-degradation. On the other hand, microbe-rich foulant
film tends to accelerate biodegradation.
Pegram & Andrady (1989) reported on tests, in which
samples of PP, PE, rubber and fishing nets were exposed
to different natural environmental conditions for one
year. They found that the most favourable environment
for degradation for all samples was in open air, while the
underwater conditions inhibited degradation due to the
cooling effect of samples exposed to seawater. Biofouling
of the sample surface leading to reduced light exposure
may also have decreased the rate of weathering.