Frances Nilsen, K. David Hyrenbach, Jiasong Fang, Brenda Jensen, Use of
indicator chemicals to characterize the plastic fragments ingested by
Laysan albatross, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 87, Issues 1?2, 15
October 2014, Pages 230-236, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.055.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X14005141)
Abstract: Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) ingest plastic
marine debris of a wide range of shape, sizes and sources. To better
characterize this plastic and provide insights regarding its provenance
and persistence in the environment, we developed a simple method to
classify plastic fragments of unknown origin according to the resin
codes used by the Society of Plastics Industry. Known plastics were
analyzed by gas chromatography?mass spectroscopy (GC?MS) to identify
indicator chemicals characteristic of each plastic resin. Application of
this method to fragments of ingested plastic debris from boluses of
Laysan albatross from Kure Atoll, Hawai?i, yielded proportions of 0.8%
High Density Polyethylene, 6.8% Polystyrene, 8.5% Polyethylene
Terephthalate, 20.5% Polyvinyl Chloride and 68.4% Polypropylene. Some
fragments were composed of multiple resin types. These results suggest
that infrequently recycled plastics are the dominant fragments ingested
by albatross, and that these are the most prevalent and persistent resin
types in the marine environment.
Keywords: Plastic ingestion; Marine debris; Laysan albatross;
Phoebastria immutabilis; Hawai?i; Seabird