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Science 17 November 1972:
Vol. 178. no. 4062, pp. 749 - 750
DOI: 10.1126/science.178.4062.749
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Articles

Polystyrene Spherules in Coastal Waters

Edward J. Carpenter 1, Susan J. Anderson 1, George R. Harvey 1, Helen P. Miklas 1, and Bradford B. Peck 1

1 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

Polystyrene spherules averaging 0.5 millimeter in diameter (range 0.1 to 2 millimeters) are abundant in the coastal waters of southern New England. Two types are present, a crystalline (clear) form and a white, opaque form with pigmentation resulting from a diene rubber. The spherules have bacteria on their surfaces and contain polychlorinated biphenyls, apparently absorbed from ambient seawater, in a concentration of 5 parts per million. White, opaque spherules are selectively consumed by 8 species of fish out of 14 species examined, and a chaetognath. Ingestion of the plastic may lead to intestinal blockage in smaller fish.


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)