Table 1.
Common application of plastic found in the marine environment and the frequency of polymer type identified in 42 studies of microplastic debris sampled at sea or in marine sediment
| Plastic resin type (acronym) | Application | Percent of studies (n) that identified specific polymers |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene, high-density (PE-HD) | Milk and juice jugs | 79 (33) |
| Polyethylene, low-density (PE-LD) | Plastic bag, six pack rings, bottles, netting, and drinking straws | |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Rope, bottle caps, and netting | 64 (27) |
| Polystyrene (PS) | Plastic utensils, food containers | 33 (17) |
| Polyamide (PA) | Nylon fabric | 17 (7) |
| Polyester (PES) | Polyester fabric | 10 (4) |
| Polyvinylchloride (PVC) | Film, containers and pipes | 5 (2) |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | Plastic beverage bottles | 2 (1) |