Table 4.
Plastic objects with different polymer backbones added to the vessel, which were used for weight-loss analyses.
| Component | Material | Surface area (cm2)a | Dimension (mm) | Weight before incubation (g ±SD) | n | Days in microcosm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pouch | Polyethylene (LDPE) | 1714 | 210 × 204 | 3.330 ± 0.000 | 3 | 378 |
| Air pouch | Polyethylene (HDPE) | 1,041 | 205 × 127 | 1.087 ± 0.012 | 3 | 389 |
| Air pouch | Polyethylene (HDPE) | 1,024 | 200 × 128 | 1.450 ± 0.000 | 3 | 385 |
| Tube | Silicon | 50 | 100 × ɸ10 | 4.537 ± 0.100 | 2 | 400 |
| Packaging foam | Polystyrene (PS) | 272 | 100 × 100 × 18 | 1.495 ± 0.035 | 2 | 414 |
| Coffee cup | Polystyrene (PS) | 339 | 82 × top ɸ70 × bottom ɸ47 | 3.957 ± 0.060 | 3 | 383 |
| Cup | Polypropylene (PP) | 474 | 120 × top ɸ75 × bottom ɸ50 | 5.053 ± 0.085 | 3 | 390 |
| Coffee cup | Paper (cellulose) | 337 | 82 × top ɸ74 × bottom ɸ48 | 4.773 ± 0.015 | 3 | 418 |
| Bottle | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 806 | 200 × ɸ65 | 19.240 ± 0.283 | 2 | 380 |
| Bottle | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 761 | 220 × ɸ65 | 22.625 ± 0.148 | 2 | 381 |
| Fleece clothing | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 900 | 150 × 150 | 9.037 ± 0.396 | 3 | 411 |
| Reticulated foam | Polyurethane (PU) | 9500b | 50 × 50 × 19 | 1.297 ± 0.059 | 3 | 412 |
| Balloon | Natural latex (about 90% cis-1,4-polyisoprene) | 99 | 100 × 45 × 0.3 | 1.720 ± 0.046 | 3 | 386 |
| Cigarette filters | Cellulose acetate in epichlorhydrin resin | 6.3 | 25 × 8 | 0.253 ± 0.043 | 13 | 418 |
| Compostable postal bag | 7P0059 (blend of about 50% maize starch and 50% synthetic polyester) | 2,926 | 331 × 221 × 0.04 | 3.070 ± 0.361 | 3 | 397 |
| Compostable trash bag | 7P0069 (made of compostable materials) | 8,600 | 410 × 450 | 9.077 ± 0.072 | 3 | 411 |
| Compostable food bag | 7P0189 Poly lactic acid (PLA film) | 1,056 | 230 × 165 | 4.258 ± 1.666 | 3 | 427 |
| 1518 | 265 × 245 | |||||
| 2,597 | 220 × 120 | |||||
| Compostable food bag | 7P0204 Poly lactic acid (PLA film) | 1,800 | 225 × 200 | 2.300 | 1 | 427 |
| Food tray | 7P0127 Poly lactic acid (PLA) | 535 | 125 × 115 × 42 | 7.975 ± 0.219 | 2 | 412 |
aThis includes both the inside and the outside of the plastic surfaces exposed to the seawater.
bAccording to a volume of 47.5 cm3 and specific surface area of 200 m2/m3 of the foam (www.velda.com).