Controlled Aging and Degradation of Selected Plastics in Marine Environment: 12 Months of Follow-up

Abstract

The concern about plastic marine debris has steadily been rising year after year, because millions of tonnes of plastics are released in the ocean every year, causing tremendous ecological and economic repercussions. The degradation of polymers in sea water is studied under different aspects, as it could lead to (i) the fragmentation of plastic objects and the production of microplastics, (ii) leaching of environmentally harmful additives, and (iii) preclusion of the possibility of plastics recycling [1–3].