Piroplastics on Tenerife beaches is particularly bad news for the marine environment and the health of residents and tourists.
A recent study by the Applied Analytical Chemistry Research Group (AChem) of the University of La Laguna (ULL) has revealed the presence of piroplastics on the beaches of Playa Grande, Bocinegro, and Almáciga. This type of waste was classified in 2019 after being discovered on the coast of the United Kingdom.
Floating matter
Piroplastic formations were first described in 2019 after being discovered on the British coast. Until now, they had not been detected in the coastal waters of the Canary Islands.
Piroplastics are burnt plastic fragments that resemble rocks or stones but are actually the result of plastic waste incineration. These fragments can easily be mistaken for natural materials due to their appearance. The most notable characteristic is that, due to their low density, they float on water and have an oily texture.
Sampling
Piroplastics are believed to form when plastic waste is burned in coastal areas, after which the remnants are carried into the sea by wind and water. In addition to their plastic composition, they can contain other embedded materials such as wood, paper, or sand. They are dangerous because they often contain heavy metals like lead and chromium. Furthermore, marine organisms can attach to these piroplastics, allowing them to act as a transport vector for these organisms, leading to ecological consequences.
The research team, which recently published the work in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, found a total of 300 such fragments during sampling conducted between 2021 and 2024 on the three beaches of Tenerife. Samples were taken from many other beaches as well.
Transport vector
The piroplastics found were mainly gray and dark in color, with an average weight of 6.8 grams and dimensions ranging from 34 millimeters long, 24 millimeters wide, and 14 millimeters high. Many of them contained other embedded materials such as wood, paper, coal, or sand.
Although their origin is not definitively known, various studies suggest they may result from the burning of plastic waste in coastal areas.
A wide variety of marine organisms, including algae, bryozoans, annelids, and foraminifera, were also found adhered to the surface of these piroplastics, which suggests that these formations can serve as transport vectors for marine organisms.
Heavy metals
Regarding the composition of the piroplastics, the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) revealed that polyethylene and polypropylene are the primary plastics composing the piroplastics, accounting for 61% and 33%, respectively.
Additionally, analysis using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) detected a wide variety of metals, including high concentrations of some heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr).
PhD candidate
A strong correlation between these two metals was found in a total of 22 piroplastics, indicating the possible presence of lead chromate (PbCrO4) as an additive. This substance was widely used in the plastic industry due to its bright yellow color but is now regulated and restricted due to its harmful effects on human health and the environment.
This study is part of the doctoral thesis of Cristopher Domínguez Hernández, a PhD candidate in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Doctoral Program at the University of La Laguna.
More news can be read [HERE].
Guy Devos © Photography
Piroplastics on Tenerife beaches ©
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