Plastic Pellets in the Aquatic Environment:
Sources and Recommendations

United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (WH-556F) EPA 842/B-92/010 Dec92

EPA Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated.

Mindfully.org Note: The problems noted within this outdated report are much worse now than when the report was issued. And in fact, we are seeing whole species of fish crash and intersexed fish observed in many areas.

Final Report for				Prepared by

Environmental Protection Agency			Battelle Ocean Sciences
Oceans and Coastal Protection Division		397 Washington Street
Contract No. 68-C8-0105				Duxbury, MA 02332
Work Assignment 4-118				(617) 934-0571

November 12, 1992

This study was conducted by the EPA Oceans and Coastal Protection Division. The Project Manager was Mr. David Redford, Chief of the Ocean Dumping and Marine Debris Section (Washington, DC). Technical support was provided by Ms. Heather Trulli, Mr. Wayne Trulli, and Ms. Nancy Padell of Battelle Ocean Sciences (Duxbury, MA), and Mr. David Evers of Battelle Columbus Division (Columbus, OH) (Contract 68-C8-0105). Ms. Maureen Healey of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (Washington, DC), worked closely with EPA and the plastics industry throughout the conduct of the study and coordinated industry reviews of this report.

[Table of contents | Executive Summary | Sections 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · Glossary | Tables | References ]

Contents
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.0 STUDY BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
	1.1 Study Objectives
	1.2 Acknowledgment
2.0 PELLET CHARACTERIZATION
	2.1 Pellet Additives 
	2.2 Pellet Behavior in the Aquatic Environment
3.0 THE PELLET PROBLEM
	3.1 Geographical Distribution 
	3.2 Sources Identified in the Literature 
	3.2.1 EPA's Harbor Studies Program 
	3.2.2 EPA's CSO Studies Program 
	3.3 Fate and Impacts 
	3.3.1 Birds 
	3.3.2 Turtles 
	3.3.3 Other Biota 
	3.3.4 Esthetic and Economic
4.0 PELLET SOURCES TO THE ENVIRONMENT
	4.1 Organization of the Plastics Industry 
	4.2 Pellet Producers 
	4.2.1 Producer Equipment and Operations 
	4.2.2 Site Visit Observations 
	4.2.3 Sources of Pellet Releases from Producers 
	4.3 Pellet Transporters and Packagers 
	4.3.1 Equipment and Operations 
	4.3.2 Site Visit Observations 
	4.3.3 Sources of Pellet Releases from Transporters/Packagers 
	4.4 Pellet Processors 
	4.4.1 Equipment and Operations 
	4.4.2 Site Visit Observations 
	4.4.3 Sources of Pellet Releases from Processors 
	4.5 Summary of Identified Sources
5.0 CONTROLLING PELLET RELEASES
	5.1 Recommendations to the Plastics Industry 
	5.1.1 Industry Management 
	5.1.2 Education and Training 
	5.1.3 Equipment and Facilities 
	5.1.4 Routine Operations 
	5.1.5 Maintenance and Housekeeping 
	5.1.6 Packaging 
	5.1.7 Shipping Vehicles 
	5.1.8 Recycling and Waste Disposal
	5.2 Existing Control Measures 
	5.2.1 Legal Framework 
	5.2.2 Government Programs and Policy 
	5.2.3 Industry Programs and Initiatives
	5.3 Recommendations to Regulators
	5.4 Summary of Recommendations
6.0 GLOSSARY
7.0 REFERENCES
    TABLES
	Annual U.S. Resin Sales
	Characteristics and Uses of Plastics Additives
	Polymer Densities
	Effects of Two Additives to the Densities of Selected Commodity Resins
	Pellet Observations and Suspected Pellet Sources
	Pellets Found During EPA Aquatic Debris Programs
	Pellets Collected Daily at Sewage Treatment Facilities in Philadelphia and Boston
	Pellet Ingestions and Potential Effects	
	Comparisons of Most Commonly Used Pellet Bags
	Summary of Recommendations to the Plastics Industry According to Industry Sector

    LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
	ABS    acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene
	AIMS   American Institute of Merchant Shipping	
	CMC    Center for Marine Conservation
	CSO    combined sewer overflow
	DOT    Department of Transportation
	EPA    Environmental Protection Agency
	FDA    Food and Drug Administration
	HDPE   high-density polyethylene
	ITF    Interagency Task Force on Persistent Marine Debris
	LDPE   low-density polyethylene
	MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships
	MPPRCA Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987
	MPRSA  Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
	NPDES  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
	NOAA   National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
	OCPD   EPA Oceans and Coastal Protection Division
	OWOW   EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
	PBT    polybutylene terephthalate
	PCB    polychlorinated biphenyl
	PE     polyethylene
	PET    polyethylene terephthalate
	PP     polypropylene
	PS     polystyrene
	PVC    polyvinyl chloride
	QC     quality control
	RCRA   Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
	SAN    styrene/acrylonitrile
	SB     styrene-butadiene
	SMA    styrene-maleic anhydride
	SOP    standard operating procedure
	SPI    Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.
	TiO2   titanium dioxide
	TSCA   Toxic Substances Control Act
	TSS    total suspended solids
	UL     Underwriters Laboratory
	USCG   United States Coast Guard

February 11, 1997

source: http://www.epa.gov/owow/OCPD/PLASTIC/contents.html 12apr03

[Table of contents | Executive Summary | Sections 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · Glossary | Tables | References ]