Display options
Cite
Grogan AE, Mallin MA, Cahoon LB. Investigation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles as marine reservoirs for fecal bacteria and phytoplankton. Mar Pollut Bull. 2021;173:113052doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052.
Grogan, A. E., Mallin, M. A., & Cahoon, L. B. (2021). Investigation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles as marine reservoirs for fecal bacteria and phytoplankton. Marine pollution bulletin, 173113052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052
Grogan, Amy E, et al. "Investigation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles as marine reservoirs for fecal bacteria and phytoplankton." Marine pollution bulletin vol. 173 (2021): 113052. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052
Grogan AE, Mallin MA, Cahoon LB. Investigation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles as marine reservoirs for fecal bacteria and phytoplankton. Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Dec;173:113052. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052. Epub 2021 Oct 28. PMID: 34872168.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Dec;173:113052. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

Investigation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking bottles as marine reservoirs for fecal bacteria and phytoplankton.

Marine pollution bulletin

Amy E Grogan, Michael A Mallin, Lawrence B Cahoon

Affiliations

  1. Center for Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Ln., Wilmington, NC 28409, USA; Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, NC 28403, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Center for Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Ln., Wilmington, NC 28409, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
  3. Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, NC 28403, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 34872168 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113052

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is frequently used in the food and beverage industry and therefore contributes greatly to plastic marine debris. The fecal pollution indicator bacteria Enterococcus is used for marine water contamination assessments and is regularly found in storm water discharge. In order to examine if PET drinking bottles act as refuges for Enterococcus, a study was conducted within euhaline tidal waters of Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA via the deployment of bottle floats positioned nearby two stormwater outfall pipes. Bottles were retrieved weekly to assess the accumulation of fecal bacteria and phytoplankton. Each bottle was analyzed for the presence of Enterococcus on plastic surfaces and within water inside the bottle. Abundance of Enterococcus and planktonic chlorophyll α was found to be significantly greater in association with PET bottles versus the surrounding waters. Bottles were observed to act as reservoirs for both Enterococcus and phytoplankton with concentrations well above the state, federal, and WHO standards.

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Biofilm formation; Chlorophyll α; Enterococcus; Marine debris; Polyethylene terephthalate (PET); Water pollution

Publication Types