The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences (XMAS 2025)

Plastic pollution has become a global environmental issue. By releasing dissolved organic matter (DOM), plastics are increasingly involved in the aquatic carbon cycle. Temperature could be an important factor regulating the release of DOM from plastics by affecting the reaction kinetics. However, the effect of temperature on the photoproduction and leaching of DOM from plastics has not been fully considered. In this study, a series of photo-leaching experiments on 5 types of plastics in seawater media at different temperature settings were conducted. The temperature sensitivities (Q10) of DOC and fluorescent dissolved organic matter components (FDOM) different plastic types were comparatively analyzed. This study has implications for evaluation of future global warming on plastic-driven carbon cycle.

dissolved organic carbon; fluorescent dissolved organic matter; temperature effect; plastic pollution