Plasticrusts: A new potential threat in the Anthropocene's rocky shores

The new term 'plasticrusts' have been coined in a recent article published in Science of the Total Environment by Gestoso et al. (2019). This type of plastic pollution refers to plastic pieces of blends encrusting the texture of intertidal rocks forming crusts that could vary in color and forms.

Fig. 1. Pictures showing (A, B) a general overview of mid-upper intertidal rocky shore in Madeira Island encrusted by plastic; (C) detail of ‘plasticrusts’ on the surface of the rocks; and (D, E) view of ‘plasticrusts’ surrounded by the littorinid gastropod Tectarius striatus.

Plasticrusts could expose marine rock grazers, like gastropods, to plastic debris ingestion. This type of plastic pollution could be considered as a new litter category for monitoring guidelines.

Reference
Gestoso, I., Cacabelos, E., Ramalhosa, P., & Canning-Clode, Joao. (2019). Plasticrusts: A new potential threat in the Anthropocene's rocky shores. Science of The Total Environment, 687, 413-415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.123