| Περίληψη: | The ecological problems related to environmental pollution by synthetic polymers like plastics are one of the major concerns of the present days; especially because the degradation rate of the polymers is significally slow, which makes them extremely persistent. Unterstanding the surface alteration of plastics while in the marine environment assists to the understanding of the interaction between pollutant and plastic debris and estimating the duration of their existence in the marine environment. In the present study , polyethylene terephthalate bottles were collected from a submarine environment and analyzed with regard to environmental degradation. In order to estimate the period of existence of PETs in the marine environment, a temporal indication was used. Additionally, surface properties, for instance surface functional groups and surface topography are important indicators for the purpose of observing the degradation of plastic. A significant decrease in Fourier transform infrared peaks for eroded PETs were recorded; some native functional groups even disappear; or new -not typical for PETs- are created. Simultaneously, degraded PET surface was rough, uneven and occasionally, colonized by microorganisms. These surface properties were obtained due to degradation and could be used to explain the interaction between plastics, microorganisms and pollutants. Ultimately, the present research shows that plastic still exists for many decades after its generation. PET was found to degrade very slowly, as at least a decade is needed until the forming of a new chemical surface which would interact with pollutants or microorganisms.
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