AN EVALUATION OF TEE P0'I"TTAL IMPACT OF

ON FISH & WILDLIFE TRITONTM 6-CAN CARRIERS

Jhmlaly 1995

AN EVALUATION OF I'BE KWENlML IMPACT OF

TRITONTM 6-CAN CARRIERS ON FISH & WILDLIFE

zhrnutuy 1995

Prepared for

htemational Paper Packaging Innovation Center

Iudustrial Drive Middletown, New Yolk 10940

Woodlot Altematives, Inc. 122 Main Street

Topsham, Maine 04086

I’ritm 6-cu(l M e r Study

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Background. As part of an effort to introduce the recyclable Tritonm 6-can beverage carrier to Maine, International Paper asked Woodlot Altematives, Inc. to evaluate the impact of the carrier on fish and wildlife. The Triton carrier is made from two paperboard layers that are laminated together by an adhesive (polyvinylalcohol) that is FDA-approved for food contact. Carriers discarded inappropriately in the environment, therefore, will disintegrate into wood fibers, a small amount of clay, CO,, and water. The wood fibers are expected to eventually enter the food chain and be completely broken down by micro-organisms.

Objectives and Methods. The objectjves of this study were to determine the effects of environmental exposure under typical Maine field conditions on the Triton Carrieis mass and tensile strength and to assess the likelihood of harm to animals from entanglement if this occurs. Sample carriers were placed in 14 Maine field situations that represent likely locations for carriers that might be inappropriately discarded. These sites included marine habitats, lake shores, ponds, rivers, wetlands, and uplands. The carriers were left for 5,10,15,30,60, and 120 days. After exposure in the field, the carriers were weighed and tested for tensile strength, which is the amount of force needed to pull the carrier apart. Carriers were also placed on six domesticated mallard ducks to observe how they responded to entanglement in the carrier.

Canier Degmdatioa The wet tensile strength of carriers exposed to Maine field conditions decreased sisnificantly with time. The mean wet tensile strength of carriers placed in aquatic environments for five d a y s was 47 percent of the original dry tensile strength. After 30 days in the aquatic environments the wet tensile strength of the carriers had declined to 41 percent of the original strength, and after 60 days it had been reduced to 27 percent. Carriers that had been placed in terrestrial environments for the same time periods had wet tensile strengths that were 67,59, and 41 percent of the original dry tensile strength. A Carrier that has remained wet for 30 to 60 days is likely weak enough to allow an entangled animal to break free.

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Waterfowl &tanglement. Although the carrier becomes progressively weaker with time in the field, an entangled animal will likely slip a carrier off rather than need to break free. The results of the waterfowl entanglement tests, for example, clearly showed that a duck that becomes entangled in a Carrier can quickly and easily free itself. In tests using new carriers and wet carriers, each duck lowered its head, swam backwards, and removed the carrier from around its neck in a matter of seconds. This is likely an innate behavior exhibited by most birds.

Conclusions. Based on OUT studies of environmental exposure, product degradability, and wildlife entanglement, it is our opinion that the Triton &can Carrier poses no long-tenn harm to fish or wildlife populations. It is, therefore, a signrficantly better alternative to the plastic 6-can carrier.

Woodlof A Ltentcrtives, Inc.

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1

2.0 METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2.1 LabTests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2.2 Field Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.3 WatmfowiEntanglement .......................................... 2

'3.0 RESULTS ......................................................... 3

3.1 LabTests .................................................... 3 3.2 FieldTests ................................................... 4 3.3 Water€owlExlEntanglement .......................................... 7

. 4.0 DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.1 LabTests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4.2 FieldTests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4.3 WaterfowfEntanglsm~t .......................................... 8

5.0 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................... 8

6.0 LITERATURECITED ................................................. 10

LST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Mean wet and dry tensile strength for lab strip samples submerged in fresh and salt water.

Beverage carrier tensile strength following exposure to aquatic environments.

Beverage carrier tensile strength following exposure on and in soil. ~

Figure 2

Figure 3 -

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1

Table 2

Description of field test sites.

Mean values and standard deviations for weight and tensile strength of lab samples for baseline, and fresh and salt water test.

Wet and dry mean tensile strength of beverage carriers following exposure to aquatic field situations.

Wet and dry mean tensile strength of beverage carriers following exposure to soil field con& tions .

All Figures and Tables are at the end of the report

I

Table 3

Table 4

Note:

Triton 6-C.n M e r Study

1.0 INTRORUCIlON

International Paper (IP) has developed the recyclable Tritonm 6-can carrier ring for holding beverage containers during shipment and display within stores. The paperboard canier is a substitute for the plastic yoke carrier. As part of an effort. to introduce the carrier, IP asked Woodlot Alternatives to evaluate the impact of the carrier on fish and wildlife.

One obvious threat to animals from can carriers of any type is entanglement in the carrier and subsequent injury or mortality (Campbell 1989; Weisskopf 1988). The number of times this happens, and the impact on fish and wildlife populations, is difficult ,to quantify (Onions and Rees 1992). Incidents of &mal entanglement and death have been recorded, however, and even the perceived threat to populations has resulted in legislative activity in some states related to plastic carriers.

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact on fish and wildlife due to entanglement in the Triton carrier, with particular emphasis on waterfowl. Since the carrier is made from wood fibers, small amounts of clay, and a polyvipylalcohol adhesive system that is FDA-approved for food contact and breaks down into CO, and water, environmental impacts due to toxic materials or breakdown products are not expected and were not studied.

Specific objectives of the study were to:

1) Determine the effects of environmental exposure under typical Maine field conditions on the carrier's mass and tensile strength; and

2) Assess the likelihood of entanglement and the potential for harm to an animal if it becomes entangled in the carrier.

Page 1

2.0 METHODS

To determine the potential impact of the carrier on fish and wildlife, we tested the strength of the carrier and evaluated how that strength was influenced by exposure to field conditions. The purpose of this portion of the study was to determine how long the carrier remained intact and, therefore, a threat to animals. Another objective was to determine how long it took for the carrier to become weak enough for an entangled animal to break out of it.

The carrier was made from two layers of paper that were laminated together. The top layer was a 69-lb Kla-white" paper and the bottom layer was 57-lb hydro-kr& paper. The carrier was approximately 8.15 inches long and 5.50 inches wide and the diameter of the hole for each can was approximately 2.10 inches. There were also two finger and thumb holes for grasping the carrier that were approximately 0.8 inches in diameter.

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One of the most likely factors that will lead to breakdown of the carrier in the environment, acqording to IP, is exposure to water. Bending a wet canier should also weaken the fibers in the paper and thereby weaken the carrier. We studied the effects of exposure to water in controlled lab situations to establish baseline data for the Triton carrier. We then placed carriers in field situations that represent likely points for discprded carriers to end up and measured changes in mass and strength.

2.1 Lab Tests

One lab test consisted of determining how long it took for carriers to sink when placed in water. The purpose of this test was to determine if caniers discarded in the water (e.g., a lake or the ocean) sink to the bottom or float and get washed to shore. Twenty-five sample carriers were numbered and placed in a tank filled with

Woodlor Altemdves, Inc.

Triton 6-Can M e r Study

fresh water, and another 25 were placed in salt (ocean) water. Water in both tanks was maintained at a constant temperature of 65" F. Tanks were checked three times a day and the date and time that carriers sank was recorded.

A second lab test determined the effects of forced submersion in salt and fresh water on tensile strength to assess whether prolonged submersion alone weakened the carrier. For this test, 1 inch by 6 inch strips of the paper used to fabricate the caniers were used. Samples were numbered, weighed, and then placed in tanks of either 65' F fresh or salt water for time periods extending through 120 days. There were 12 time periods for this portion of the study: 1-5 days and 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60, and 120 days. Each time period test used 50 samples of the test strips. The tensile strength of untreated strips was also measured.

Following immersion for the designated time period, each test strip was weighed and the tensile strength of half the test strips was measured to determine wet tensile strength. The remaining half was oven-dried according to TAPPI standard T 412 om-90 and then weighed and tested for dry tensile strength. All tensile strength testing was performed by IP using an Instron 1125 machine. All test strips were sent to IP via over-night mail in Marvel Seal" bags to prevent water loss from the sample.

2.2 meld Tests

Sample carriers were numbered, weighed, and then placed in 14 field situations throughout southern Maine in areas that represent likely locations for carriers that are inappropriately discarded (see Table 1 and Appendix A). Carriers located in aquatic environments were placed in wire mesh boxes fitted with additional wire to keep each carrier separate. This was done to ensure that each carrier was exposed to the same environmental conditions (Le., one

Page 2

carrier didn't shield another). Rocks were placed within the boxes to prevent them from floating, and then each box was tied in place with nylon rope. The time periods used in this portion of the study were 5, 10, 15% 30,60, and 120 days.

All samples were placed in the field in August 1994 within 10 days of each other to limit potential biases associated with changing wasons. Samples were collected after the required time period had expired and placed in plastic storage bags during travel between the field site and the lab.

After collecting all the samples, they were briefly cleaned to remove clinging material, reweighed, and then shipped to IP in marvel seal bags for tensile strength testing. As with the lab tests, half the carriers were tested for wet tensile strength and the other half were dried, re- weighed, and then tested for dry tensile strength. Testing was done with an Instron 1125 machine. Cross-head speed was 1 incwminute; gage length was 7.25 inches; grips were 1 inch by 5 inches; and peak load was reported.

23 Waterfowl Entanglement

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Given that the ability of an animal to break out of the Triton carrier could be inferred from the results 6f the lab and field tests, detailed analysis of entangled animals was not needed. We did, however, undertake a limited study of how ducks responded to having the carriers placed over their heads.

Ducks, and all wildlife, can be inquisitive about objects floating on the water or just under the surface, and it is possible that they will put their heads through the holes in the carrier. It is also possible for animals to become entangled in caniers found on land. If this happens, it is important to see how the animal responds (i.e., does it easily slip the canier back off, does it break the canier, or does it remain entangled).

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H'oodioz A iicntorivcs, im.

Samples of the carrier were placed over the heads of domesticated waterfowl and their responses were observed. One of the samples was a dry carrier that had not been exposed to the elements. The remainder were samples exposed to the elements for various periods of time (based on the field tests). The purpose of the observations was to determine if, and under what conditions, the animals can either break out of the carrier or otherwise become untangled (i.e., if the animals easily become untangled, it would suggest little potential for harm to waterfowl).

T&on &Can M e r Study Page 3

Prior to conducting this test, the birds were given approximately 10 minutes to calm down and group up. Their behavior was then monitored for one half hour to establish a baseline which was considered normal behavior. All birds were placed in 'braces' so that they could not fly away. Six pen-reared mallards (3 males and 3 females) were used for this portion of the study, which was conducted at a small pond (approx. 2,500 sq. ft.) in W m n , Maine. Entangled waterfowl were observed for one half hour after the carriers had been placed on them, and their behavior was categorized every minute. If the birds appeared to be severely stressed or an injury seemed likely, however, the carrier would be removed at once.

3.0 RESULTS

3.1 Lab Tests

Sinking Time. Eleven of the 25 samples were placed in the freshwater tank. Of these, the mean time until sinking was 62 days (std. dev. 17.5 days) and the range was from 40 to 91 days. The mean time until sinking in the saltwater tank was 39 days (n=9; std. dev. 29.1 days). These tests were performed on carriers that had not been used. Carriers that have been through the distribution process were also tested, with similar results.

Mass & Tensile St~neth. Samples from the submersion tests through 120 days showed no significant change in mass. As expected, tensile strength greatly decreases (wet tensile strength is approximately 20 percent of the baseline dry tensile strength) when the test strips are wet (Figure 1 and Table 2). The samples through 30 days, however, regain their original tensile strength when dried. After 30 days, there is a pronounced decrease in dry tensile strength for both the freshwater and saltwater samples.

In a regression analysis of the freshwater samples through 30 days, there is a weak relationship between days in the tank and wet tensile strength (Rq.34; p<O.OOOl). The R2 value indicates how much of the variation in the observed data is explained by the variable in question. In this case, 34 percent of the variation in wet tensile strength is explained by the amount of time spent in the tank. The same relationship, however, is not found for dry tensile strength (R250.0002; ~4 .8274) .

The wet tensile strength of the test strips placed in saltvater also declined with increasing time in the water through 30 days (R2-0.43; p<O.OOOl). Unlike the freshwater samples, the dry tensile strength showed a weak relationship between days in the tank and dry tensile strength (R2=0.06; p50.0001). Dry tensile strength was also less than the dry tensile strength for the untreated test strips (Figure 1).

Through 120 days, the trend in wet tensile strength continued for both the freshwater and saltwater samples, but there was a sharp decrease in the dry tensile strength. The dry tensile strength in the freshwater sample was 82 percent of baseline tensile strength after 60 days and 77 percent after 120 days (Table 2). In the saltwater sample, dry tensile strength was 45 percent of baseline tensile strensth after 60 days and 55 percent after 120 days.

__ Woodiot Aizemativcs, Inc.

Mton &Can Curier Studv

3.2 EIeld Tests

Mean values of results from the 5-, 15-,30-, and 6O-day field tests are shown on Figures 2 and 3 and in Tables 3 and 4. Results from the 12Oday tests were analyzed for all but six of the field sites (see Table 4). These samples were frozen in the ground at the end of the 120 days.

FRshwaterPond Site. The Frqshwater Pond Site was located at Runaround Pond in Durham, Maine (see Appendix A). The dry weight of the carriers at this site declined steadily over the study period from a mean of 9.13 g during day 5 of the testing to a mean of 8.61 g at day 60 R’4.83; p<O.OOOl). The mean weight of the carriers before testing was 9.33 g. Wet tensile strength also declined during the study (R’4.86; p<O.OOOl), as did dry tensile strength (Rw.56; pFo.0001). All of the loss in dry tensile strength, however, came between day 30 and day 60 of the test. This trend continued through the 12O-day tests, which had a dry tensile strength of 20.27 Ibf, 92 percent of the 6Oday value and 70 percent of the baseline tensile strength.

After exposure in the pond for about 15 days, the wet carriers were flexible, and the Kla-white paper portion of the carrier could easily be abraded. Two crayfish and a caddisfly larva were found on the carriers, and a thin layer of algae developed on most carriers.

Sgltwater Pond Site. This site was in a saltmarsh associated with the Cousins River near the Yannouth-Freeport, Maine, town line. Dry weights of the carriers increased quickly after being placed in the field (e.g., the 5day mean dry weight was 10.04’g compared to the baseline mean weight of 9.33 8). During the course of the study, however, mean dry weights declined to 9.35 g with the 60-day samples (R210.57; p=O.OOOl). This trend continued and the 120- day samples had declined to a low of 9.12 g (Table 3).

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Dry tensile strength declined with increasing time in the field through 60 days (R’4.88; p<O.OOOl), but exceeded the baseline tensile strength for the untreated caniers through 30 days of testing (see Figure 2). The mean tensile strength of the 6Oday samples was 26.40 Ibf compared to a tensile strength of 29.10 Ibf for the untreated carriers.

Wet tensile streagth also declined over time (Rw.47; p-O.0008), but the greatest decline, as with the Freshwater Pond Site, was between the 3May and 60-day samples.

Carriers at this site were flexible when wet and apkared to be colonized by micro-oganisms (they were darkly-stained and had a strong sulfidic odor).

E’resbwater Wave Zone Site. This site was located on the north shore of Jordan Bay, a portion of Sebago Lake in Raymond, Maine. It was intended to be a site that is regularly exposed to wave action, however, due to fluctuating water levels, the carriers were not always exposed to these conditions.

Dry weights of the samples declined slightly during the first 60 days of the study, as did dry tensile strength. The relationship between wet tensile strength and time in the field through 60 days (R’4.24; ~ 4 . 0 2 5 ) ~ however, was stronger than that for dry tensile strength (R2=0.02; p-O.6093). An unusual point at this site is the fact that dry tensile strength declined sharply between the 5day and 15day tests, but increased between the 15-day and 3O-day tests. The wet tensile strength tests showed a similar trend (see Figure 2). Wet tensile strength continued to decline steadily through 120 days (19 percent of baseline). Dry tensile strength, declined sharply (41 percent) between 60 days and 120 days of exposure.

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Woodlot Alternatives, lnc.

Carriers at this site were flexible when wet, and some of the Ha-white layer had abraded from each carrier. No invertebrates were fomd on the carriers and only a small amount of algal growth was present.

Saltwater Wave Zone Site. This site was a relatively high-energy wave zone on Basin Point in Harpswell, Maine. Wave energy opened the wire container holding the carriers, and the 60- day and 12O-day samples were lost at this site. Small fragments of the caniers were found in the container and nearby, which indicates that the caniers had been destroyed under these conditions.

Mean dry weight of the carriers did not decline through 15 days of testing, but did decline by approximately 0.75 g between 15 and 30 days. Dry tensile strength was correlated with days in the field (RL0.70; p=O.OOOl), but exceeded the baseline tensile strength in the 5 and 15day samples. Wet tensile strength was comparable to that at the previous sites, and was strongly correlated with days in the field (R'4.86; p~O.0001).

This field site had the highest energy of all the sites, due to pounding waves, and many of the carriers were reduced to pieces after 15 days. Within 5 days, the Ha-white layer had been abraded from all samples and the hydro-kraft layer was easily abraded by touch. Intact carriers were extremely weak and cracked after 5 days of exposure.

Saltwater Still Intertidal Site. This site was a low-energy intertidal site located in Long Cove, which is near Harpswell Sound in Harpswell, Maine. Even though this site was in a much lower energy environment (due to wave action) than the Saltwater Wave Zone Site, the results were very similar. Dry tensile strength was correlated with days in the field through 60 days (R2=0.67; p<O.OOOl), but exceeded the baseline

tensile strength through 15 days in the field. Wet tensile strength was strongly correlated with days in the field through 60 days (Rk0.80; p<O.OOOl). It declined slowly through 30 days in the field, but then dropped precipitously

strength declined dramatically to 47 percent of baseline tensile strength after 120 days in the field.

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between 30 days and 60 days. Dry tensile __

Carriers at this site developed a layer of algae and mud and were colonized by marine snails (Littorina sp.). Although flimsy when wet, the carriers showed no visible signs of mass loss. Weight measurements, however, did document a decline in mass after an initial increase. After 120 days, for example, the mean weight was 6.88 g, 2.45 g less than the original mean weight.

SaltwstcrSnbtidal Site. This site was located at Basin Point, the same site as the Saltwater Wave Zone Site, but in the subtidal zone. Dry tensile strength was very strongly correlated with days in the field (RQ.86; p<O.OOOl), and was above baseline levels at 5 days in the field and at baseline levels at 15 d a y s . Mean dry tensile strength dropped significantly between 3 0 and 60 days and began to approach the values for wet tensile strength. This sme$ t s a significant breakdown in the integity of the carrier, which is also indicated by the decline in dry weight for the carrier over the course of the study (R'=0.98; p<O.OOOl). Wet tensile strength was also very strongly correlated with days in the field (Rw.98; p<O.OOOl) at this site. The 120-day samples were lost at this site.

Carriers at this site were veiy weak and flimsy after only a short time in the field. Both layers of the carrier were easily abraded after 5 days, and the Kla-white layer was gone after 15 days.

WoodIot Alternatives, Inc. .

Triton 6-Can M e r Study

Flowing Fmhwater Site. This site was located near the shore of the Androscoggin River in Bmswick, Maine, and the results were very similar to those for the Saltwater Subtidal Site. Dry weight, dry tensile strength, and wet tensile strength were all strongly correlated with days in the field through 60 days (R2=0.94, 0.79, and 0.83, respectively; pCO.0001). After 120 days in the field, wet tensile strkngth had declined to 0.79 lbf (2.7 percent of the original strength) and the mean weight of the carriers had declined by 2.97 g. Dry tensile strength after 120 days was 3.84 Ibf, 13 percent of the baseline tensile strength.

Carriers at this she developed a thick algal covering and were extremely flimsy (e%., after 60 days, they pulled apart with only slight effort). The loss of mass and tensile strength at this site was likely due to the activity of micro- organisms, algae, saturation, and the force of the water, in that order of influence.

Unland Soil Site. This site was located in a forested area with moderately well drained soil in Topsham, Maine and was used for samples on the soil surface and buried at 6 and 18 inches below the soil surface.

Samples exposed on the soil surface did not lose significant amounts of weight during the course of the study (see Table 4), and dry tensile strength exceeded the baseline tensile strength through 30 days in the field. Dry tensile strength did decline over time through 60 days (R2=0.81; p<O.OOOl), but not to the degree that it did at most of the aquatic sites. Wet tensile strength was also correlated with days in the field through 60 days (R%.84; p<O.OOOl), but did not decline as much as in most of the aquatic sites. Of all the terrestrial field sites, the decline in mass and tensile strength, particularly from 30 to 60 days, was greatest at this site.

Page 6

Results for carriers buried in the upland soil were generally similar to those for samples on the soil surface. A notable exception, however, is that dry tefisile strength at 60 days for samples buried at 18 inches was similar to the baseline carriers. All upland caniers for the 12cMay tests in upland soils were frozen into the ground and could not be recovered without breaking the carriers.

As anticipated, carriers at th is site were not as physically altered as were the aquatic samples. Both paper layers were intact, and carriers remained relatively rigid, even when wet.

Wedand Soil Site. This site was located in a shrub and emergent marsh wetland in Topsham, Maine, and was used for samples on the soil surface and buried at depths of 6 and 18 inches. The results for the caniers placed in wetland soil situations were very similar to the results for those at the Upland Soil Site. As with those samples, the 120-day samples were frozen into the soil and could not be removed.

Physically, the carriers looked similar to those in the upland soil (i.e., both paper layers were intact). The only noticeable difference was that those in the wetland soil were slightly more flexible when wet.

Ocean Sand Beach. This site was located in a dune at Head Beach in Phippsburg, Maine. There was little weight loss measured for the carriers at this site, and dry tensile strength exceeded baseline strengths throughout the study. In addition, of all the field sites, wet tensile strength at this site was the highest. This was

. most likely due to the fact that this was the driest of all of the sites. There was some loss of the Kla-white layer on many of the samples, apparently due to abrasion by sand blown against the carriers.

Woodlot Altematives, Inc.

Triton 6-Can Canier Study Page 7

3.3 Wateifowl Entanglement

The six pen-reared mallards were placed in braces at approximately 0400 on 2 November 1994. Weather was overcast and dnuly, but the rain stopped by 0900. Colored survey flasing was tied to each of the braces in a unique combination so that each duck could be identified. The ducks was then placed in the pond at 0930 and allowed to swim freely. Cracked com was scattered throughout the pond so that the birds could feed.

The birds immediately formed a sroup and spent the first 15 minutes of their time preening and swimn~ing. and 'fluffed, they swam as a group and occasionally fed on the corn. By all appearances, they were calm and acting 'normally. After 15 minutes, several new can caniers were' placed on the water to detemiine if the birds were attracted to them. The ducks, however, showed no interest in the camers.

Once their feathers were preened '

Following 30 minutes of obsentation, the ducks were collected and new can camers were placed loosely around the necks of three of the birds. These were released at the water's edge. They immediately lowered their heads, backed up, and removed the caniers. The birds were collected again and the caniers were replaced, but this time they were released well out into the water. They lowered their heads so that they were parallel with the water surface, backed up, and removed the camen. As a final test, one bird was recaptured and a camer that had been in saltwater for 30 days, and was quite limp, was placed over the duck's head and forced down it's neck so that a ring of feathers held the carrier in place. Upon release, this duck attempted the backing up maneuver, but was unsuccessful due to the feathers holding the camer in place. The bird remained calm and swam directly to a stand of cattails. It then swam into a dense clump of the cattails, which caught on the camer. The

duck then backed up and removed the camer. The total time until the camer was removed was 2.5 minutes. Due to the inability to keep camers on the ducks, and the apparent ease with which they removed them, this portion of the study was concluded. __

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4.0 DISCUSSION

4.1 Lab Tests

Sinking Time. The results of the sinking time tests indicate that caniers discarded in aquatic environments, including ponds, lakes, and the ocean, will likely float for Ion3 enough periods of time to result in the camers being washed to shoreline environments. The only likely exception could be caniers discarded from large, ocean-going ships far from shore. This suggests that the sites chosen for the field portions of this study, which included many shoreline environments, were appropriate as these areas are the likely repositories for discarded camers.

Mass & Tensile Strength. The lab tests did not show conclusively a significant decline in inass or tensile strength for the paper used for the can camers due to just submersion in water alone through 30 days. After 30 days, declines in tensile strength began to appear. The results of this portion of the study also confimied that wet tensile strength was substantially less than dry tensile strength.

4.2 Field Tests

An interesting initial result of the field tests was that many of the camers, after exposure to field conditions, had dry tensile strengths that exceeded sli$tly (10 percent or less) the dry tensile strength of the camer before it was placed in the field. This suggests that something in the wetting or wetting and drying processes found in the field somehow increases the

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Woodlot 'A Itemativcs, Inc.

Triton 6-Can Canier Study Page 8

strength of the carrier upon drying

In general, mass and tensile strength declined the most with prolonged exposure in the aquatic environments. The greatest declines were seen at the Saltwater Subtidd Site and the Flowing Freshwater Site. Samples at both locations were continuously submerged and exposed to forces from wave action or river currents. Biological activity at these sites, particularly the Flowing Freshwater Site, appeared to play a key role in the breakdown of the carrier.

Most inappropriately discarded camers will likely end up in a shoreline area or on the ground in a wetland or upland site. These sites all had camers that were intact after 120 days and that still retained much of their original strength after drying. Carriers discarded on lakes or the ocean will likely be washed to shore in an area with high wave energy. The degradation rate of camers that go through this process will likely be similar to what was seen for the carriers placed in the Saltwater Subtidal, Saltwater Wave Zone, and Freshwater Wave Zone.

4.3 Waterfowl EnQnglement

The results of this portion of the test clearly showed that waterfowl that become entangled in the carriers can quickly and easily free themselves. Although pen-reared ducks were used, it appears that the backing up response is an innate behavioral trait in waterfowl since it was employed when the carriers were placed over the heads of the birds. We would expect the same reaction of wild birds.

It is not clear whether or not these results can be extrapolated 'to other species of wildlife. We suspect that all waterbirds (e.g., geese, loons, herons, etc.) would show a similar response and would be able to extricate themselves if they become entangled in a carrier. Gulls

occasionally become entangled in plastic carriers at beaches and landfills. We believe, however, that they could also lower their heads and remove the carriers.

Part of our rationale for this conclusion is that the carrier, even when wet, retains a degree of stiffness that keeps the can hole open and allows the carrier to slip off. In addition, the paperboard carrier does not stretch, which, suggests that animals could only work the carriers onto their bodies to a certain point. On the other hand, plastic camers that stretch could be worked onto the body in such a manner as to result in those camers being under tension so that the carrier 'grips' the aninial's body and extrication beconies difficult.

5.0 CONCLUSIONS

Part of assessing the impact of can carriers on fish and wildlife includes determining how likely it is for animals to beconie entangled in them. Very little infomiation is available for determining how frequently this occurs. In a study of Hi-Cone plastic yoke carriers, Onions and Rees ( 1 992) reported data from the British Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for the tinre period from 1977 through 1986. These records indicate that 216 entangled animals were brought to the attention of the RSPCA during this time. One hundred and fifty (69 percent) were ducks, 13 were geese, 22 were seagulls, and 13 were cats. The other animals included a few other species of mammals and birds. This information, and additional studies cited by Onions and Rees, suggest that although entanglements occur, they do not appear to occur at levels that would influence poptilntions of fish or wildlife.

Fish have become entangled in plastic carriers and the greatest threat is likely due to the camer becoming trapped behind the gills (Weisskopf

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Triton 6-Can Canier Study Page 9

1988). This could happen with the paperboard camer, although tlie probability of this happening is low.

The RSPCA data suggest that waterfowl becoiiie entangled in camers more often than other species of wildlife. The results of our study, however, suggest that watedodl can easily free themselves from paperboard camers if entangled.

As this is a paper product, we expect that the camer will degrade in a time penod that is significantly less than that required for a nonphotodegradable plastic camer In addition, the breakdown products will consist of wood fibers, a sniall amount of clay, water. and CO,. We anticipate that the wood fibers will enter the food chain at the micro-organism level. In comparison, plastic yoke camers, even the photodegradable versions, desrade into in inute plastic particles that remain in the environinent. Dead aquatic organisms have been found with substantial amounts of minute plastic particles in their digestive systems (Weisskopf 1988).

An overall conclusion of this study is that the camers remain essentially 'intact after I 20 days of exposure in most field situations that we evaluated. An exception is many of the aquatic environments, where the loss of camer mass and tensile strength was pronounced. These sites, however, do not represent the anticipated ultimate repository of most camers. The majority of discarded camers will likely be washed to shore. While this suggests that the camers will be in the environment and could entangle fish and wildlife through at least 120 days, we believe that this will be a rare occurrence.

Our final conclusions regarding the potential impact of Triton paperboard camers on fish and wldlife are:

The Triton camer steadily loses mass and tensile strength if inappropriately ___

discarded in the environment;

Camers that have reiiiaiiied wet for 30 to 60 days are likely weak enough to pose minimal harm to wildlife by allowing entangled animals to break free from the camer;

It is such an infrequent occurrence to have fish and wildlife become entangled in any camer that iinpacts are likely not measurable at population levels;

Most wildlife entangled in the camers would likely be able to easily slip the carrier off, and

The Triton camer will eventually degrade and enter the food chain begmning with digestion by micro- organisms.

Based on our studies of environmental exposure, product degradability, and wildlife entanglement, it is our opinion that the Triton 6-can carrier poses no long-tenii hami to fish or wildlife populations. It is, therefore, a significantly better alternative to the plastic 6-can camer.

Woodlot A ltematives, Inc.

Triton &Can Camer Study

6.0 LITERQTURE CITED

Campbell, L.E. 1989. Plastics are forever. Nor'easter, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 10-15.

Onions, C. and G. Rees. 1992. An assessment of the environmental impacts of camers discarded in the marine environment and the benefits derived from those fabricated from a photodegradable plastic giving enhanced degradability. The Tidy Group, Wigan, England.

Page 10

__

Weisskopf, 12,

M. 1988. Plastic reaps a grim harvest in the oceans of the world. pp. 58-67.

Smithsonian, Vol. 18, No.

Woodlot AItemttives, Inc

I

, FIGURE I

Mean wet and by tensile stren@ values for lab stnp samples submerged for vanous penods in fresh and salt water N = 2.5 for each point on the graph.

400

300

I

P - 'E" t" 200

.c

u) 0 v)

(Y I-

- .-

100

0

A

J

01

&

=l

02 25 30 60 120 03 04 05 10 15 20 Days Submerged

1 Baseline

. . Sail Water Wet Tensile Strength

.- Fresh Water Wet Tensile Strength

. . Sail Water Dry Tensile Strength

P Fresh Water Dry Tensile Strength i C

FIGURE 2

Beverage carrier tensile strength ( Ibt) followiiig exposure to aquatic enviroiimeilts N = 5 for each point on the graph

50

40

t f -. 30 5 5 3 S I

10

0

'. c__

.. . . .... .. . . .. . . ......... ..... i ...,...... ........... : ................ .. .._._ ......... ...................... .. ................ . ......-' -.......... ..

111

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huh W;IIL~ ~ I I I Wicw 1"n111 I''Pl,d

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Days Suhnerged

\

FIGURE 3

Beverage carrier tensile streiig!!li Ibt) following exposure on and in soil. N = 5 for each point on the graph.

50

40

m Ire I "

sl E 10

0 OS 30 05 30

15 60 15 60

Triton 6-Can Canier Study

TABLE 1

DESCRIPTIONS OF FIELD TEST SITES -~

1. Freshwater pond Runaround Pond - a sniall pond with little wave action or flowing water

Yaniiouth salt marsh - a siiiall pool of salt water located within the niarsh near a tidal estuary

Sebago Lake - a rocky shoreline along the northeast portion of the lake, exposed to waves froni the Qpen water

__

2. Saltwater pond

3. Freshwater wave zone

4. Saltwater wave zone Basin Point - a rocky shoreline exposed to waves froni the open ocean

Long Cove - a rocky shoreline within a tidal cove with iii iniin al wave action

Basin Point - same location as #4 but below the low tide line, niininial effect of wave action

Androscoggin River - an area in the river with a very slow flow rate

5 . Saltwater still intertidal

6. Sal twater su bti dal

7. Flowing freshwater

8. Upland soil on surface Behind Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. office

9. Wetland soil on surface Behind Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. office

10. Ocean sand beach Head Beach - in sand dunes behind beach, partially buried

11. Upland soil buried 6" Behind Woodlot Alternatives, inc. office

12. Upland soil buried 18" Behind Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. office

13. Wetland soil buried 6" Behind Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. oftice

14. Wetland soil buried 18" Behind Woodlot Alternatives, Inc. office

Woodlot Alte~natives; Inc.

Mean values and standard dcviations lor weight and rrvsile strcngth of' lab samples for basehi1c. and fresh and salt water tcst situations. N = 25 for each mitry in the tablc

I)? Tensile Standard Submcrped Weight-(c) Ikviation Wcight (g) Ihiation Strcngth (Ibt) Ik\~iat~on SS1Sth (Ibf) Deviation

Days Prc-test Standard Wct Standard Wet 'I'cnsilc Standard -

022 na II' a I1 a 296 70 1 1-1.88 " 3 - - -_____ j lhel ine 00 - ---z_.zr, -__- -- - 7 I hcshwater

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Frr-hwatcr W S (Ibn Pond Std de\

DTS (lhn Std d t v

Std dcv

Std dev

wet W@. (g)

1- \'St. (g)

Saltwater W S ( 1 bl) Pond Std dev

I>TS (Ihl) Std dev

Std dev

Std dev

wet wg. (g)

w w g t (g)

Frcshwatcr \\'TS (Ihf) Uhvc Zonc std dev

' IYI'S (Ihl) Xtd dcv

Std dev

Std dev

\Vel \Vi$ IS)

I* wgt. ( 9 )

Saltwater UTS (ihn 1VavcZOne X d &v

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1% ti'@. (g)

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27.52 0 19

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Triton 6-Can Canier Study

APPENDIX A

FIELD TEST SITES

Woodlot A kematives, Inc.

Woodlot Alternatives, inc.

Topsham, Maine 04086 . * 122 Main Street #3

Field Locations Test Sites 1 and 2

scale: 1/2 inch = 1 mile

f

Field Locations Test Site 3

Woodlot Alternatives, Inc.

Topsham, Maine 04086 122 Main Street #3

*

scale: 112 inch = 1 mile

Woodlot Altematives, Inc. 122 Main Street #3

c Topsham, Maine 04086 v-

r

Field Locations Test Sites 4-14

I

scale: 112 inch = 1 mile

I I