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Correction: Geochemical signatures in plastic debris from the Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania

  • Sajjad Abbasi,
  • Neda Hashemi,
  • Patryk Oleszczuk,
  • Viktorija Sabaliauskaitė,
  • Nerijus Dzingelevičius,
  • Arūnas Balčiūnas,
  • Rita Vaičekauskaitė,
  • Reda Dzingelevičienė

In the Abstract section, there is an error in two to fourth sentences. The correct sentences are: Twenty-five plastic samples collected near the Curonian Lagoon in Lithuania were analyzed for 32 elements using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Five common polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, and polyethylene terephthalate) were identified, with polyethylene exhibiting the highest elemental uptake, followed by polypropylene and polystyrene. Correlation analysis suggested relationships between elemental uptake and geochemical behavior, with alkali and alkaline earth elements potentially enhancing the uptake of intermediate ions.

In the Abstract section, there is an error in the sixth sentence. The correct sentence is: Despite their low mobility, Rare Earth Elements (REEs) were used to infer sources of pollution, and the aluminum to lanthanum ratio was proposed as a potential indicator of possible anthropogenic pollution from industrial, petroleum, and vehicle emissions.

In the Element concentrations overview subsection of the Results, there is an error in the fifth sentence of the third paragraph. The correct sentence is: Cd was highest in PES (104.8 ± 6.59 µg kg-1), while Sb was highest in PET (40.1 µg kg-1 from one sample) (Fig 2).

In the Element concentrations overview subsection of the Results, there is an error in the seventh sentence of the third paragraph. The correct sentence is: PP exhibited the highest mean concentrations of Gd (23.19 ± 4.77 µg kg-1), Y (76.92 ± 18.53 µg kg-1) and Sm and Eu from one sample (32.26 and 4.30 µg kg-1) (Fig 3).

In the Correlation analysis subsection of the Results, there is an error in the third sentence of the first paragraph. The correct sentence is: Correlations that lost significance after FDR correction (p < 0.05, q < 0.1) are highlighted in yellow in Fig 4.

In the Pollution sources and acknowledging uncertainties subsection of the Discussion, there is an error in the second sentence of the third paragraph. The correct sentence is: In our study (Fig 5), this ratio was greater than 0.003 for more than 40% of the samples, a value more closely related to an oil-related origin than a natural one.

Figs 15 were uploaded incorrectly. Please see the correct Figs 15 and caption here.

There is an error in the caption for Table 1. The word ‘except’ is spelled incorrectly. Please see the correct Table 1 here.

In Table 2, the compounds “HNO3 + HCL” are missing from the ‘Methods’ column in row 11. Please see the correct Table 2 here.

In the Extraction and Digestion subsection of the Materials and methods, there is an error in the first sentence. The correct sentence is: To extract exchangeable metals from the polymer surface and associated biofilm, we used the first step of a modified BCR sequential extraction protocol [34] with 0.11 M acetic acid.

In the Extraction and Digestion subsection of the Materials and methods, there is an error in the sixth sentence. The correct sentence is: Following shaking, the samples were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 20 min.

In the Instrumental Analysis subsection of the Materials and methods, there is an error in the second sentence. The correct sentence is: Elemental analysis, including Group 1 and 2, transition elements, and REEs, was performed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).

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Fig 1. Box plots summarize group one and two element concentrations in PE (green), PP (blue), PS (yellow), PES (purple), and PET (black), displaying median, mean (×), interquartile range, minimum, maximum, and outliers.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.g001

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Fig 2. Box plots summarize intermediate elements concentrations in PE (green), PP (blue), PS (yellow), PES (purple), and PET (black), displaying median, mean (×), interquartile range, minimum, maximum, and outliers.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.g002

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Fig 3. Box plots summarize rare earth element (REEs) concentrations in PE (green), PP (blue), PS (yellow), PES (purple), and PET (black), displaying median, mean (×), interquartile range, minimum, maximum, and outliers.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.g003

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Fig 4. The correlation matrix of element concentrations highlights significant pairwise relationships (abundance > 50%).

Significance levels: q < 0.01, dark green; q < 0.05, light green; q < 0.1, yellow; negative correlations, red.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.g004

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Fig 5. Al-to-La ratio in co-analyzed samples.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.g005

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Table 1. Detection limits (MDL; µg L-1) of elements, normalized to plastic weight and solution volume (mg kg-1) except for Li, Cd, Sb, and REEs (µg kg-1).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.t001

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Table 2. Comparison of the concentrations of the studied elements with other previous studies.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347572.t002

Reference

  1. 1. Abbasi S, Hashemi N, Oleszczuk P, Sabaliauskaitė V, Dzingelevičius N, Balčiūnas A, et al. Geochemical signatures in plastic debris from the Curonian Lagoon, Lithuania. PLoS One. 2026;21(2):e0340582. pmid:41628249