Katrina Wert

Unity College, 90 Quaker Hill Road, Unity, Maine 04988

Soft plastic fishing lures (SPLs) are commonly used by fishermen for
bass, perch, trout, salmon, and many other fish (Danner et al 2009).
Reasons they are highly used:
o High durability
o Likeness to live baits
o More socially acceptable than live baits
Chemical composition of SPLs:
o A basic plastic: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
o Plasticizer (phthalates) to increase flexibility (DeGraaf 2014)
Reasons why SPLs are an issue:
o Phthalates leach from PVC (Heudorf et al 2007)
o Causes reproductive/organ/enzyme issues (Carnevali et al 2010)
o Found on bottom of many water sources (Raison et al 2014)
o Fishing companies not required to list ingredients
o No set definition of biodegradable; unknown biodegradable rates of
lures (DeGraaf 2014)
Objective: Test if there are any differences between the rates of
degradation between different lures (variety of store-bought &
homemade) and if pH influenced the rates.
o pH types tested: 4 (acid rain), 6 (median), 7 (neutral), and 8 (salt water)
o Lures tested: store bought non-biodegradable lure, store bought biodegradable lure,
homemade PVC with phthalate lure, homemade PVC phthalate-free lure, and a
homemade gelatin-based lure.

Hypothesis: The gelatin-based lure would degrade the most, the storebought non-biodegradable lure would degrade the least
pH solution of 4 would degrade the most and pH 8 would inhibit
biodegradation.

Methods

Submerged each lure type in different pH solution

3 replicates

The original hypothesis for lure type was partially supported by the data.:
o Gelatin-based lure broke down the most
o No other lures showed signs of degradation:
o Store-bought lures gained mass
o Homemade plastisol lures had no change in mass

Biodegradation Between Lure Types

Measured initial wet weight after 2 hour submersion

Measured by subtraction of tube with/without lure
Set up conical tubes randomly in greenhouse
Let sit for 4 weeks
After a month measured final mass of each lure
Measured same way as initial measurements
Analyzed data using 2-way ANOVA test

The original hypothesis for pH effects was unsupported by the data:

o pH 4: least amount of degradation, caused significant gain of mass
o pH 6, 7, & 8: promoted degradation, not significantly different from each
other; caused significant mass loss

1.5

Reasoning why this may have happened:

o Gelatin broke down easiest due to all natural composition
o Other lures made of PVC: polymers unlikely to ever break down
o Mass increase due to pores in lures
o Presence of fewer hydrogen ions (or more hydroxide ions) could
increase rates of biodegradability

1.12
1

0.78

0.5

0.08
0

C
-0.07

Related studies:
o Raison et al: Linked swelling of lures to the availability of pores and
warmer water temperature greater increase in mass than colder water
o Danner et al: Discovered that many salmonids ingest lures (more than
50%) and effects of SPL on fish included chemical imbalances,
anorexia, & malnutrition

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-0.83

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Lure Type

Summary of Results between Lure Type :

- Positive values = mass gained
- Negative values = mass lost
- Lure Types A & B significantly different from lure type E
- p-value: 9.12x10-5
- Lure types C & D had no significant changes in mass
- Lure types A & B swelled and showed no signs of degradation
- Lure type E lost mass, and in most replicates, completely biodegraded

Labeling System for each trial tube: pH (Lure Type)(Replicate #):

Lure Types:
A: Yum Store-bought Non-Biodegradable Lure
B: Gulp! Store-bought Biodegradable Lure
C: Homemade Plastisol w/Phthalate Lure
D: Homemade Phthalate-Free Plastisol Lure
E: Homemade Gelatin/Glycerol Lure

Biodegradation Between pH Solutions

Made pH buffers
Put 45 mL in each centrifuge tube

Discussion

Average Change in Mass (g)

Bought Lures
Made lures

Results

Change in Mass (g)

Introduction

4.43

4
3

Next Steps
o Longer experimental period & field study
o Requiring manufacturer to list ingredients of lures on packaging
o Definition of biodegradable to be set and followed by companies
o Educate the public about the issue
o Spread word of the SPL recycling programs, such as B.A.S.S. Re-Baits
Conclusion
By educating the public about this topic, and trying to get companies to list
ingredients and produce more environmentally friendly lures, the aquatic
benthic litter produced from SPLs and the chemical contamination will be
reduced greatly. This will in turn create a safer and healthier environment for
aquatic organisms, as well as keeping our water and food sources
contaminant-free.

2
1

Literature Cited

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pH Solution

Summary of Results between pH Solutions:

-Positive values = mass gained
- Negative values = mass lost
- pH 4 significantly different from 6, 7, & 8
- p-value: 8.60x10-21
- pH 4 resulted in significantly more mass gain
- pHs 6, 7, & 8 resulted in significant mass loss; Not significantly
different from each other

Carnevali O, Tosti L, Speciale C, Peng C, Zhu y, & et al. 2010. DEHP Impairs Zebrafish Reproduction by Affecting Critical Factors
in Oogenesis. PLoS One 5(4): e10201.
Danner G, Chacko J & Brautigam F. 2009. Voluntary Ingestion of Soft Plastic Fishing Lures Affects Brook Trout Growth in the
Laboratory. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29:352-360.
DeGraaf D. 2014. MDIFW Report Back to Legislature on Resolve Chapter 18. 126th Legislature: Second Session.
Heudorf U, Mersch-Sunderman V & Angerer J. 2007. Phthalates: Toxicology and Exposure. International Journal of Hygiene and
Environmental Health 210:623-634
Raison T, Nagrodoski A, Suski CD, & Cooke SJ. Exploring the Potential Effects of Lost or Discarded Soft Plastic Fishing Lures on
Fish and the Environment. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 125.

Acknowledgments
This project would not have been possible without the help from Wilma Lombardi with all the chemistry
work, guidance., and use of the chemistry lab; to Barry Woods for helping me analyze the data dn explain it
properly; Peggy Hogan for the supplies and advice on my project; Scott Davis for the intial idea of this
project and his help in contacting other members of Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife for information;
and lastly, Jen Cartier for guidance and ideas on how to execute this project efficiently.

For Further Information

Measuring lure mass

Lures submerged in pH solution

Check out the SPL recycling program at rebaits.org

Please contact me at katrina_wert@yahoo.com