This study investigated the behavior and environmental impact of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in a simulated marine environment, focusing on the effects of UV exposure. Through a series of controlled experiments, it was found that UV-induced weathering increased the formation of smaller EPS degradation products, leading to higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the seawater. Additionally, it was suggested that the assembly behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) contributed to the reduction of DOC levels over time. The EPS layer exhibited slightly higher DOC concentrations compared to the seawater, likely due to hydrophobic interactions that retained degradation products near the EPS. Analysis of the soil layer revealed that EPS particles and degradation products settled or adsorbed more extensively under UV conditions, indicating a greater risk of sediment contamination. Soil layer elution experiments further confirmed that EPS particles and their degradation products could migrate through soil pores, posing a potential contamination risk to other environments. UV exposure resulted in a twentyfold increase in DOC release from EPS compared to dark conditions. These findings highlight the persistent pollution potential of EPS in marine environments, especially under UV exposure, and emphasize the need for effective EPS waste management and further research into its environmental impacts.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a key component in the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystem. However, it has been rarely explored, particularly complex river watershed dominated by natural and anthropogenic sources, such as various effluent facility and livestock. The current research developed a new analytical method for TOC/TN (Total Organic Carbon/Total Nitrogen) stable isotope ratio, and distinguish DOM source using stable isotope value (δ13C-DOC) and spectroscopic indices (fluorescence index [FI] and biological index [BIX]). The TOC/TN-IR/MS analytical system was optimized and precision and accuracy were secured using two international standards (IAEA-600 Caffein, IAEA-CH-6 Sucrose). As a result of controlling the instrumental conditions to enable TOC stable isotope analysis even in low-concentration environmental samples (<1 mgC L-1), the minimum detection limit was improved. The 12 potential DOM source were collected from watershed, which includes top-soils, groundwater, plant group (fallen leaves, riparian plants, suspended algae) and effluent group (pig and cow livestock, agricultural land, urban, industry facility, swine facility and wastewater treatment facilities). As a result of comparing characteristics between 12 sources using spectroscopic indices and δ13C-DOC values, it were divided into four groups according to their characteristics as a respective DOM sources. The current study established the TOC/TN stable isotope analyses system for the first time in Korea, and found that spectroscopic indices and δ13C-DOC are very useful tool to trace the origin of organic matter in the aquatic environments through library database.