Perforation of ABS pipes by boring bivalve Martesia striata: a case study

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pipes are considered to be immune for boring organisms. However, inspection of the offshore cooling water conduits of Lumut combined cycle power plant, Malaysia show that ABS pipes may not necessarily be immune for wood boring pholads, Martesia striata. M. striata caused heavy damage by drilling holes in ABS pipes used (about 5 years) for transportation of hypochlorite from the station towards the intake domes. Hole sizes ranged from 3 to 19 mm2 with an average of 11 mm2. Unlike other boring animals (e.g. Lithophaga), M. striata penetration is not assisted by chemical dissolution of the substrates and therefore, attack is not limited to calcium carbonate substrates. In this context, material like low dense concrete and rocks, wood, PVC, ABS, etc. is subject to attack of M. striata. It is unknown which synthetic polymerics can be expected to be completely immune for boring bivalves.