Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet

Science, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 347(6223)

Published: Jan. 16, 2015

Crossing the boundaries in global sustainability The planetary boundary (PB) concept, introduced 2009, aimed to define environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate. This approach has proved influential policy development. Steffen et al. provide an updated and extended analysis of PB framework. Of original nine proposed boundaries, they identify three (including climate change) that might push Earth system into a new state if crossed also have pervasive influence on remaining boundaries. They develop framework so it be applied usefully regional context. Science , this issue 10.1126/science.1259855

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 46(6), P. 3060 - 3075

Published: Feb. 9, 2012

This review of 68 studies compares the methodologies used for identification and quantification microplastics from marine environment. Three main sampling strategies were identified: selective, volume-reduced, bulk sampling. Most sediment samples came sandy beaches at high tide line, most seawater taken sea surface using neuston nets. Four steps distinguished during sample processing: density separation, filtration, sieving, visual sorting microplastics. Visual was one commonly methods (using type, shape, degradation stage, color as criteria). Chemical physical characteristics (e.g., specific density) also used. The reliable method to identify chemical composition is by infrared spectroscopy. reported that plastic fragments polyethylene polypropylene polymers. Units abundance estimates are "items per m(2)" m(3)" water column studies. Mesh size sieves filters or processing influence estimates. two ranges microplastics: (i) 500 μm-5 mm, which retained a μm sieve/net, (ii) 1-500 μm, fractions thereof on filters. We recommend future programs monitoring continue distinguish these fractions, but we suggest standardized procedures allow spatiotemporal comparison microplastic across environments.

Language: Английский

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Marine Anthropogenic Litter

Springer eBooks, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2015

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 586, P. 127 - 141

Published: Feb. 4, 2017

Language: Английский

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Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(9), P. 3494 - 3511

Published: Feb. 3, 2020

Plastic waste is currently generated at a rate approaching 400 Mt year–1. The amount of plastics accumulating in the environment growing rapidly, yet our understanding its persistence very limited. This Perspective summarizes existing literature on environmental degradation rates and pathways for major types thermoplastic polymers. A metric to harmonize disparate measurements, specific surface (SSDR), implemented used extrapolate half-lives. SSDR values cover wide range, with some variability arising due studies conducted different natural environments. SSDRs high density polyethylene (HDPE) marine range from practically 0 approximately 11 μm approach yields number interesting insights. Using mean HDPE environment, linear extrapolation leads estimated half-lives ranging 58 years (bottles) 1200 (pipes). For example, polylactic acid (PLA) are surprisingly similar although PLA degrades 20 times faster than land. Our study highlights need better experimental under well-defined reaction conditions, standardized reporting rates, methods simulate polymer using.

Language: Английский

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Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 47(12), P. 6646 - 6655

Published: May 21, 2013

Small plastic detritus, termed "microplastics", are a widespread and ubiquitous contaminant of marine ecosystems across the globe. Ingestion microplastics by biota, including mussels, worms, fish, seabirds, has been widely reported, but despite their vital ecological role in food-webs, impact on zooplankton remains under-researched. Here, we show that ingested by, may upon, zooplankton. We used bioimaging techniques to document ingestion, egestion, adherence range common northeast Atlantic, employed feeding rate studies determine detritus algal ingestion rates copepods. Using fluorescence coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy identified thirteen taxa had capacity ingest 1.7–30.6 μm polystyrene beads, with uptake varying taxa, life-stage bead-size. Post-ingestion, copepods egested faecal pellets laden microplastics. further observed adhered external carapace appendages exposed Exposure copepod Centropages typicus natural assemblages algae without showed 7.3 (>4000 mL–1) significantly decreased feeding. Our findings imply microplastic debris can negatively upon function health.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs

Water Research, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 75, P. 63 - 82

Published: Feb. 18, 2015

Language: Английский

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Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions

Environment International, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 102, P. 165 - 176

Published: March 8, 2017

Language: Английский

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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Aggregation, Deposition, and Enhanced Contaminant Transport

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 52(4), P. 1704 - 1724

Published: Dec. 21, 2017

Plastic litter is widely acknowledged as a global environmental threat, and poor management disposal lead to increasing levels in the environment. Of recent concern degradation of plastics from macro- micro- even nanosized particles smaller than 100 nm size. At nanoscale, are difficult detect can be transported air, soil, water compartments. While impact plastic debris on marine fresh waters organisms has been studied, loads, transformations, transport, fate terrestrial subsurface environments largely overlooked. In this Critical Review, we first present estimated loads different We also provide critical review current knowledge vis-à-vis nanoplastic (NP) microplastic (MP) aggregation, deposition, contaminant cotransport Important factors that affect aggregation deposition natural identified critically analyzed. Factors affecting sorption onto discussed, show how polyethylene generally exhibits greater capacity other types. Finally, highlight key gaps need addressed improve our ability predict risks associated with these ubiquitous contaminants environment by understanding their mobility, behavior potential enhance transport pollutants.

Language: Английский

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The impact of debris on marine life

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 92(1-2), P. 170 - 179

Published: Feb. 10, 2015

Language: Английский

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