A growing plastic smog, now estimated to be over 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world’s oceans—Urgent solutions required

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 18(3), С. e0281596 - e0281596

Опубликована: Март 8, 2023

As global awareness, science, and policy interventions for plastic escalate, institutions around the world are seeking preventative strategies. Central to this is need precise time series of pollution with which we can assess whether implemented policies effective, but at present lack these data. To address need, used previously published new data on floating ocean plastics (n = 11,777 stations) create a time-series that estimates average counts mass small in surface layer from 1979 2019. Today’s abundance estimated approximately 82–358 trillion particles weighing 1.1–4.9 million tonnes. We observed no clear detectable trend until 1990, fluctuating stagnant then 2005, rapid increase present. This acceleration densities world’s oceans, also reported beaches globe, demands urgent international interventions.

Язык: Английский

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Global mass of buoyant marine plastics dominated by large long-lived debris

Nature Geoscience, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 16(8), С. 689 - 694

Опубликована: Авг. 1, 2023

Abstract The fate of plastics that enter the ocean is a longstanding puzzle. Recent estimates oceanic input plastic are one to two orders magnitude larger than amount measured floating at surface. This discrepancy could be due overestimation estimates, processes removing from surface or fragmentation and degradation. Here we present 3D global marine mass budget buoyant resolves this discrepancy. We assimilate observational data different reservoirs, including coastlines, surface, deep ocean, into numerical model, considering particle sizes 0.1–1,600.0 mm. find (>25 mm) contribute more 95% initially mass: 3,100 out 3,200 kilotonnes for year 2020. Our model an about 500 per year, less previous estimates. Together, our estimated total annual litter suggest there no missing sink pollution. results support higher residence times in environment compared with studies, line evidence. Long-lived pollution world’s oceans, which suggests continuing increase, negatively impact ecosystems without countermeasures prevention strategies.

Язык: Английский

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Microplastics in urban runoff: Global occurrence and fate

Water Research, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 225, С. 119129 - 119129

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2022

Язык: Английский

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A global perspective on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine organisms

Ecological Indicators, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 149, С. 110179 - 110179

Опубликована: Март 27, 2023

Microplastic (MP) contamination of marine ecosystems has been confirmed as an environmental issue global concern. A growing number monitoring surveys extensively documented the occurrence and distribution a wide array MPs different sizes, shapes, colours, polymeric compositions in seawater, sediments, organisms worldwide. The presence explored many species belonging to taxonomic groups collected diverse geographical locations. These studies have revealed ingestion bioaccumulation at each trophic level, confirming ubiquity MP ecosystems. This systematic review aimed summarizing results vast literature concerning 1) shed light on potential differences body burden among 2) investigate spatial temporal variation level. Our analyses showed that, independently geographic origin sample, significantly differed levels and/or groups. Zooplankton lowest levels, while highest were observed vertebrates other than fish (i.e. mammals, birds reptiles). In contrast, no or noted, that all can ingest accumulate MPs, but large variability within precludes opportunity identify patterns contamination.

Язык: Английский

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Microbial Enzyme Biotechnology to Reach Plastic Waste Circularity: Current Status, Problems and Perspectives

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 24(4), С. 3877 - 3877

Опубликована: Фев. 15, 2023

The accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in the environment has become a global concern. Microbial enzymes (purified or as whole-cell biocatalysts) represent emerging biotechnological tools for circularity; they can depolymerize materials into reusable building blocks, but their contribution must be considered within context present management practices. This review reports on prospective bio-recycling framework Europe. Available biotechnology support polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling. However, PET represents only ≈7% unrecycled waste. Polyurethanes, principal fraction, together with other thermosets and more recalcitrant thermoplastics (e.g., polyolefins) are next plausible target enzyme-based depolymerization, even if this process is currently effective ideal polyester-based polymers. To extend to circularity, optimization collection sorting systems should feed chemoenzymatic technologies treatment mixed In addition, new bio-based lower environmental impact comparison approaches developed (available new) materials, that designed required durability being susceptible action enzymes.

Язык: Английский

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Abundance and potential sources of floating polystyrene foam macro- and microplastics around Japan

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 925, С. 171421 - 171421

Опубликована: Март 3, 2024

Polystyrene foam is widely used due to its lightweight, impact resistance, and excellent thermal insulation properties. Meanwhile, weak adhesion between beads in polystyrene leads fragmentation, generating a substantial amount of microplastics (<5 mm). Such debris littered on beaches diminishes the aesthetic value coastal areas, negatively impacting tourism. Due density lower than other plastics, macroplastics float sea surface and, thus, they are significantly influenced by wind drag during oceanic transport. In contrast, drifting beneath carried mostly ocean currents. These properties hinder elucidation their transport, distribution, fate nature, despite potential adversely marine ecosystems. To elucidate generation, fragmentation processes we conducted concurrent visual observations net towing from seven training vessels around Japan 2014–2020. Overall, abundances plastics were higher Sea North Pacific south Japan. The average 0.33 pieces/m3 0.45 pieces/km, respectively, over entire area Japan, peak occurred upstream Tsushima Current, while for downstream, suggesting that continuous transport two peaks. Backward-in-time particle tracking model experiments suggested sources observed included aquaculture buoys styrene beached Strait. present study demonstrated reducing release floats will likely diminish abundance

Язык: Английский

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Patterns and trends in marine microplastics density distributions using a long-term, global, field database

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 212, С. 117528 - 117528

Опубликована: Янв. 7, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Microplastic Pollution in the Water Column and Benthic Sediment of the San Pedro Bay, California, USA

Environmental Research, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 120866 - 120866

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Role of mangrove forest in interception of microplastics (MPs): Challenges, progress, and prospects

Journal of Hazardous Materials, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 445, С. 130636 - 130636

Опубликована: Дек. 20, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Contamination of sea surface water offshore the Tokai region and Tokyo Bay in Japan by small microplastics

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 185, С. 114245 - 114245

Опубликована: Окт. 21, 2022

A nested double neuston net was prepared and used to collect samples from the surface of coastal waters around Japan obtain information about properties both small microplastics (SMPs; <350 μm) large (LMPs; >350 μm). The SMP concentrations ranged 1000 5900 pieces m-3 in open ocean averaged approximately 3000 inner part Tokyo Bay. were 20-60 times greater than LMP concentrations. By analyzing seawater, we obtained a microplastic size distribution that spanned 50-5000 μm. LMPs mainly comprised packaging-related plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) polypropylene, while SMPs dominated by paint-related plastics. derived packaging materials (e.g., PE) may have gradually sank down sea when they smaller 600

Язык: Английский

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