- The development of plastic
- Plastic is a relatively new material that has been around for more than a century. The first synthetic plastics were produced in the early 20th century. However, it was not until the end of World War II that mass production of plastics began in earnest, with an annual output of about 5 million tons in the early 1990s. 1950.
- The success of plastic materials has shaped the development of modern society and challenged older materials in many of their established applications.
- Accumulates in the environment
- Macroplastics (>20 mm diameter) : ocean sources including fishing, boating and shipping, including the gradual degradation of ropes and polymer-based paints . Land-based sources include primary industry, waste, wastewater and stormwater.
- Microplastics (<5 mm) : There are two main types of microplastics: primary and secondary sources.Primary microplastics (diameter <5 mm): They are produced through extrusion or grinding, as raw materials to manufacture products or for direct use.Secondary microplastics are generated from the fragmentation of other plastic items/pieces, microplastic particles during product use (eg tire wear or fibers from clothing).
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- Nano plastic (<1000 nm) : nanoplastics have been an overlooked part of plastic pollution in recent years .
- Emission source
- It is estimated that 8 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year. Much of this plastic originates from inland sources and is released into the ocean from coasts or rivers. It is predicted that rivers are the main transport routes of marine plastics.
- Impact of plastic on the marine environment
- More than 700 marine species have been reported to have ingested plastic debris, which can lead to severe physical harm or death or more subtle effects on behavior and ecological interactions.
- The most obvious impact is the entanglement of organisms in marine debris, often in abandoned or lost ropes and fishing gear .
- Plastic can transmit contaminants absorbed from surrounding waters, such as endocrine disruptors and persistent organic pollutants.
- Future solutions and challenges
- Focusing on industry, a product’s disposal pathways need to be considered right from the design stage : incorporating sustainable production and consumption models , using more circular materials.
- Governments have an important role to play in reducing the accumulation of plastic in the environment. However, despite current efforts, the amount of plastic waste continues to increase and plastic leakage into rivers and oceans continues.
- Education, outreach and awareness-raising are effective ways to tackle marine litter.
- Recycling , banning plastic, improving port reception facilities and incentives/disincentives related to littering.
| [first] | IE Napper and RC Thompson, “Plastic Debris in the Marine Environment: History and Future Challenges Imogen,” Global Challenges, p. 93, 6 April 2020. |
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