Plastic debris in the open ocean
Andrés Cózar,Fidel Echevarría,J. Ignacio González-Gordillo,Xabier Irigoien,Bárbara Úbeda,Santiago Hernández-León,Alvaro T. Palma,Sandra Navarro,Juan García-de-Lomas,Andrea Ruiz,María L. Fernández-de-Puelles,Carlos M. Duarte +11 more
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TLDR
Using data from the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation, regional surveys, and previously published reports, this work shows a worldwide distribution of plastic on the surface of the open ocean, mostly accumulating in the convergence zones of each of the five subtropical gyres with comparable density.Abstract:
There is a rising concern regarding the accumulation of floating plastic debris in the open ocean. However, the magnitude and the fate of this pollution are still open questions. Using data from the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation, regional surveys, and previously published reports, we show a worldwide distribution of plastic on the surface of the open ocean, mostly accumulating in the convergence zones of each of the five subtropical gyres with comparable density. However, the global load of plastic on the open ocean surface was estimated to be on the order of tens of thousands of tons, far less than expected. Our observations of the size distribution of floating plastic debris point at important size-selective sinks removing millimeter-sized fragments of floating plastic on a large scale. This sink may involve a combination of fast nano-fragmentation of the microplastic into particles of microns or smaller, their transference to the ocean interior by food webs and ballasting processes, and processes yet to be discovered. Resolving the fate of the missing plastic debris is of fundamental importance to determine the nature and significance of the impacts of plastic pollution in the ocean.read more
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The effect of particle properties on the depth profile of buoyant plastics in the ocean.
Merel Kooi,Julia Reisser,Boyan Slat,Francesco F. Ferrari,Moritz S. Schmid,Serena Cunsolo,Roberto Brambini,K. Noble,Lys Anne Sirks,Theo E. W. Linders,Rosanna I. Schoeneich-Argent,Albert A. Koelmans +11 more
TL;DR: Measurements of the depth profile of buoyant microplastics in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre suggest that surface samplers such as manta trawls underestimate total buoyantmicroplastic amounts by a factor of 1.04–30.0, and estimations of depth-integrated buoyant plastic concentrations should be done across different particle sizes and types.
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A novel method for preparing microplastic fibers
TL;DR: This protocol provides a consistent method for preparing standardised fibrous microplastics, with widths similar to those observed in the natural environment, which could ultimately lead to a better understanding of the biological and ecological effects of microplastic debris in the environment.
Journal ArticleDOI
Constraints and Priorities for Conducting Experimental Exposures of Marine Organisms to Microplastics
Ika Paul-Pont,Kevin Tallec,Carmen González-Fernández,Christophe Lambert,Dorothée Vincent,David Mazurais,José-Luis Zambonino-Infante,Guillaume Brotons,Fabienne Lagarde,Caroline Fabioux,Philippe Soudant,Arnaud Huvet +11 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review constraints and priorities for conducting experimental exposures of marine wildlife to microplastics based on the literature, feedback from peer reviewers and knowledge gained from their experience.
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Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles
Emily M. Duncan,Emily M. Duncan,Annette C. Broderick,Wayne J. Fuller,Wayne J. Fuller,Tamara S. Galloway,Matthew H. Godfrey,Mark Hamann,Colin J. Limpus,Penelope K. Lindeque,Andrew G. Mayes,Lucy C. M. Omeyer,David Santillo,Robin T. E. Snape,Brendan J. Godley +14 more
TL;DR: The likelihood that microplastic ingestion presents a significant conservation problem at current levels compared to other anthropogenic threats is assessed.
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Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health
Maxine Swee-Li Yee,Ling-Wei Hii,Chin King Looi,Wei-Meng Lim,Shew Fung Wong,Yih-Yih Kok,Yih-Yih Kok,Boon-Keat Tan,Chiew Yen Wong,Chiew Yen Wong,Chee-Onn Leong +10 more
TL;DR: In this article, the potential of how nano-plastics move through the gut, lungs and skin epithelia in causing systemic exposure has not been examined thoroughly, and a review explores thoroughly on how nanoplastics are created, how they behave/breakdown within the environment, levels of toxicity and pollution of these nanoplastic, and the possible health impacts on humans, as well as suggestions for additional research.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Microplastics in the marine environment
TL;DR: The mechanisms of generation and potential impacts of microplastics in the ocean environment are discussed, and the increasing levels of plastic pollution of the oceans are understood, it is important to better understand the impact of microPlastic in the Ocean food web.
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Lost at sea: where is all the plastic?
Richard C. Thompson,Ylva S. Olsen,Richard P. Mitchell,Anthony Davis,Steven J. Rowland,Anthony W. G. John,Daniel F. McGonigle,Andrea E. Russell +7 more
TL;DR: It is shown that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers are also widespread in the marine environment and may persist for centuries.
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Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification
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Journal ArticleDOI
Transport and release of chemicals from plastics to the environment and to wildlife
Emma L. Teuten,Jovita M. Saquing,Detlef R.U. Knappe,Morton A. Barlaz,Susanne Jonsson,Annika Björn,Steven J. Rowland,Richard C. Thompson,Tamara S. Galloway,Rei Yamashita,Daisuke Ochi,Yutaka Watanuki,Charles J. Moore,Pham Hung Viet,Touch Seang Tana,Maricar S. Prudente,Ruchaya Boonyatumanond,Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria,Kongsap Akkhavong,Yuko Ogata,Hisashi Hirai,Satoru Iwasa,Kaoruko Mizukawa,Yuki Hagino,Ayako Imamura,Mahua Saha,Hideshige Takada +26 more
TL;DR: Model calculations and experimental observations consistently show that polyethylene accumulates more organic contaminants than other plastics such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, and PCBs could transfer from contaminated plastics to streaked shearwater chicks.