The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview
| Autor: | Chloe Wayman, Helge Niemann |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Microplastics
Oceans and Seas Earth science Ocean environment VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Oseanografi: 452 010501 environmental sciences Management Monitoring Policy and Law 01 natural sciences 03 medical and health sciences Hazardous waste VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Oceanography: 452 Marine debris Environmental Chemistry 14. Life underwater 030304 developmental biology 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Waste Products 0303 health sciences Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health General Medicine Public attention Biodegradation Environmental Potential harm 13. Climate action Environmental science Plastics Water Pollutants Chemical Environmental Monitoring |
| Zdroj: | Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts |
| ISSN: | 2050-7887 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/d0em00446d |
| Popis: | The presence of plastics in the marine environment poses a threat to ocean life and has received much scientific and public attention in recent years. Plastics were introduced to the market in the 1950s and since then, global production figures and ocean plastic littering have increased exponentially. Of the 359 million tonnes (Mt) produced in 2018, an estimated 14.5 Mt has entered the ocean. In particular smaller plastic particles can be ingested by marine biota causing hazardous effects. Plastic marine debris (PMD) is exposed to physical, chemical and biological stressors. These cause macro and microplastic to break down into smaller fragments, including sub micrometre sized nanoplastic particles, which may account for an important but so far unevaluated fraction of the ocean plastic budget. Physicochemical and biological deterioration of PMD also leads to the release of more volatile compounds and the terminal oxidation of PMD, which most likely accounts for an important but also unevaluated fraction in the ocean plastic budget. This minireview provides an overview on (1) the quantity of plastic production and waste, pathways for plastics to enter the marine realm, the inventory of PMD and the negative effects of PMD to ocean life. (2) We discuss plastic degradation mechanisms in the ocean, expanding on the processes of photodegradation and biodegradation. (3) This review also highlights the emerging topic of nanoplastics in the sea and provides an overview on their specific physical and chemical properties, potential harm to ocean life, and nanoplastic detection techniques. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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