Thunder in Marine Ecosystem

Plastics

These days, plastics are found in all oceans around the world, and most of the plastic are not biodegradable. It is estimated that all conventional plastics that end up in the oceans remain there. They will do so for hundreds of years, maybe even longer. The quantities of microplastics in the oceans within their sources, and their impacts on marine organisms are still fragmentary. At the same time, the discharge of plastics into the marine environment is not abating. Once there, plastics are very difficult to get rid of.

Marine Litter

This gives cause for concern, and reason to limit the discharge of plastics into marine environment by political means. Marine litter is a global concern, affecting all the oceans of the world. Every year, millions upon millions of tonnes of litter end up in the oceans worldwide. Posing environmental, economic, health and aesthetic problems. Poor practices of solid waste management, waste water (including storm water) collection/treatment, and lack of infrastructure, substantially aggravates the situation. As does the lack of awareness from the public about the consequences of their actions.

Microplastics

Ülgen Aytan, researchers from the university’s Department of Marine Biology, says plastics which degrade into microplastics at sea through physical, biological and chemical processes are particularly threatening for the ecosystem. “Their number grows every day and the area they cover expands as well. The fish predator of plankton often mistake them for those creatures as both are about the same size and sometimes, they mix with plankton and are ingested anyway by fish,” she told Demirören News Agency (DHA).

Microplastics can attract fat-soluble and hazardous substances in the marine environment. The properties of plastics mean that they are able to bind together. Containing concentrations of environmental pollutants – up to a million times higher than that of seawater. According to the EU list of priority pollutants, 61% of environmental pollutants on and in plastic debris in the oceans are classified as hazardous. This is because they cause genetic damage and can be carcinogenic or endocrine disruptive.

Environmental Pollutants

According to Greenpeace, about 108 kilograms (238 pounds) of waste were collected during a clean-up action on the shores of the Black Sea last year – 94% of which was plastic. Research shows that environmental pollutants are generally more easily released from plastics when in the digestive tracts of animals, rather than in seawater. This increases the risk of transfer of hazardous substances for animals that ingest plastic. In addition, pollutants are more easily released from plastics in the stomach of warm-blooded animals, such as birds or mammals, compared with fish and crustaceans.

Recycling

One way to reduce the negative impacts of plastics on the environment, is to limit the number of dangerous additives used in production. This action needs the combination with phasing out and regulating chemicals with similar properties on a group basis. A more effective way of tackling the chemicals problem, instead of addressing them one-by-one. Assessing from a circular economy and lifecycle perspective, these measures would also facilitate the recycling of plastic.

Avoiding the production of new plastics altogether whenever possible is the most reliable way to avoid the generation of microplastics. This being primary microplastics (needed for the production of new plastic articles) or secondary (resulting during breakdown of larger plastic items). These solutions will bring greater alignment between stakeholders on the utility of plastic in society. Also, a more equitable end-of-life, where environmental and social justice are integrated in the full cost of plastic.

References

1. Ivar Do Sul, J. A. & Costa, M. F. The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Environ. Pollut. 185, 352–364 (2014).
2. Savoca, M. S., Wohlfeil, M. E., Ebeler, S. E. & Nevitt, G. A. Marine plastic debris emits a keystone infochemical for olfactory foraging seabirds. Sci. Adv. 2, 1–8 (2016).
3. Magnusson, K. et al. Swedish sources and pathways for microplastics to the marine environment. A review of existing data. (2016).
4. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/404496/SDG-14-policy-brief.pdf
5. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-61615-5_13
6. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-study-shows-microplastics-damage-black-sea-habitat/news