ORCID
- Thompson, Richard: 0000-0003-2262-6621
- De Falco, Francesca: 0000-0003-3782-4540
Abstract
Between 1950 and 2015, it is estimated that 6300 Mt of plastic waste have been produced. Of this,around the 80% ended up in landfills or in the natural environment [1]. The combination of this typeof waste disposal and of the durability and resistance to degradation of plastics, has led to the currentubiquitous and abundant presence of plastic debris in the environment. The greatest warning signalof this plastic pollution problems has come from marine environment, where it is estimated that 75%of all marine litter is plastic and this debris has been reported to be accumulating at the sea surface[2], on shorelines of the most remote islands [3], in the deep sea [4] and in arctic sea ice [5]. Despitefirst reports on marine plastic litter dates back to the 1960s (Kenyon & Kridler, 1969) only recentlyit has been recognized as a pervasive global issue [1].There is a range of evidence on the harm caused by marine litter; with negative impacts oncommercial fisheries, maritime industries and infrastructures, as well as on a wide range of marineorganisms as a consequence of entanglement and ingestion [6].Plastic debris can be defined and described according to different characteristics including origin,polymer type, shape, size, colour or original use. However, the main classification used is about thesize: macroplastic (>20 mm diameter), mesoplastic (5–20 mm) and microplastic (<5 mm) [7]. Sincemacroplastics are more visible, they have been for long time considered as one of the most concerningforms of plastic pollution. In fact, these items can be more easily recognized and categorisedaccording to their original usage (i.e. fishing, packaging, or sewage related debris). More subtle andcomplicate is instead the pollution related to the presence of microplastics that, with accumulatingdata on the impact and consequences of such debris, has received increasing research interest andcurrently represents one of the greatest challenges in the fight against plastic pollution
DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-45909-3_8
Publication Date
2020-04-24
Publication Title
Springer Water
First Page
39
Last Page
44
Embargo Period
2022-01-25
Organisational Unit
School of Biological and Marine Sciences
Recommended Citation
Thompson, R. C., & De Falco, F. (2020) 'Marine Litter', Springer Water, , pp. 39-44. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45909-3_8
