Why we need an international agreement on marine plastic pollution

Borrelle, Stephanie B.; Rochman, Chelsea M.; Liboiron, Max; Bond, Alexander L.; Lusher, Amy; Bradshaw, Hillary; Provencher, Jennifer F.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1714450114

Cited by 229 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…Thus, the true estimate of MP removal by aggregates may be closer to 100% than 7%, and the majority of affected MP particles may follow advection pathways different from the larger plastics; never reaching the gyres, and escaping the attention of scientists towing neuston nets. Borrelle et al (2017) observed a quasi-linear relationship between carbon emissions and plastic production since the early-2000s. If it is assumed that surface layer MP concentrations are also changing at the same rate as atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, then the projected surface ocean MP inventory in the model is prescribed to increase at rates on the low end of projections by Koelmans et al (2017) and Isobe et al (2019).…”

Section: The Missing Microplasticmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Critical Examination of the Role of Marine Snow and Zooplankton Fecal Pellets in Removing Ocean Surface Microplastic

2020

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Numerical simulations and emissions estimates of plastic in and to the ocean consistently over-predict the surface inventory, particularly in the case of microplastic (MP), i.e., fragments less than 5 mm in length. Sequestration in the sediments has been both predicted and, to a limited extent, observed. It has been hypothesized that biology may be exporting a significant fraction of surface MP by way of marine snow aggregation and zooplankton fecal pellets. We apply previously published data on MP concentrations in the surface ocean to an earth system model of intermediate complexity to produce a first estimate of the potential global sequestration of MP by marine aggregates, including fecal pellets. We find a MP seafloor export potential of between 7.3E3 and 4.2E5 metric tons per year, or about 0.06-8.8% of estimated total annual plastic ocean pollution rates. We find that presently, aggregates alone would have the potential to remove most existing surface ocean MP to the seafloor within less than 2 years if pollution ceases. However, the observed accumulation of MP in the surface ocean, despite this high potential rate of removal, suggests that detrital export is an ineffective pathway for permanent MP removal. We theorize a prominent role of MP biological fouling and de-fouling in the rapid recycling of aggregate-associated MP in the upper ocean. We also present an estimate of how the potential detrital MP sink might change into the future, as climate change (and projected increasing MP pollution) alters the marine habitat. The polar regions, and the Arctic in particular, are projected to experience increasing removal rates as export production increases faster than MP pollution. Northern hemisphere subtropical gyres are projected to experience slowing removal rates as stratification and warming decrease export production, and MP pollution increases. However, significant uncertainty accompanies these results.

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Section: The Missing Microplasticmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Critical Examination of the Role of Marine Snow and Zooplankton Fecal Pellets in Removing Ocean Surface Microplastic

2020

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“…While the global emission of carbon exceeds that of plastic production, the rate of increase of the latter now exceeds that of the former. Figure from Borrelle et al ().…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

679

270

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Society has become increasingly reliant on plastics since commercial production began in about 1950. Their versatility, stability, light weight, and low production costs have fueled global demand. Most plastics are initially used and discarded on land. Nonetheless, the amount of microplastics in some oceanic compartments is predicted to double by 2030. To solve this global problem, we must understand plastic composition, physical forms, uses, transport, and fragmentation into microplastics (and nanoplastics). Plastic debris/microplastics arise from land disposal, wastewater treatment, tire wear, paint failure, textile washing, and at-sea losses. Riverine and atmospheric transport, storm water, and disasters facilitate releases. In surface waters plastics/microplastics weather, biofoul, aggregate, and sink, are ingested by organisms and redistributed by currents. Ocean sediments are likely the ultimate destination. Plastics release additives, concentrate environmental contaminants, and serve as substrates for biofilms, including exotic and pathogenic species. Microplastic abundance increases as fragment size decreases, as does the proportion of organisms capable of ingesting them. Particles <20 μm may penetrate cell membranes, exacerbating risks. Exposure can compromise feeding, metabolic processes, reproduction, and behavior. But more investigation is required to draw definitive conclusions. Human ingestion of contaminated seafood and water is a concern. Microplastics indoors present yet uncharacterized risks, magnified by the time we spend inside (>90%) and the abundance of polymeric products therein. Scientific challenges include improving microplastic sampling and characterization approaches, understanding long-term behavior, additive bioavailability, and organismal and ecosystem health risks. Solutions include improving globally based pollution prevention, developing degradable polymers and additives, and reducing consumption/expanding plastic reuse.

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“…Practices we have in our daily lives can have impacts we do not see; for example, the precious metals (e.g., platinum and palladium) and rare-earth elements (e.g., yttrium, lanthanum, terbium, neodymium, gadolinium, and praseodymium) in our mobile phones are a nonrenewable resource mined mainly in Africa, a practice that can of course have a huge impact on the local biodiversity. Recent concern over plastic pollution in our oceans is another case in point-plastics from food packaging have been found in the remotest parts of the oceans (Borrelle et al, 2017;Taylor, Gwinnett, Robinson, & Woodall, 2016), and they certainly were not generated there! The effects of our behavior on a day-today basis may not be felt in our own backyard, but they may result in the destruction of biodiversity elsewhere.…”

Section: Cultivating Coll Abor Ationmentioning

confidence: 99%

People and plants: The unbreakable bond

Knapp

2018

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact Statement Plants are crucial for human survival, providing nutrition, warmth, clothing, and shelter, as well as the air that we breathe. Plants also enhance our environment by making it more beautiful and thereby enriching our lives and increasing our wellbeing. We need to study plants more and better understand their biodiversity so that we can conserve and safeguard their future to create an ecological civilization. Plant scientists must work together with other members of human societies to ensure the survival of these crucial organisms upon which we are reliant. Summary We are losing biodiversity at an unprecedented rate, which will have unknown but potentially devastating consequences for the Earth's planetary systems. Before we can conserve biodiversity, however, we must understand it, both as a concept and by performing an assessment of the diversity of life on our planet. Here, I highlight and explore the relationships between people and plants. Plants perform a diverse array of ecosystem processes, which provide us with a huge number of ecosystem services. We have domesticated a relatively tiny number of plant species to better optimize some of the products they provide us, including food, fiber, and fuel, but our relationships even with these few species are complex. Using the Solanaceae as an example, I explore the cultural, societal, economic, and nutritional aspects of our relationships with crop plants, as well as our use and knowledge of the genetic diversity stored in their wild relatives. Conserving plant biodiversity is vital for ourselves and for the rest of the biosphere, but plant scientists cannot achieve this alone. Highlighting the importance of biodiversity is key to attract public support and collaboration, enabling us to better map diversity and understand the impacts of our local behaviors on a global scale.

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Why we need an international agreement on marine plastic pollution

Cited by 229 publications

References 13 publications

A Critical Examination of the Role of Marine Snow and Zooplankton Fecal Pellets in Removing Ocean Surface Microplastic

A Critical Examination of the Role of Marine Snow and Zooplankton Fecal Pellets in Removing Ocean Surface Microplastic

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

People and plants: The unbreakable bond

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