Sources and Leakages of Microplastics in Cruise Ship Wastewater

Abstract

To date, the contribution of sea-based sources to the global marine litter and plastic pollution problem remains poorly understood. Cruise ships produce large amounts of wastewater and concentrate their activities in fragile and ecologically valuable areas. This paper explores for the first time the sources of microplastics in cruise ship wastewater, as well as their pathways from source to sea. It thereto uses a novel approach for the identification of sources and pathways, based on scientific literature on microplastic sources and pathways, literature on cruise operations and wastewater management as well as a questionnaire among cruise lines. The study highlights personal care and cosmetic products, cleaning and maintenance products and synthetic microfibers released from textiles in laundry as relevant source categories. Untreated grey water and the overboard discharge of biosludge, resulting from the treatment of sewage and grey water, were identified as key pathways. Cruise lines can reduce microplastic emissions by adapting their purchasing policies for personal care, cosmetic, cleaning and maintenance products and professional textiles. In addition, the holistic management of all wastewater streams and resulting waste products is essential to prevent leakages of microplastics from cruise ships to vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the approach can be used to guide company-level assessments and can be modified to address microplastic leakages in other maritime sectors.

Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator

“…Shoreline sites associated with recreational activities exhibited elevated plastic-particle concentrations. Rivers play a significant role in transporting plastic debris from catchment areas to lakes, estuaries, and marine environments, with sediment samples at river mouths reflecting contributions from upstream urban and agricultural areas [92], similar to our study. Agricultural runoff, particularly from smallholder vegetable farms, introduces plastic particles to surface waters.…”

“…Conversely, the consistent abundance of fibres across all stations was likely due to their higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and the presence of wastewater treatment plant outfalls at each end of the study area [91]. In another study between MP distribution and sediments of lakes, urban activities were identified as the main contributing factor [92]. In Lake Ziway, plastic particles likely enter the lake through wastewater drainage from Batu town, rivers traversing urban areas (such rivers), and surface runoff during heavy rainfall.…”

“…In Lake Ziway, plastic particles likely enter the lake through wastewater drainage from Batu town, rivers traversing urban areas (such rivers), and surface runoff during heavy rainfall. Sediment samples collected from sites receiving urban waste and river inflows showed high concentrations of plastic particles, indicating the primary entry pathways into the lake [92]. Apart from urban activities, fishing and tourism activities, including boating, restaurants, resorts, and both commercial and subsistence fishing, contribute to plastic litter in aquatic ecosystems.…”

Optimizing Route and Speed under the Sulfur Emission Control Areas for a Cruise Liner: A New Strategy Considering Route Competitiveness and Low Carbon

“…Along with the increase in green shipping, the growth of cruise demand, and its economic relevance in port cities, researchers have started to analyze the impact of cruise sector activities on pollution in ports. To limit cruise ship emissions such as CO 2 , SO 2 , NOx, PM2.5, and wastewater, maritime policies were designed to force cruise operators to reconsider operation practices and introduce cleaner technologies [29,30]. Ref.…”

Network Analysis of Ship Domestic Sewage Discharge—The Yangtze River Case

“…Depending on the activities conducted on board each ship specifically, the quantity and makeup of the household sewage varies. Large cruise ships offer amenities that are comparable to those found in land-based hotel resorts, including kitchens, swimming pools, hair salons, dry cleaning, and restaurants [5]. Chemicals are frequently used for normal maintenance (such as cleaning pipes and water) and passenger services [6,7].…”