Marine debris, plastics, microplastics and nano-plastics: What next?

摘要

I was fascinated when I read that ingested nano-plastic particles can be transmitted from one generation to the next. This has serious implications in the food chain, environment and subsequently to human health. Hence this editorial to explore challenges of plastic, microplastics and nano-plastics. Marine debris is any manufactured or processed solid substance that ends up in the coastal or marine environment owing to direct disposal, litter carried by storm water runoff, and/or uncontrolled emissions from land-based disposal facilities. Marine debris can also be defined as persistent solid substances that are present in the marine environment. It includes substances that are transported through sewage systems, draining, wind or rivers. It has been estimated that almost 6.4 million tonnes of marine debris are introduced into the marine environments annually. Previous literature reveals that 44% of rivers, 33% of coastal and land runoff, 12% of oil spilled and leakages from ships, 10% of direct disposal into sea and 1% offshore mining of oil and gas constitute the various sources of pollution to the marine environments (Ngah et al., 2012). Recent findings also show that an estimated 80% of debris that reached the sea is carried by runoff or wind, or dumped intentionally, directly from the shore; while offshore platforms and vessels constitute the remaining 20%. Among marine debris pollutants, plastic-based materials constitute the largest portion of wastes in the oceans globally, and were estimated to be between 60% and 80% from the total marine debris (Mobilik et al., 2014). Marine debris floating on the surface of marine waters act as foreign materials that are dispersed in marine environments. It has been reported that the increased rate of accumulation of marine debris in recent years has affected some 267 species of animals, including seabirds, turtles, fish and marine mammals. Apart from the ugly aesthetics caused by marine debris pollution, it has also been attributed to other harmful effects, such as injuries and health effects, as well as other social and economic impacts, such as damage to shipping operations (Mobilik et al., 2014, 2017).