Editorial

摘要

Investigations show that indiscriminate dumping of waste materials in the oceans is gradually turning these water bodies into dumping sites. A wide range of waste materials can be found in the oceans, including plastics, rope, fishing nets, balloons, buoys, glass bottles, cigarette lighters, beverage cans, medical waste andrntrash from merchant and cruise ships. About 6.4 million tonnes of litter normally end up in oceans annually, of which about 5.6 million tonnes (88%) comes from merchant shipping (United Nations Environment Programme). Mass concentrations of marine debris in high seas accumulation areas, such as the equatorial convergence zone and the North Pacific Gyre (or 'Pacific Trash Voltcx') are of particular concern. It is estimated that 10 000 containers from container ships are 'lost' in the sea annually, especially during storms. These containers contain a wide range of goods made of plastics and other materials that float and add more material to the accumulation zones.