Ellen MacMahon BA, MScResearch Assistant (MaREI, Coastal and Marine Governance)
Clean Coasts RoadshowSchull Harbour Hotel
March 23rd 2017
Microplastics in the Marine Environment
What are Microplastics?
What's the Problem?
Toxic Effects – EPHEMARE Project
Our Relationship with Plastic
Marlisco
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Source: kai sender (flickr)
Source: woodleywondersworks (flickr) Source: Hillary daniels (flickr)
Source: Nels Israelson (flickr) Source: Marche Polytechnic University
Source: IFREMER
Source: Melly Kay (flickr) Source: MPCA Photos (flickr)
In the News
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“Health fears over microplastics in our seafood” Sky News
“Sick whale had 30 plastic bags inside stomach” Sky News
“UN report says need for more data on microplastics in food fish” Chemical Watch
“Coveney seeks views on microbead ban” Irish Times
“Microplastics: from must-have to hated cosmetic ingredient” Irish Times
“Microplastics discovered in deep, open ocean” Science Daily
“Pesky plastic: The true harm of microplastics in the oceans”National Geographic
What are Microplastics?
Microplastics are defined as particles, films or plastic fibres less than 5mm in size.
2 types of microplastics: – Primary Microplastics: Plastics that have been purposefully
created– Secondary Microplastics: Created from the breakdown of
larger plastic items
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Global Release of Primary Microplastics to the World Oceans
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City dust
Road markings
Marine coatings Personal care
Plastic pellets
Synthetic Textiles
Tyres
Source: IUCN, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans (2017)
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The ‘Friendly Floaties’
What's the Problem?
Large plastic items can be ingested by marine mammals such as whales. They can also trap smaller marine life, for example discarded fishing nets ‘ghost fishing’.
Microplastics can be ingested almost across the entire marine food web.
8Source: University of Heidelberg Source: Marche Polytechnic UniversitySource: Nels Israelson
The Transfer of Microplastics
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A large portion of mussels may contain roughly 90 pieces of plasticRegular seafood eaters could be ingesting around 11,000 microplastics per year
EPHEMAREEPHEMARE (Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in marine ecosystems) is one of 4 approved JPI Oceans Projects from the 2014 call on ecological effects of microplastics.
EPHEMARE targets:– The uptake, tissue distribution, final fate and effects of
microplastics in organisms. – The potential role of microplastics as vectors of model
Persistent Pollutants that readily absorb to their surfaces.
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Our Relationship with Plastic
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All the plastic ever created still exists on the planet
Breakdown of Plastic Items
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Fishing Line 600 Years
Plastic Bag10-20 years
Styrofoam Cup50 Years
Plastic Bottle450 Years
Cigarette Butt 1-5 Years
40% of plastics in Europe are only used once
2617 2467 2067 2032 2020
Solutions
Improved waste management and changing the way we rely on plastic is critical.– The 5Rs: Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and re-design
13Source: Head & Shoulders
Source: Adidas Source: woodleywondersworks (flickr)
Ban/tax on single use bags (and other items such as balloons) and create an environmental fund.
– Example: Plastic bag levy (2002 & 2007): dramatic decrease in plastic bag usage from ~328 bags per capita (pre tax) to ~14 bags per capita in 2014
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Source: frank servayge (flickr)
Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS)– Plastic bottles carry a deposit (Norway 500ml = 10cent deposit, larger
bottles = 30cent deposit), the money is given back to the consumer upon return of the plastic bottle.
15Source: kai sender (flickr) Source: Hillary daniels (flickr)
Microbead ban.– US – Microbead – Free Waters Act 2015 enacted – Calls for
a nationwide ban on the creation and sale of products that contain microbeads by 2018 - effective from July 2017.
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• Ireland:– Similar legislation currently under debate.– Public consultation on the legislation opened in February.
Survey available on the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government
Source: 5 Gyres Institute
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@ephemare
http://www.jpi-oceans.eu/ephemareor
http://www.marei.ie/ephemare/
Thank You [email protected]
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