Can plastics affect near surface layer ocean processes and climate?

VishnuRadhan, Renjith; Eldho, T. I.; David, T. Divya

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.052

Cited by 24 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Furthermore, chemically changing processes will not eliminate the enormous amount of emissions produced, despite the possibility that the development of renewable energy-based polymeric materials could reduce GHG emissions from production units [138]. Plastics-induced variations in solar radiation in the water column can alter physical processes at the ocean's surface and near-surface layers as well as trigger climate feedback mechanisms [161].…”

Section: Impact Of Micro and Nano Plastics On Ecosystem Services And Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

et al. 2021

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Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms. Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills. In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills. The leakage of plastic wastes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The management of plastic waste is a challenging problem for researchers, policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize the current understanding and concerns of plastics pollution (microplastics or nanoplastics) on natural ecosystems. The overall goal of this review is to provide background assessment on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on natural ecosystems; interlink the management of plastic pollution with sustainable development goals; address the policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainability; identify the knowledge gaps; and provide current policy recommendations. Plastic waste management through community involvement and socio-economic inputs in different countries are presented and discussed. Plastic ban policies and public awareness are likely the major mitigation interventions. The need for life cycle assessment and circularity to assess the potential environmental impacts and resources used throughout a plastic product’s life span is emphasized. Innovations are needed to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover plastics and find eco-friendly replacements for plastics. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced. Plastic pollution is a global concern that must be addressed collectively with the utmost priority.

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Section: Impact Of Micro and Nano Plastics On Ecosystem Services And Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

et al. 2021

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“…As sea ice acts as a temporary sink and a reservoir for MPs, and the extent and thickness of the sea ice are reducing because of global climate change, changing temperature and precipitation regimes and altered salinity values are also expected to potentially modify MPs abundance, with consequent impacts at different trophic levels. In marine environments, the presence of MPs can influence water temperatures and physicochemical properties, potentially initiating climate feedback cycles in ocean surface layers [42]. MPs from marine aerosol may settle in the land ice and be released to waters derived from its melting [20].…”

Section: Plastic Pollution and Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Small Microplastics: A yet Unknown Threat in the Svalbard (Norway) Region

Caruso,

Iannilli,

Vitale

et al. 2023

JMSE

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The Arctic Ocean is undergoing several transformations because of global climate change. Small microplastics (SMPs) or nanoplastics (NPs) carried by marine aerosols may settle in the land ice and be released to the waters, produced following its melting. As sea ice extent reduces and shipping and fishing activities increase, microplastics (MPs) may enter the region following ocean and maritime transports, with implications on Arctic biota, human health, and socioeconomic issues related to the exploitation of marine resources. First analyses on amphipods collected in Ny-Ålesund confirmed the presence of SMPs. Nevertheless, the threat posed by SMPs/NPs to polar biota and regional human health is not fully understood. This article addresses this issue and the need for organisms as potential bioindicators of plastic pollution, which is currently being carried out in the Svalbard region under the framework of the MICROTRACER project funded by the Italian Arctic Research Program (PRA, Call 2021). The outputs of this research are expected to contribute to deepening the current knowledge of SMPs in Svalbard, providing new insights on their occurrence, distribution, and transfer through the marine trophic web, to realize effective control and regulatory framework measures to implement an integrated multidisciplinary approach for monitoring and to reduce MPs pollution in this fragile polar environment.

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“…In a recent study, the calculated the effective radiative forcing by atmospheric microplastics was to be 0.044±0.399 fW m −2 in the present-day atmosphere with assuming a uniform surface concentrations of 1 microplastic particle per cubic metre and a vertical distribution up to 10 kilometers altitude, which highlighted the light-absorption of microplastics (Revell et al, 2021). Plastic particles in the marine environment can contribute to the warming or cooling of the water column by scattering and attenuating incoming solar radiation, leading to potential changes in the optical and other physicochemical properties of the water column, which may induce climate feedback cycles in the ocean surface and near-surface layers (VishnuRadhan et al, 2019). In the Arctic region, an experimental study found that the accumulation of microplastics at the surface of the sea ice created impurities, which can diffuse reflected incidental light and increase the albedo (Geilfus et al, 2019).…”

Section: J O U R N a L P R E -P R O O Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status and future perspectives of microplastic pollution in typical cryospheric regions

Zhang

Gao

Kang

et al. 2022

Earth-Science Reviews

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The cryosphere is the term used to describe the frozen areas of the Earth, including all forms of snow and ice, which are primarily influenced by anthropogenic pollutants through atmospheric transport. In this review, we described the current status of newly emergent pollutant-microplastics-in the snow and ice of typical cryospheric regions (e.g., Arctic, Antarctic, Alps, Tibetan Plateau, and Andes), discussed their transport pathways, and provided perspectives for future research. A brief summary of snow and ice sampling, pretreatment, and the identification of microplastics in cryospheric regions suggests that standard procedures are inadequate and urgently require improvement. Microplastics are widely distributed in snow and ice across the typical cryospheric regions, indicating the ubiquitous distribution of microplastics in

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Can plastics affect near surface layer ocean processes and climate?

Cited by 24 publications

References 55 publications

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Small Microplastics: A yet Unknown Threat in the Svalbard (Norway) Region

Current status and future perspectives of microplastic pollution in typical cryospheric regions

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