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This report presents both short- and long-term approaches to the problem of marine plastic debris and micro plastics. It provides an overview of the latest science and experiences, identifies priority areas of action, and points out areas requiring more research. Improved waste management is urgently needed to reduce the flow of plastic into our oceans.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

The annual discharge of plastic into the ocean is estimated to be 11 million tonnes. Globally, national plastics policies are rare and tend to focus on banning or taxing individual plastic items rather than focusing on systemic change of the plastics economy. Indeed, the current policy mix will not deliver the changes needed to reduce additional marine plastic litter to zero. However, marine plastic litter entering the ocean can be reduced exponentially compared to "business as usual" using known technology and approaches. This publication qualitatively considers possible policy options to ensure that by 2050 the net volume of plastic entering the ocean is zero, in line with the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision. It shows the marine plastic litter trends relevant to 2050, summarizes the current plastic policy landscape and explores upstream and downstream interventions, concluding with a set of policy messages to deliver on the Vision and implement the systemic changes needed to improve the plastic economy.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• ContentThe exhibition MARE PLASTICUM - Art and Science for the Environment
• Margarita Cimadevila and Wolfgang Trettnak
• A brief history of plastics
• Roland Geyer
• Plastics and microplastics: Impacts in the marine environment
• Madeleine Steer and Richard C. Thompson
• The (Un)Natural History of the "Plastisphere", A New Marine Ecosystem
• Erik Zettler and Linda Amaral-Zettler
• Polarquest 2018 expedition: plastic debris at 82 Degrees07 North
• Stefano Aliani, Gianluca Casagrande, Paola Catapano and Valeria Catapano
• The impact of Marine Litter in marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean Sea: How can we protect MPAs?
• Maria Cristina Fossi and Christina Panti
• Plastic in China: a short history of a crisis
• Isabel Hilton
• "Down by the river": (micro-) plastic pollution of running freshwaters with special emphasis on the Austrian Danube
• Aaron Lechner
• Small plastic wastes in soils: What is our real perception of the problem?
• Andres Rodriguez-Seijo and Ruth Pereira
• Europe's move towards plastic free ocean
• Maris Stulgis
• Plastic Pollution in the Oceans - A Systemic Analysis: status quo and possible sustainable solutions
• Gianlauro Casoli and Shyaam Ramkumar
• "Toys for the winter" (A plastic story)
• Eugenio Triana
• "The bottlenose dolphin" (An eco-comic)
• Wolfgang Trettnak.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

This book, written by a multidisciplinary team of authors comprising scientists, artists and communicators, explores one of the most pressing issues of our time - the menace plastics pose to marine environments and organisms. It takes readers on a journey that begins on the beaches of Galicia, where the beach litter formed the starting point for an exhibition that combines art and science to alert the audience to the urgent need for action. The journey culminates with a short "plastic story", which reveals a disturbing vision of the future significance of plastics for humans, and an example of how comics can deliver information to a younger audience. Along the way there is plenty of fascinating science, such as insights into the impacts of plastics and microplastics; the new marine ecosystem, known as the "plastisphere"; and the current status of the oceans, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. The book also explores the historical developments; sustainable solutions, including the use of circular economy methodologies; and protective measures, like those being tried in China and the Far East. Lastly, it describes the role played by rivers as transport vectors for plastic, with special reference to the Danube, and to complete the picture, since most of the plastic is of terrestrial origin, it investigates problems related to microplastics in soils. .
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Additives and Chemicals in Plastics.- Food Containers and Packaging Materials as Possible Source of Hazardous Chemicals to Food.- Release of additives and monomers from plastic wastes.- Degradation of various plastics in the environment.- Occurrence of Marine Litter in the Marine Environment: A World Panorama of Floating and Seafloor Plastics.- Sources, Distribution, and Fate of Microscopic Plastics in Marine Environments.- Nature of Plastic Marine Pollution in the Subtropical Gyres.- Hazardous chemicals in plastics in marine environments: International Pellet Watch.- Sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds to plastics in marine environments: equilibrium.- Sorption of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds to Plastics in the Marine Environment: Sorption and Desorption Kinetics.- Biofilms on Plastic Debris and Their Influence on Marine Nutrient Cycling, Productivity, and Hazardous Chemical Mobility.- Ingestion of plastics by marine organisms.- Transfer of hazardous chemicals from ingested plastics to higher-trophic level organisms.- The Role of Plastic Debris as Another Source of Hazardous Chemicals in Lower-Trophic Level Organisms.- Conclusions of "Hazardous Chemicals Associated with Plastics in Environment".- Erratum to: Food Containers and Packaging Materials as Possible Source of Hazardous Chemicals to Food.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

This volume consists of 15 chapters and focuses on hazardous chemicals, how they are associated with plastics, and their environmental risks. It includes background information on plastics and additives chemistry, and their observed or potential effects on living organisms as well as the oceanographic aspects of marine debris dispersion. The respective chapters provide insights into the sorption/desorption of chemicals in and out of plastics, the mechanisms and kinetics, but also the scale of the concentrations of chemicals found in marine debris, particularly in microplastics. The occurrence of the various chemicals is analyzed, as well as the distribution profiles of the chemicals in microplastics throughout the world's oceans. The implications of the fact that plastics carry within them several chemicals are discussed in detail. In closing, new research topics that warrant further attention are identified. The book will appeal to all scientists who are already working or interested in starting to work on the topic of marine debris, as well as policymakers, NGOs and the broader informed public.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

As a specialised language, the terminology of marine pollution by plastics and microplastics is composed mainly of technical-scientific terms from the field of marine ecology, along with general-language words used with a domain-specific meaning. Since there are few existing studies focusing on the linguistic-terminological aspects of ecology, this book analyses the nature, characteristics, and possible applications of the terminology of marine plastic pollution by observing its degree of technicity in different textual genres. To this end, a small but significant corpus of texts embracing three genres (scientific, informative and normative texts) was created and processed with the aid of a software for terminological extraction. Following the results of software analysis, this book shows that this specialised language is mostly used in an expert-to-expert communicative context, although some concepts are simplified and used in other communicative situations.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

This report concludes that ""the adoption of plastic products labelled as `biodegradable' will not bring about a significant decrease either in the quantity of plastic entering the ocean or the risk of physical and chemical impacts on the marine environment"". Indeed, biodegradable polymers degrade significantly slower in the marine environment than on land. Therefore, a widespread use is said to lead to continuing littering problems and its negative impacts. Furthermore, oxo-degradable polymers would only increase the quantity of microplastics in the environment and claims stating otherwise are likely motivated by commercial interests rather than scientific evidence.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

Litter is found in all the world's seas and the ocean, even in remote areas far from human activities. The continuous growth in the amount of solid waste thrown away and the very slow degradation rate of most litter items result in the accumulation of marine litter at sea, on the sea floor and in coastal areas. Marine litter is a major global environmental problem which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been actively addressing through the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) as well as the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans. This paper addresses the questions on plastic materials being used as PCCP ingredients, as well as which ingredients are relevant for the marine litter debate. It also aims to introduce an emerging marine litter-related issue for further discussion and possible action by stakeholders.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Synthetic seas
• Junk & gyre
• IMUA
• Junk-o-philia: our obsession with stuff
• Thrown away
• Coming unscrewed: the little fish in the big sea
• "Junk in, junk out"
• Guadalupe loop: the recycling myth
• Too wasteful to value: ChicoBag vs. plastic-bag lobby
• Waves and windmills: a case for the eco-pragmatist
• Wasting away: the fate, fallacy, and fantasy of ocean cleanup
• Synthetic drift: human health and our trash
• Little fish bites big fish
• A plastic smog
• The great divide: the linear vs. circular economy
• A revolution by design
• Embrace.

"An exciting account of an activist scientist's unorthodox fight in the growing movement against plastic marine pollution and of his expedition across the Pacific on a home-made "junk raft" Over the past several years, the news media has brought the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch"--The famous swirling gyre of plastic litter in the ocean--into the public consciousness. When Marcus Eriksen cofounded the 5 Gyres Institute with his wife, Anna, and set out to study marine pollution, they found that the reality is even more dire: instead of a stable mass of litter, they discovered that a "plastic smog" of microparticles permeates the world's oceans, defying simplistic clean-up efforts. What's more, these microplastics and their toxic chemistry have seeped into the food chain, threatening marine life and humans alike. Far from being a gloomy treatise on an environmental catastrophe, though, Junk Raft tells the exciting story of Eriksen's fight to raise awareness and solve the problem of plastic pollution, contributing to a fast-growing movement to stem the tide of trash. Eriksen writes of his voyage from Los Angeles to Hawaii aboard his homemade "junk raft," and along the way he recounts the successful efforts to fight corporate influence and demand that plastics producers take responsibility for a problem they've created. Eriksen provides concrete, actionable solutions and an empowering message: it's up to bold, brash, unapologetically activist "citizen scientists" to challenge the status quo for the sake of the planet"-- Provided by publisher.

• Plastics in the Anthropocene / Anthony L Andrady
• Plastic Additives in the Ocean / Jennifer M Lynch, Katrina Knauer, Katherine R Shaw
• Deconstructing the Plastic Soup / Anna Schwarz, Tim Emmerik
• Collection and Characterization of Microplastics Debris in Marine Ecosystems / Jun-Li Xu, Ming Zhao, Brijesh Kumar Tiwari, Aoife A Gowen
• Estimating Microplastics in Deep Water / Winnie Courtene-Jones, Kai Liu, Daoji Li
• Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor / Francois Galgani, Angiolillo Michela, Olivia Gérigny, Thomas Maes, Eric Tambutté, Peter T Harris
• Plastics in Freshwater Bodies / L Lebreton, M Kooi, T Mani, S M Mintenig, M B Tekman, Tim Emmerik, H Wolter
• Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics / Anthony L Andrady, Bimali Koongolla
• Pollutants Sorbed Onto Microplastics / Jianlong Wang, Xuan Guo
• Colonization of Plastic Marine Debris / Linda A Amaral-Zettler
• Marine Biodegradation of Common Plastics / Anthony L Andrady
• Ingestion of Microplastics by Marine Animals / Winnie Courtene-Jones, Nathaniel J Clark, Astrid C Fischer, Natalie S Smith, Richard C Thompson
• Microplastics in Fish and Seafood Species / Amy L Lusher, Garth A Covernton
• Nanoplastics and the Marine Environment / Lia N Corbett, Linda A Amaral-Zettler
• Human Behavior and Marine Plastic Pollution / S Nuojua, D Cracknell, S Pahl
• Legal and Policy Frameworks for Preventing and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution / Karen Raubenheimer.

An insightful and multidisciplinary exploration of plastic pollutants in the ocean environment In Plastics and the Ocean, renowned researcher Anthony L. Andrady delivers a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the sources, characterization, and environmental impacts of plastics in the ocean. The book focuses on macroplastics as well as micro-scale and nanoscale plastics and the human impacts of these that reach consumers via seafood. It also addresses the human behavioral aspects of the problem via discussions of the mismanagement of urban litter. A diverse collection of expert perspectives is arranged logically and guides the reader through this fast-evolving multi-disciplinary subject area. Beginning with an overview of the field, the book goes on to explore the importance of this area of research to related disciplines and to the everyday lives of consumers. This text offers engineers and scientists an up-to-date review of the subject and the state of the art as summarized by key researchers in the field. The book includes: A synthesis of leading voices in oceanography, biogeochemistry, industrial chemistry, ecotoxicology, polymer science, and behavioral science Discussions of the impacts of a range of marine plastics, including large debris, microplastics, and nanoplastics A summary of the abundance and impacts of plastics in various niches in the marine environment Descriptions of the current methodologies for sampling, detection, processing, and identification of plastic waste Plastics and the Ocean is an indispensable resource for professionals, researchers, instructors, and graduate students in polymer science, marine biology, and environmental engineering. It's also a must-read text for chemical engineers, materials scientists, and environmental engineers seeking a one-stop resource that describes the origins, occurrence, composition, environmental fate, and biological impacts of plastic pollutants in an ocean environment.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

As a specialised language, the terminology of marine pollution by plastics and microplastics is composed mainly of technical-scientific terms from the field of marine ecology, along with general-language words used with a domain-specific meaning. Since there are few existing studies focusing on the linguistic-terminological aspects of ecology, this book analyses the nature, characteristics, and possible applications of the terminology of marine plastic pollution by observing its degree of technicity in different textual genres. To this end, a small but significant corpus of texts embracing three genres (scientific, informative and normative texts) was created and processed with the aid of a software for terminological extraction. Following the results of software analysis, this book shows that this specialised language is mostly used in an expert-to-expert communicative context, although some concepts are simplified and used in other communicative situations.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Introduction
• The importance of oceans
• The species plasticus maritimus
• Do you want to know more about plastic?
• Common ocean plastic
• Exotic ocean plastic
• How to go into the field
• What we can do
• Recycling: why can't we just relax?

"Clever...beguiling....Readers age 11 and older are likely to finish this book feeling both persuaded and uplifted. Beauty has a way of doing that." -Wall Street Journal For young readers comes an imaginative guide to ocean plastics, filled with tips and tricks for identifying-and combating-pollution in our oceans. Inspired by biologist AnaPego's life's work, and filled with engaging science and colorful photographs, this foundational look at plastic pollution in the ocean explains why it is such an urgent contemporary issue. When she was young, Ana Pego didn't play in a backyard, but on a beach. She walked along the shore, looked at tide pools, and collected fossils. As she grew older, Pego noticed a new species at the seaside: plastic. She decided to collect it, study it, and give it a Latin name-Plasticus maritimus-to warn people of its dangers to our planet. Pego tells us how plastics end up in our rivers, lakes, and oceans, shares plastic's chemical composition and physical properties, and offers a field guide to help readers identify and understand this new invasive species in all its forms, from the obvious (fishing nets and water bottles) to the unfamiliar (tiny, clear particles called microplastics). Finally, she offers a critical look at our current "solutions" to plastic contamination and in her most important proposal-REVOLUTIONIZE-calls for deep changes in our habits, motivating young and old alike to make a difference, together. An artificial and almost indestructible species, Plasticus maritimus deserves to have its days numbered! Together, we can send it packing. "A cleverly conceived and comprehensive introduction to a serious issue."- Kirkus Reviews Honorable Mention-Bologna Ragazzi Award. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Preface
• Summary
• Introduction
• Materials and methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• References
• Appendix A
• Appendix B.

Northern fulmars are seabirds which feed exclusively at sea, and as such, they are useful indicators of ocean health. Marine plastic pollution is an ever-increasing and global issue that affects the northern fulmar as they are frequently found to have ingested plastic. In this report we investigate whether the amount of ingested plastic affects the concentration of certain plastic-adsorbed toxicants in their tissues. Marine plastic pollution is a field of utmost importance. It is our hope that this continues to be an area which receives increased attention in order to elucidate the potential harmful effects plastics have on the northern fulmar and ocean health, in general.

Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet its become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. Along the way she meets scientists, researchers, influencers, and volunteers who shed light on the effects of our rabid plastic consumption and learns the problem is more insidious than we could have ever imagined.