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Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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Ellen MacMahon BA, MSc Research Assistant (MaREI, Coastal and Marine Governance) Clean Coasts Roadshow Schull Harbour Hotel March 23 rd 2017 Microplastics in the Marine Environment
Transcript
Page 1: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

Ellen MacMahon BA, MScResearch Assistant (MaREI, Coastal and Marine Governance)

Clean Coasts RoadshowSchull Harbour Hotel

March 23rd 2017

Microplastics in the Marine Environment

Page 2: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

What are Microplastics?

What's the Problem?

Toxic Effects – EPHEMARE Project

Our Relationship with Plastic

Marlisco

Page 3: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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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)

Page 4: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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

Page 5: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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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Page 6: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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)

Page 7: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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The ‘Friendly Floaties’

Page 8: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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

Page 9: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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

Page 10: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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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Page 11: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

Our Relationship with Plastic

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All the plastic ever created still exists on the planet

Page 12: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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

Page 13: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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)

Page 14: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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)

Page 15: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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)

Page 16: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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

Page 17: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

MARLISCO

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Page 18: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

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@ephemare

http://www.jpi-oceans.eu/ephemareor

http://www.marei.ie/ephemare/

Page 19: Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk

Thank You [email protected]

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