Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk
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Clean Coasts Roadshow presentation on microplastics and marine litter
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Microplastics and marine litter clean coasts talk
- 1. Ellen MacMahon BA, MSc Research Assistant (MaREI, Coastal and Marine Governance) Clean Coasts Roadshow Schull Harbour Hotel March 23rd 2017 Microplastics in the Marine Environment
- 2. What are Microplastics? What's the Problem? Toxic Effects – EPHEMARE Project Our Relationship with Plastic Marlisco
- 3. 3 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)
- 4. In the News 4 “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
- 5. 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 5
- 6. Global Release of Primary Microplastics to the World Oceans 6 City dust Road markings Marine coatings Personal care Plastic pellets Synthetic Textiles Tyres Source: IUCN, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans (2017)
- 8. 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. 8 Source: University of Heidelberg Source: Marche Polytechnic UniversitySource: Nels Israelson
- 9. The Transfer of Microplastics 9 A large portion of mussels may contain roughly 90 pieces of plastic Regular seafood eaters could be ingesting around 11,000 microplastics per year
- 10. EPHEMARE EPHEMARE (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. 10
- 11. Our Relationship with Plastic 11 All the plastic ever created still exists on the planet
- 12. Breakdown of Plastic Items 12 Fishing Line 600 Years Plastic Bag 10-20 years Styrofoam Cup 50 Years Plastic Bottle 450 Years Cigarette Butt 1-5 Years 40% of plastics in Europe are only used once 2617 2467 2067 2032 2020
- 13. Solutions Improved waste management and changing the way we rely on plastic is critical. – The 5Rs: Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and re-design 13 Source: Head & Shoulders Source: Adidas Source: woodleywondersworks (flickr)
- 14. 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 14 Source: frank servayge (flickr)
- 15. 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. 15 Source: kai sender (flickr) Source: Hillary daniels (flickr)
- 16. 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. 16 • 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
- 17. MARLISCO 17
Editor's Notes
- Amend format, text and images as necessary
- 30% primary microplastics – microbeads (2%), debris from tyres and microfibers 70% secondary microplastics. Average 9.5 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year
- 29,000 plastic yellow ducks washed into the Pacific Ocean in 1992. Some of the toys landed along Pacific Ocean shores, like Hawaii. Others travelled over 17,000 miles, floating over the site where the Titanic sank, and spent years frozen in Arctic ice to reach the Eastern Seaboard, British and Irish shores 15 years later in 2007.
- Plastics are made from a polymer mixed with a complex blend of additives such as stabilisers, plasticisers and pigments, and might contain unintended substances in the form of impurities and contaminants. Substances such as bisphenol A (BPA) and certain phthalates, which are used as plasticisers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), have already raised concerns about the risk of adverse effects on human health and the environment, concerns that have motivated some regulators and businesses to act.36 In addition, there are uncertainties about the potential consequences of long-term exposure to other substances found in today’s plastics, about their combined effects and about the consequences of leakage into the biosphere. The 150 million tonnes of plastics currently in the ocean include roughly 23 million tonnes of additives, of which some raise concern. While the speed at which these additives leach out of the plastic into the environment is still subject to debate, estimates suggest that about 225,000 tonnes of such additives could be released into the ocean annually.
- PET – Bottles is roughly 7% of 322MT (2015) = 21MT PET in 2015
- If Shakespeare had thrown a plastic bottle into the ocean it would still be around
- Irelands plastic bag levy was introduced in 2002 (15 cent per bag). It had an immediate effect on consumer behaviour with a decrease in plastic bag usage from ~328 bags per capita to ~21 bags per capita. This has further fallen to ~14 bags per capita in 2014. The current levy of 22cent per bag was introduced in 2007 after the bags per capita increased to 31 during 2006.
- Norway has the most effective DRS. 96% of bottles are returned by consumers for recycling. It has been so effective that now the majority of plastic washed up on Norwegian beaches comes from abroad. PET, the form of plastic used in water and soft-drinks bottles, has a relatively high value. By keeping the empties separate from other kerbside recycling the plastic remains uncontaminated and attracts a premium price from companies making new bottles. Landfill ban? In place in 10 European countries. However it has increased the amount being incinerated. In Denmark, the landfill ban has seen a rise in incineration as well as a rise of waste generation of 37.5%.
- MaREI is an SFI Centre coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute, UCC, with support from SEAI, EI, EPA, ERDF, EU, HEA and IRCSET, as well as through contributions from our industry partners. Amend logos on funding slide to acknowledge all funders and/or industry partners Use strip of academic partner logos as banner at end of slide