Abstract
The presence and accumulation of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment (including open sea and coastal
systems) is of growing concern. Once discarded in the environment, plastic debris disperse and accumulate in marine habitats all over the world (Cózar et al., 2017; Imhof et al., 2017; van Sebille et al., 2015). Reported concentrations in seawater, in interdital and subtidal sediments, and within marine organisms are highly variable spatially, even within fairly enclosed bodies of water (Eriksen et al., 2014; GESAMP, 2016). Thus, the environmental contamination caused by plastics raises
many complex issues and represents an increasing threat to marine organisms and ecosystems.
The presence of small plastic fragments in the open ocean was first documented in the 1970s (Carpenter & Smith,
1972), and the term “microplastics” was first used in 2004 (Thompson et al., 2004). Since then, research in this area has increased exponentially, leading to over 150 publications in 2014 (Barboza & Gimenez, 2015), and much more since then. Microplastics are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans and represent approximately 92.4% of the global particle count of plastics (Eriksen et al., 2014). They are present in sediments, throughout the water column, and in digestive systems, and in tissues of marine organisms (Anderson, Park, & Palace, 2016). Their ability to interact with other environmental contaminants and adsorb them at the surface, their propensity to be ingested by biota and their long residence times in the environment,make them a global concern (Fonte, Ferreira, & Guilhermino, 2016; GESAMP, 2016; Holmes, Turner, & Thompson, 2014; Jabeen et al., 2017; Luís, Ferreira, Fonte, Oliveira, & Guilhermino, 2015; Mato el al., 2001). However, despite recent research, many questions still remain, particularly in ecotoxicology studies (Law & Thompson, 2014).
This chapter compiles microplastics information regarding: (i) their sources, fate, and environmental behavior; (ii) their global distribution in the marine environment; (iii) occurrence in wild marine organisms; and (iv) their effects and toxicity in marine species; and aims to further contribute to the international debate on the microplastics global paradigm. We briefly suggest priorities and opportunities for future research.
systems) is of growing concern. Once discarded in the environment, plastic debris disperse and accumulate in marine habitats all over the world (Cózar et al., 2017; Imhof et al., 2017; van Sebille et al., 2015). Reported concentrations in seawater, in interdital and subtidal sediments, and within marine organisms are highly variable spatially, even within fairly enclosed bodies of water (Eriksen et al., 2014; GESAMP, 2016). Thus, the environmental contamination caused by plastics raises
many complex issues and represents an increasing threat to marine organisms and ecosystems.
The presence of small plastic fragments in the open ocean was first documented in the 1970s (Carpenter & Smith,
1972), and the term “microplastics” was first used in 2004 (Thompson et al., 2004). Since then, research in this area has increased exponentially, leading to over 150 publications in 2014 (Barboza & Gimenez, 2015), and much more since then. Microplastics are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans and represent approximately 92.4% of the global particle count of plastics (Eriksen et al., 2014). They are present in sediments, throughout the water column, and in digestive systems, and in tissues of marine organisms (Anderson, Park, & Palace, 2016). Their ability to interact with other environmental contaminants and adsorb them at the surface, their propensity to be ingested by biota and their long residence times in the environment,make them a global concern (Fonte, Ferreira, & Guilhermino, 2016; GESAMP, 2016; Holmes, Turner, & Thompson, 2014; Jabeen et al., 2017; Luís, Ferreira, Fonte, Oliveira, & Guilhermino, 2015; Mato el al., 2001). However, despite recent research, many questions still remain, particularly in ecotoxicology studies (Law & Thompson, 2014).
This chapter compiles microplastics information regarding: (i) their sources, fate, and environmental behavior; (ii) their global distribution in the marine environment; (iii) occurrence in wild marine organisms; and (iv) their effects and toxicity in marine species; and aims to further contribute to the international debate on the microplastics global paradigm. We briefly suggest priorities and opportunities for future research.