State Of The Science White Paper A Summary Of Literature On The Chemical Toxicity Of Plastics Pollution To Aquatic Life And Aquatic Dependent Wildlife

The purpose of this report is to synthesize the state of the science on the potential chemical toxicity of ingested plastic and associated chemicals on aquatic organisms and aquatic-dependent wildlife. The focus of this document is primarily on marine systems, with data provided on the Great Lakes and other freshwater systems, where available. Since mass-production of plastics began in the 1940s and 1950s, the amount of plastic debris entering marine and freshwater ecosystems has increased by several orders of magnitude (Cole et al., 2011). However, recently the accumulation and potential impacts of plastic pollution has been recognized as an emerging environmental issue (GESAMP 2015; UNEP 2016). Recent estimates suggest that 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic waste entered the global marine environment in 2010 (Jambeck et al., 2015). Plastics, including bags, packing materials, water bottles, and fishing line and their breakdown products are now found throughout marine ecosystems and in the Great Lakes and other freshwater ecosystems, including near urban and remote beaches, in the open ocean, in sediments, within the water column, and in Arctic Sea ice (Derraik, 2002; Law & Thompson 2014; Eerkes-Medrano et al., 2015). Plastic particles are generally the most abundant type of debris encountered in the marine environment with estimates suggesting that plastics comprise between 60% and 80% of total marine debris (Derraik, 2002).

Plastic plays a vital role in today's world but has become increasingly problematic. Plastics and Microplastics: A Reference Handbook discusses the history and evolution of plastic and its many uses, both in the United States and around the world. Beginning with a history of plastic—from the first scientific discovery of the material to its diversity of forms and uses in the present day—Plastics and Microplastics: A Reference Handbook discusses the history and evolution of plastic and its many uses, both in the United States and around the world. Importantly, it delves into the problems and controversies concerning plastic and microplastics, such as the pollution of oceans, rivers, and streams; its exceptionally long shelf life; its contribution to air pollution; and ingestion of microplastics by marine life. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is its survey of the history of plastics and microplastics conducted in a manner that helps readers to identify key issues to address. Moreover, it discusses both implemented and proposed solutions. A perspectives chapter includes a broad range of voices, allowing crucial, diverse perspectives to round out the author's expertise.

This timely Handbook provides a state-of-the-art overview of research on changing behaviour to become less environmentally harmful. Exploring how well-designed, contextually appropriate behaviour change interventions can work, it charts a path that challenges traditional assumptions to maximise environmental impact.

This contributed volume focuses on the effects of macro, meso, micro, and nanoplastic waste on marine biota. It discusses the threats posed by plastic waste on the flora and fauna in the marine environment. This book will help in understanding different aspects of plastic waste generation, its transportation with different natural and anthropogenic ways, its accumulation at the seacoast, and its impact on marine biota. The book also suggests strategies for saving marine life from threats posed by plastic waste and presents methods to reduce its generation using different strategies. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, climate change scientists, capacity builders, and policymakers. It also serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Ecology, Botany, and Environmental Sciences.

Doing Honest Work in College stands on three principles: do the work you say you do, give others credit, and present your research fairly. These are straightforward concepts, but the abundance of questionable online sources and temptation of a quick copy-paste can cause confusion as to what’s considered citing and what’s considered cheating. This guide starts out by clearly defining plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty and then gives students the tools they need to avoid those pitfalls. This edition addresses the acceptable use of mobile devices on tests, the proper approach to sources such as podcasts or social media posts, and the limitations of citation management software.

Information modeling and knowledge bases have become essential subjects in the last three decades, not only in academic communities related to information systems and computer science, but also in the areas of business where information technology is applied. This book presents the proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Information Modelling and Knowledge Bases (EJC2018), held in Riga, Latvia from 4–8 June 2018. The aim of the conference was to bring together experts with a common interest in the understanding and solving of problems on information modelling and knowledge bases, as well as those from different areas of computer science and other disciplines who apply the results of research to practice. The 39 accepted papers collected here cover a variety of topics, including: conceptual modeling; knowledge and information modeling and discovery; linguistic modeling; cross-cultural communication and social computing; multimedia data modeling and systems; and environmental modeling and engineering. The book will be of interest to researchers and practitioners alike, and to anyone wanting a better understanding of current advances in information technology.

This book describes how man-made litter, primarily plastic, has spread into the remotest parts of the oceans and covers all aspects of this pollution problem from the impacts on wildlife and human health to socio-economic and political issues. Marine litter is a prime threat to marine wildlife, habitats and food webs worldwide. The book illustrates how advanced technologies from deep-sea research, microbiology and mathematic modelling as well as classic beach litter counts by volunteers contributed to the broad awareness of marine litter as a problem of global significance. The authors summarise more than five decades of marine litter research, which receives growing attention after the recent discovery of great oceanic garbage patches and the ubiquity of microscopic plastic particles in marine organisms and habitats. In 16 chapters, authors from all over the world have created a universal view on the diverse field of marine litter pollution, the biological impacts, dedicated research activities, and the various national and international legislative efforts to combat this environmental problem. They recommend future research directions necessary for a comprehensive understanding of this environmental issue and the development of efficient management strategies. This book addresses scientists, and it provides a solid knowledge base for policy makers, NGOs, and the broader public.

Plastic has become a ubiquitous part of modern life. A cheap, lightweight material, it is used in everything from food packaging to consumer electronics and microbeads in cosmetic products. However, we are becoming increasingly aware of the problems our reliance on plastic is causing in the environment. For example, recent campaigns have highlighted the build-up of microbeads in the marine environment and the damage this is doing to wildlife, and the problem of marine litter, often in very remote locations. There are also concerns over exposure to plasticisers and their possible consequences for health. The plastics industry is under increasing pressure, not only from the government and environmental groups, but also from consumers, to improve the environmental impact of their products. This book presents an introduction to the uses of plastics and an overview of how they interact with the environment. It is a valuable resource for students studying environmental science as well as researchers working in the plastics industry, and policy makers and regulators concerned with waste disposal and environmental planning and conservation.