How much do we know about microplastic pollution in biota ... · WESTPAC Microplastic Research Programme Major activities in the inception phase I. Overview of microplastic pollution

How much do we know about

microplastic pollution in biota and the

marine environment?

Zulfigar Yasin1, Aileen Tan1 and Wenxi Zhu2

Science to Enable and Empower Asia Pacific for SDGs (SEE AP for SDGs)30 July – 1 August 2018Jakarta, Indonesia

1 Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)2 IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

© Mandy Barker

(Source: Jambeck, J. R., et al. “Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean.” Science, Vol. 347, no. 6223, 13 Feb. 2015, pp. 768-771)

The global estimated mass of mismanaged plastic waste generated in 2010

Waste estimates for 2010 for the top 20 countries ranked by mass of mismanaged plastic waste

(Source: Jambeck, J. R., et al. “Plastic Waste Inputs from Land into the Ocean.” Science, Vol. 347, no. 6223, 13 Feb. 2015, pp. 768-771)

(Source: Van Cauwenberghe, L., et al. "Microplastics in sediments: a review of techniques, occurrence and effects." Marine Environmental Research 111 (2015): 5-17)

Plastic debris nomenclature based on size

Sources of marine MP & the various physical, chemical & biological processes affecting MP in the marine environment

(Source: Leslie H.A., et al. (2013) Microplastic survey of the Dutch environment. Novel data set of microplastics in North Sea sediments, treated wastewater effluents and marine biots. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: IVM Institute for Environmental Studies, Final report R-13/11)

(Source: Iwasaki, S., et al. "Fate of microplastics and mesoplastics carried by surface currents and wind waves: A numerical model approach in the Sea of Japan." Marine pollution bulletin 121.1-2 (2017): 85-96)

Spatial distributions of small plastic fragments (modeled particles) based on observations (simulations) during July–August in the Sea of Japan.

WESTPAC Microplastic Research Programme

Major activities in the inception phase

I. Overview of microplastic pollution and research methodologies

II. Mapping microplastic research capacity

III. Harmonizing standardized methods for microplasitic sampling and analysis in beach sediments (on going)

Join the collective efforts!

Email: [email protected]

http://iocwestpac.org

http://ioc.unesco.org;

Inception Workshop on

“Distribution, Source, Fate and Impactsof Marine Microplastic in Asia and thePacific” 20-22 September 2017, Phuket,Thailand

http://iocwestpac.org/news/845.html

WESTPAC: Building Blue Partnerships

Microplastic research programme

• Establish a marine microplastic monitoring and research network;

• Share existing microplastic monitoring and research approaches, and further

develop capability of research and monitoring;

• Identify challenges and gaps in monitoring and assessing the impacts of

microplastic on marine ecosystems;

• Discuss the possibility of developing a joint-monitoring plan on the distribution of

microplastic, and a shared ecological risk assessment model for microplastic in the

region.

Considering the many gaps in our knowledge, research on the potential health risks of food microplastics is needed. The following is proposed:

• Development of a quantitative method to measure microplastics

in foods and environment. The method should be able to

distinguish between microparticles (0.1 – 5 μm) and nanoparticles

(< 0.1 μm). The polymer composition of the particles should be

determined. Determination of selected additives and adhering

contaminants should be considered.

• Determination of the content of microplastics in fish and

shellfish, including specification of their particle sizes.

• Estimation of the dietary exposure with microplastics (including

particle sizes) .

• Determination of the extent of leaching of additives from

microplastics in the digestive tract. For this, adequate approaches

will have to be developed.

• Determination of the transfer of adhering contaminants to body

tissues. For this, adequate approaches will have to be developed.

Research priorities for microplastics

Modified from Hollman, P. C. H., et al.. Microplastics in aquatic food chain: sources, measurement, occurrence and potential health risks. No. 2013.003. Rikilt-Institute of Food Safety, 2013)

Considering the many gaps in our knowledge, research on the potential health risks of food microplastics is needed. The following is proposed:• Development of research on the toxicity and

persistance of microplastic and nanoplastic

particles.

• Determination of the ecological impacts of

microplastics and nanoplastics on many scales

• Quantification and monitoring of the distribution

of microplastics in the components of marine

ecosystems

Research priorities for microplastics

Modified from Hollman, P. C. H., et al.. Microplastics in aquatic food chain: sources, measurement, occurrence and potential health risks. No. 2013.003. Rikilt-Institute of Food Safety, 2013)

Thailand

Indonesia

Malaysia

Singapore

Thailand

Indonesia

Malaysia

Singapore

Thailand

Indonesia

Malaysia

Singapore

COLLABORATION