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dc.contributor.authorWayman, Chloe
dc.contributor.authorNiemann, Helge
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-26T09:54:58Z
dc.date.available2021-04-26T09:54:58Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-14
dc.description.abstractThe presence of plastics in the marine environment poses a threat to ocean life and has received much scientific and public attention in recent years. Plastics were introduced to the market in the 1950s and since then, global production figures and ocean plastic littering have increased exponentially. Of the 359 million tonnes (Mt) produced in 2018, an estimated 14.5 Mt has entered the ocean. In particular smaller plastic particles can be ingested by marine biota causing hazardous effects. Plastic marine debris (PMD) is exposed to physical, chemical and biological stressors. These cause macro and microplastic to break down into smaller fragments, including sub micrometre sized nanoplastic particles, which may account for an important but so far unevaluated fraction of the ocean plastic budget. Physicochemical and biological deterioration of PMD also leads to the release of more volatile compounds and the terminal oxidation of PMD, which most likely accounts for an important but also unevaluated fraction in the ocean plastic budget. This minireview provides an overview on (1) the quantity of plastic production and waste, pathways for plastics to enter the marine realm, the inventory of PMD and the negative effects of PMD to ocean life. (2) We discuss plastic degradation mechanisms in the ocean, expanding on the processes of photodegradation and biodegradation. (3) This review also highlights the emerging topic of nanoplastics in the sea and provides an overview on their specific physical and chemical properties, potential harm to ocean life, and nanoplastic detection techniques.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWayman, Niemann H. The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts. 2021:1-15en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1878163
dc.identifier.doi10.1039/D0EM00446D
dc.identifier.issn2050-7887
dc.identifier.issn2050-7895
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/21053
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherRoyal Society of Chemistryen_US
dc.relation.journalEnvironmental Science: Processes & Impacts
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/SFF/223259/Norway/Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate/CAGE/en_US
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/772923/EU/Plastic in the Ocean: Microbial Transformation of an ‘Unconventional’ Carbon Substrate/VORTEX/en_US
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2021 The Author(s)en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450::Oceanography: 452en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450::Oseanografi: 452en_US
dc.titleThe fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireviewen_US
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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