Thushari G G N, Senevirathna J D M
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka.
Heliyon. 2020 Aug 27;6(8):e04709. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04709. eCollection 2020 Aug.
Plastic pollution is recognized as a severe anthropogenic issue in the coastal and marine ecosystems across the world. Unprecedented and continuous accumulation of growing plastic contaminants into any respective aquatic ecosystem by the anthropogenic sources causes direct and/or indirect interruption to ecosystem structure, functions, and consequently, services and values. Land-based and sea-based sources are the primary sources of these contaminants in various modes that enter the ocean. In this review paper, we focused on highlighting different aspects related to plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments. Plastic pollutants are distributed in the ecosystems in different forms, with different size variations as megaplastic, macroplastic, mesoplastic, and microplastic. Microplastics in primary and secondary forms reveal a widespread distribution in the water, sediment, and biota of the marine and coastal habitats. The microplastic level of different coastal and marine ecosystems nearly ranged from 0.001-140 particles/m in water and 0.2-8766 particles/m in sediments at different aquatic environments over the world. The microplastic accumulation rate of coastal and marine organisms varied at 0.1-15,033 counts. Accordingly, plastic pollution creates several kinds of negative consequences combined with ecological and socio-economic effects. Entanglement, toxicological effects via ingestion of plastics, suffocation, starvation, dispersal, and rafting of organisms, provision of new habitats, and introduction of invasive species are significant ecological effects with growing threats to biodiversity and trophic relationships. Degradation (changes in the ecosystem state) and modifications of marine systems are associated with loss of ecosystem services and values. Consequently, this emerging contaminant affects the socio-economic aspects through negative impacts on tourism, fishery, shipping, and human health. Preventing accumulation sources of plastic pollutants, 3Rs (Reduce-Recycle-Reuse), awareness & capacity building, and producer/manufacturer responsibility are practical approaches toward addressing the issue of plastic pollution. Existing and adopted policies, legislations, regulations, and initiatives at global, regional, and national level play a vital role in reducing plastic debris in the marine and coastal zones. Development of proposals/solutions on key research gaps can open a novel pathway to address this environmental issue in an effective scientific manner. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates the current status of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem to make aware people of a plastic-free, healthy blue ocean in the near future.
塑料污染被公认为是全球沿海和海洋生态系统中一个严峻的人为问题。人为源不断将数量空前的塑料污染物持续累积到各个水生生态系统中，这直接和/或间接干扰了生态系统的结构、功能，进而影响了生态系统的服务和价值。陆源和海源是这些污染物以各种方式进入海洋的主要源头。在这篇综述论文中，我们着重强调了与沿海和海洋环境中的塑料污染相关的不同方面。塑料污染物以不同形式分布于生态系统中，其大小各异，包括巨型塑料、大型塑料、中型塑料和微塑料。原生和次生形式的微塑料在海洋和沿海栖息地的水体、沉积物及生物群中广泛分布。在世界各地不同的水生环境中，不同沿海和海洋生态系统的微塑料水平在水体中几乎为0.001 - 140颗粒/立方米，在沉积物中为0.2 - 8766颗粒/立方米。沿海和海洋生物的微塑料累积率在0.1 - 15,033个数量之间变化。相应地，塑料污染造成了多种负面后果，兼具生态和社会经济影响。缠绕、通过摄入塑料产生的毒理学效应、窒息、饥饿、生物的扩散和漂流、新栖息地的形成以及入侵物种的引入都是对生物多样性和营养关系构成日益严重威胁的重大生态影响。海洋系统的退化（生态系统状态的变化）和改变与生态系统服务和价值的丧失相关。因此，这种新出现的污染物通过对旅游业、渔业、航运业和人类健康产生负面影响，进而影响社会经济层面。防止塑料污染物的累积源、3R原则（减少 - 回收 - 再利用）、提高认识和能力建设以及生产者/制造商责任是应对塑料污染问题的切实可行方法。全球、区域和国家层面现有的及已采用的政策、立法、法规和倡议在减少海洋和沿海区域的塑料碎片方面发挥着至关重要的作用。针对关键研究空白制定提案/解决方案可为以有效的科学方式解决这一环境问题开辟新途径。总之，本文展示了海洋生态系统中塑料污染的现状，以使人们在不久的将来意识到一个无塑料、健康的蓝色海洋。
