STORAGE · Predicting the fate of plaSTic On beaches by theiR 3D-distribution and weAtherinG procEsses

Predicting the fate of plaSTic On beaches by theiR 3D-distribution and weAtherinG procEsses

Context Plastic pollution is one of the most significant environmental challenges worldwide. Since the onset of synthetic polymer production in the 1950s, global models of plastic pollution estimate that approximately two-thirds of the plastic mass released into the ocean has either stranded or settled around the world’s shorelines. Furthermore, plastic debris transported by ocean currents and wind can travel vast distances across the world’s oceans far from its source, eventually converging in one of the five subtropical gyres, where it persists as “legacy plastic.” The accumulation of floating plastic debris in these gyres is commonly referred to as “Garbage Patches.” Shorelines near these gyres, such as those of Hawaiʻi, are particularly vulnerable to accumulating large amounts of plastic debris. Even with major reductions in plastic inputs, surface ocean plastic debris is projected to continue increasing for decades. Exacerbating this trend is the ongoing degradation of legacy plastics, which leads to further fragmentation, abrasion, and breakdown into smaller fragments. These fragments generate secondary microplastics—plastic particles of 5 mm or smaller formed through the physical and chemical weathering of larger plastics. The continuous influx of these microplastic fragments increases the exposure risk of plastic particles to marine organisms, ultimately jeopardizing the ecological integrity, cultural practices, well-being, and livelihoods of communities reliant on healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems. With the world currently navigating the final negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty, it is increasingly important to both stop the flow of plastic into the ocean and address legacy plastic pollution, particularly in accumulation hotspots. Understanding where, how, and when legacy plastic fragments can inform targeted interventions such as beach and open-ocean cleanup efforts, offering a last opportunity to remove plastics before they degrade into secondary microplastics. The STORAGE project aimed to improve understanding of the fate of ocean plastic pollution, with a particular focus on its transformation and transport within coastal environments. By investigating the beaches of Hawaiʻ STORAGE sought to better understand how ocean plastic debris behaves once it reaches shore, including how it becomes buried, degraded, and fragmented over time. The project’s overall objective was to generate knowledge that can inform strategies to reduce microplastic formation and strengthen global understanding of plastic transport pathways. By clarifying where and how plastics accumulate, transform, and persist, STORAGE aimed to contribute data that can contribute to the development of more effective mitigation and prevention measures that protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities from the long-term impacts of plastic pollution.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз