Microplastics: Sources, Implications, and Solutions...Microplastics: Sources, Implications, and...

Microplastics: Sources, Implications, and Solutions

Sarah Lowe – Great Lakes Regional Coordinator

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Marine Debris Program

Freestone Environmental Services

Outline

• Marine Debris 101

• NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP)

• Review of NOAA MDP funded microplastic research projects

• Prevention Efforts

• Questions

What is Marine Debris?“any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.”

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Abandoned & Derelict Vessels

• Commercial or recreational vessels that are lost or abandoned

• Made with a combination of synthetic materials, metal, and processed wood

• Habitat Damage and Navigational Hazard

Photo: Coral Bay Community Council

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Derelict Fishing Gear• Commercial or

recreational fishing gear that is lost, abandoned, or discarded

• Made with synthetic materials and metal

• Includes:

• Nets

• Lines

• Crab/lobster pots

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Plastics• Common form of marine

debris that are non-biodegradable

• Estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year

• Break into small pieces (called microplastics)

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• Plastics smaller than 5mm in size

• Microplastics come from multiple sources

• Microbeads, microfibers, capsules, preproduction pellets

• Degradation of larger plastics

• Ingestion by animals

• Chemical impacts

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Sources of Marine Debris

Ocean/Lake-Based Land-Based

• Littering

• Dumping

• Poor waste management practices

• Storm water discharge

• Extreme weather events

• Commercial and recreational fishing

• Offshore oil and gas

• Cargo ships

• Abandoned and derelict vessels

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Impacts

• Wildlife Entanglement

• Ingestion

• Vessel Damage and navigational hazard

• Invasive species

• Economic loss:

– Tourism

– Recreation

– Fisheries

– Vessel Damage

• Ghost fishing

• Habitat destruction

NOAA Marine Debris Program OverviewEstablished in 2006 by Congress as the federal lead for marine debris; Reauthorized by Save our Seas Act in 2018

5 Program Pillars:Research, Removal, Prevention, Emergency Response, and Regional Coordination

Vision: the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris

Mission: to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris

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Regional CoordinationPacific Northwest

California

AlaskaPacific Islands

Florida/Caribbean

Southeast

Mid-Atlantic

Great Lakes

Northeast

Gulf of Mexico

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Removal• Community-based marine

debris removal grants

• Grants support removal projects nationwide

• Recipients include NGOs and local governments

• Funded more than 100 removal projects since 2006, with more than 5,500 metric tons of debris removed

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Photo: NOAA CREP

Photo: NOAA

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Prevention• Outreach and Education

partnerships

• Prevention Grants focused on behavior change

• Zoos, museums, and aquariums

• School Activities

• Annual art contest for K-8th grades

• Curriculum, educational activities, and teacher workshops

13Photo: Chris Arend, Anchorage Museum

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Research• Joint projects with

academia, NGO’s, NOAA partners

• Microplastics distribution & quantification

• Fishing gear assessment and modification

• Economic impacts

• Plastics and chemicals

• Shoreline monitoring and assessment at over 180 sites

• Detection

Photo: NOAA

Photo: NOAA

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Emergency Response• Debris can threaten

navigation, natural resources, and human safety

• Responded to extreme weather events

• Incident response guides for Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and the Pacific Northwest

• Response plans for Japan Tsunami Marine Debris

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Photo: Oregon Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Photo: NOAA

• Plastics smaller than 5mm in size

• Microplastics come from multiple sources

• Microbeads, microfibers, capsules, preproduction pellets

• Degradation of larger plastics

• Ingestion by animals

• Chemical impacts

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What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

• Vessel abandoned by owner• Storms/Natural Disasters

• Habitat damage• Navigation hazard

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What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

• Vessel abandoned by owner• Storms/Natural Disasters

• Habitat damage• Navigation hazard

Derelict Fishing Gear • Gear abandoned by owner• Cut buoy lines • Storms/Natural Disasters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

• Ghost fishing to target or bycatch species

• Economic implications to commercial fisheries

• Habitat damage

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What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

• Vessel abandoned by owner• Storms/Natural Disasters

• Habitat damage• Navigation hazard

Derelict Fishing Gear • Gear abandoned by owner• Cut buoy lines • Storms/Natural Disasters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

• Ghost fishing to target or bycatch species

• Economic implications to commercial fisheries

• Habitat damage

Consumer Products • Left by beach-goers• Mismanaged waste• Storms/Natural Disasters• Recreational boaters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

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What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

• Vessel abandoned by owner• Storms/Natural Disasters

• Habitat damage• Navigation hazard

Derelict Fishing Gear • Gear abandoned by owner• Cut buoy lines • Storms/Natural Disasters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

• Ghost fishing to target or bycatch species

• Economic implications to commercial fisheries

• Habitat damage

Consumer Products • Left by beach-goers• Mismanaged waste• Storms/Natural Disasters• Recreational boaters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

Microplastics & Microfibers

• Breakdown of larger items• Personal care products• Plastic resin pellets• Textiles

• Physical Impacts• Feeding modification (lab study)

• Reproduction disruptions (lab study)

• Chemical Impacts• Toxicological implications?• Human health concerns?

• Vector to transport Pathogens?

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What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

• Vessel abandoned by owner• Storms/Natural Disasters

• Habitat damage• Navigation hazard

Derelict Fishing Gear • Gear abandoned by owner• Cut buoy lines • Storms/Natural Disasters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

• Ghost fishing to target or bycatch species

• Economic implications to commercial fisheries

• Habitat damage

Consumer Products • Left by beach-goers• Mismanaged waste• Storms/Natural Disasters• Recreational boaters

• Death or injury to marine organisms due to entanglement or ingestion

Microplastics & Microfibers

• Breakdown of larger items• Personal care products• Plastic resin pellets• Textiles

• Physical Impacts• Feeding modification (lab study)

• Reproduction disruptions (lab study)

• Chemical Impacts• Toxicological implications?• Human health concerns?

• Vector to transport Pathogens?

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Marine Debris Literature Published from 2010 - 2018

NOAA MDP Funded Microplastic Research Projects

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MDP Funded Microplastic Research Projects

University of Southern Mississippi

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

(VIMS)

Sea Education Association (SEA)

University of California, Davis

Clemson University and the National Park Service

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC)

Loyola University,Chicago

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Quantification of Microplastics and Microfibers on US National Park Beaches

• Dr. Stefanie Whitmire, Clemson University

• National Park Service

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Objective: To quantify microplastic and microfiber loads on beaches at a regional and continental scale to better understand their distribution.

Quantification of Microplastics and Microfibers on US National Park Beaches

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Results

• Microplastics and microfibers - found at all sites

• Microfibers - 97% of debris (by count)

Microplastics (microbead)

Microfibers

Photo: Stefanie Whitmire, Clemson

Photo: Stefanie Whitmire, Clemson

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Results

Geographic distribution of mean microplastic abundance for NPS units by bins of 50 pieces per kg of sand (by color).

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Results

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Influence of a suite of environmentally relevant conditions on PBT leaching from, and sorption to, marine microplastic debris

• FY13 Research Grant

• Dr. Robert Hale, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)

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Results (leaching):

PBT Leaching from, and Sorption to, Microplastic Debris

Environmental Conditions PUF PS PVC PE*

Increasing Temperature

Synthetic Digestive Fluid

DOM (Humic Acid)

WeatheringS.A.

Leaching‘Color’

S.A.Leaching‘Color’

S.A.Leaching‘Color’

S.A.Leaching‘Color’

Table 1. PBT leaching from microplastics under different polymer characteristics & environmental conditions. Key: ( ) increased leaching/surface area (S.A.), ( ) decreased leaching/surface area, and ( ) no leaching observed/no change to surface area, ‘Color’ indicates a change in polymer color during weathering experiments.

*PE regrind (composite of plastic bottles) was used in this study. The lack of leaching from this polymer may be due to the pre-washing treatment of the bottles.

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Investigating selective grazing by copepods of virgin and weathered microplastics contaminated with PBT substances

• FY13 Research Grant

• Dr. Amy Siuda, Sea Education Association (SEA)

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Results

• Copepods ingested microplastics

• No selective grazing behavior observed (contaminated vs. uncontaminated microplastics)

Selective grazing by copepods of virgin and weathered microplastics contaminated with PBT substances

Photo: A. Siuda

Photo: A. Siuda

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Examining Microplastic Occurrence in the Gut Contents of Sargassum-associated Juvenile Fishes

• Dr. Frank Hernandez, University of Southern Mississippi

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Results

• Fish

– 860 fish

– 15 taxonomic groups

– ~10% contained microdebris

• Microdebris

– Fiber, sphere, flake, & fragment

– Fibers - most abundant (~88%)

Microplastics in the Gut Contents of Sargassum-associated Juvenile Fishes

Photo: USM Fisheries Oceanography and Ecology Lab

Photo: USM Fisheries Oceanography and Ecology Lab

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Ecotoxicological effects of microplastic and sorbed priority pollutants in aquatic food chains

• FY13 Research Grant

• Dr. Chelsea Rochman, University of California, Davis

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Results

• No PCBs were detected above blank levels, contradictory to model

• Impacts: Mostly related to presence of plastic regardless of PCBs

– Clams exposed to plastic had 3x more tissue abnormalities

– Fish exposed to clams that were fed polyethylene and polystyrene had less vitellogenin.

– Changes in fish feeding behavior

Ecotoxicological effects of microplastic and sorbed priority pollutants in aquatic food chains

Photo: UC Davis

Photo: UC Davis

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Type of Debris Known Sources? Impacts

Microplastics & Microfibers

• Breakdown of larger items• Personal care products• Plastic resin pellets• Textiles

• Physical Impacts• Feeding modification (lab study)

• Reproduction disruptions (lab study)

• Chemical Impacts• Toxicological implications?• Human health concerns?

• Vector to transport Pathogens?

What we know… and what we’re still figuring out

Review of Findings: • Microplastic abundance and distribution• Microplastic + chemical interaction

Data Gaps:• Lab vs. field studies• Environmentally relevant conditions• Impacts to populations and assemblages

NOAA MDP Research Priorities• Ecological risk assessment

• Exposure studies

• Fate and transport of marine debris in nearshore, coastal environments

• Other Considerations:

• Target species: commercially managed species (management application)

• Debris types: microplastics or macro-debris incl. DFG

Human Impacts?New articles examining this question!

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Assessment of microplastics concentrations in human stool – Preliminary results of a prospective study

Schwabl et al. (2018) Medical University of Vienna, Div. of Gastroenterology

➢ 5 women, 3 men; aged 33-65

➢ Finland, Netherlands, UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, Japan, Austria

➢ Participants kept a one-week nutrition journal then gave a stool sample

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➢ MicroP detected in all stool samples

➢ Range: 18-172 microP particles per 10g stool

➢ Avg: 20 microP particles per 10g stool

➢ Size Range: 50-500 micrometers in size

➢ Most frequently found polymers: PP, PET

Results(unpublished but presented at the

International UEG Gastroenterology Congress in Vienna)

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Low levels of microP in wild mussels indicate that microP ingestion by humans is minimal compared to exposure via household fibres fallout during a meal

Catarino et al. (2018) Environ. Poll. 237:675-684

Microplastic Prevention EffortsHow can we prevent impacts and further reduce the influx of microplastics into the environment?

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Marine debris is a global problem with local solutions.

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Great Lakes Efforts

Credit: Univ of Western Ontario

Credit: NOAA

Credit: LSNERR

Credit: NOAA

Credit: City of Cleveland

Credit: WISG

Credit: NOAA

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➢ 30+ Participating Organizations➢ 4 Goals: Research, Policy & Management,

Prevention, Removal

➢ Vision: The Great Lakes, its coasts, people, and wildlife are free from the impacts of marine debris.

➢ Mission: The Great Lakes will be free from marine debris through an increased understanding of the problem, preventative actions, reductions in impacts, and collaborative efforts of diverse groups.

Magee Marsh, Ohio –Photo Credit: NOAA

➢ 53 actions to be completed within five years (2014-2019). Status to date:

22 Complete26 In Progress4 Not Started

1 Removed

Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/great-lakes-land-based-marine-debris-action-plan

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https://greatlakes-mdc.diver.orr.noaa.gov/https://midatlantic-mdc.diver.orr.noaa.gov/

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Marine Debris:

What Can YOU Do?

Be part of the solution!

What can you do?• Help us educate others!

o Prevention is the ultimate solution

o Resources available on http://marinedebris.noaa.gov

• 4 R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle http://www.iwanttoberecycled.org/

• Join a clean up and use MD Tracker App

International Coastal Cleanup:

September 15th, 2018

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/our-work/international-

coastal-cleanup/

Thank you for your time!Questions?

Sarah.Lowe@noaa.gov