Microplastics research—from sink to source
Microplastics research—from sink to source
Chelsea M. Rochman
Microplastics research—from sink to source
Science 06 Apr 2018:
Vol. 360, Issue 6384, pp. 28-29
DOI: 10.1126/science.aar7734
Summary:
Research on microplastic pollution (small particles of plastic <5 mm in
size) has long focused on their largest sink: the ocean. More recently,
however, researchers have expanded their focus to include freshwater and
terrestrial environments. This is a welcome development, given that an
estimated 80% of microplastic pollution in the ocean comes from land (1)
and that rivers are one of the dominant pathways for microplastics to
reach the oceans (2). Like other persistent pollutants, such as
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), microplastics are now recognized as
being distributed across the globe. Detailed understanding of the fate
and impacts of this ubiquitous environmental contaminant will thus
require a concerted effort among scientists with expertise beyond the
marine sciences.
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/28.full.pdf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wZ_Qy4ZqLwDh4m5i4u_sLij4G-toL-jB
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/28