Plastic litter from shotgun ammunition on Danish coastlines – Amounts and provenance,

EnvironmentalPollution, Volume 237, June 2018, Pages 601-610, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Plastic litter in the marine environment is a major global issue.
Discarded plastic shotgun ammunition shells and discharged wads are an
unwelcome addition and feature among the top ten litter items found on
reference beaches in Denmark.

To understand this problem, its scale and origins, collections were made
by volunteers along Danish coastal shorelines. In all 3669 plastic
ammunition items were collected at 68 sites along 44.6 km of shoreline.
The collected items were scored for characteristic variables such as
gauge and length, shot type, and the legibility of text, the erosion,
and the presence of metallic components. Scores for characteristics were
related to the site, area, and season and possible influences discussed.

The prevalence of collected plastic shotgun litter ranges from zero to
41 items per 100 m with an average of 3.7 items per 100 m. Most
ammunition litter on Danish coasts originates from hunting on Danish
coastal waterbodies, but a small amount may come from further afield.
North Sea coasts are the most distinctive suggesting the possible
contribution of long distance drift as well as the likelihood that such
litter can persist in marine habitats for decades.

The pathway from initial discard to eventual wash-up and collection
depends on the physical properties of plastic components, marine tides
and currents, coastal topography and shoreline vegetation.

Judging from the disintegration of the cartridge and the wear and
decomposition of components, we conclude that there is a substantial
supply of polluting plastic ammunition materials that has and will
accumulate. These plastic items pose a hazard to marine ecosystems and
wash up on coasts for many years to come. We recommend that responsible
managers, hunters and ammunition manufacturers will take action now to
reduce the problem and, thereby, protect ecosystems, wildlife and the
sustainability of hunting.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1l7766GcPdCFhMmOLBtkTJMLPuf5pVFGX
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.087.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117351424)

The post Plastic litter from shotgun ammunition on Danish coastlines – Amounts and provenance appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Plastic litter from shotgun ammunition on Danish coastlines – Amounts and provenance,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 237, June 2018, Pages 601-610, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Plastic litter in the marine environment is a major global issue. Discarded plastic shotgun ammunition shells and discharged wads are an unwelcome addition and feature among the top ten litter items found on reference beaches in Denmark.

To understand this problem, its scale and origins, collections were made by volunteers along Danish coastal shorelines. In all 3669 plastic ammunition items were collected at 68 sites along 44.6 km of shoreline.
The collected items were scored for characteristic variables such as gauge and length, shot type, and the legibility of text, the erosion, and the presence of metallic components. Scores for characteristics were related to the site, area, and season and possible influences discussed.

The prevalence of collected plastic shotgun litter ranges from zero to 41 items per 100 m with an average of 3.7 items per 100 m. Most ammunition litter on Danish coasts originates from hunting on Danish coastal waterbodies, but a small amount may come from further afield. North Sea coasts are the most distinctive suggesting the possible
contribution of long distance drift as well as the likelihood that such litter can persist in marine habitats for decades.

The pathway from initial discard to eventual wash-up and collection depends on the physical properties of plastic components, marine tides and currents, coastal topography and shoreline vegetation.

Judging from the disintegration of the cartridge and the wear and decomposition of components, we conclude that there is a substantial supply of polluting plastic ammunition materials that has and will accumulate. These plastic items pose a hazard to marine ecosystems and wash up on coasts for many years to come. We recommend that responsible managers, hunters and ammunition manufacturers will take action now to reduce the problem and, thereby, protect ecosystems, wildlife and the sustainability of hunting.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1l7766GcPdCFhMmOLBtkTJMLPuf5pVFGX

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.087.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117351424)

The post Plastic litter from shotgun ammunition on Danish coastlines – Amounts and provenance appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea,
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 127,2018, Pages 774-780, ISSN 0025-326X,

Abstract:

Litter is present in all marine waters around the globe. It
consists of several compound classes of which plastic is of special
interest because of its high abundance and possible threat to marine
organisms. The regional distribution, composition and abundance of large
litter items (LI) at the sea floor of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
were investigated based on 175 bottom trawls between 2013 and 2015.
Different types of marine litter >2.5cm were classified according to the
protocol of the ICES International Bottom Trawl Survey. The results
showed considerable geographical variation: In the North Sea, a mean
litter abundance of 16.8LI/km2 was found, whereas the litter abundance
in the Baltic Sea was significantly lower (5.07LI/km2). In general,
plastic represented 80% of the litter items. During the study, some
methodical aspects with possible impact on the results were identified
that need to be addressed in future sampling campaigns.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=16htyLi2ZIa6q9l1GkpjPxMWCjuNFQOKq

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.051.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17307865)

The post Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin,
Volume 127, 2018, Pages 774-780, ISSN 0025-326X,

Abstract:

Litter is present in all marine waters around the globe. It consists of several compound classes of which plastic is of special
interest because of its high abundance and possible threat to marine organisms.

The regional distribution, composition and abundance of large litter items (LI) at the sea floor of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
were investigated based on 175 bottom trawls between 2013 and 2015.
Different types of marine litter >2.5cm were classified according to the protocol of the ICES International Bottom Trawl Survey. The results
showed considerable geographical variation:

In the North Sea, a mean litter abundance of 16.8LI/km2 was found, whereas the litter abundance in the Baltic Sea was significantly lower (5.07LI/km2). In general, plastic represented 80% of the litter items. During the study, some methodical aspects with possible impact on the results were identified that need to be addressed in future sampling campaigns.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.09.051.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X17307865)

The post Marine litter at the seafloor – Abundance and composition in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..