The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 22 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Plastic as a Persistent Marine Pollutant
Abstract
Synthetic organic polymers—or plastics—did not enter widespread use until the 1950s. By 2015, global production had increased to 322 million metric tons (Mt) year−1, which approaches the total weight of the human population produced in plastic every year. Approximately half is used for packaging and other disposables, 40% of plastic waste is not accounted for in managed landfills or recycling facilities, and 4.8–12.7 Mt year−1 enter the ocean as macroscopic litter and microplastic particles. Here, we argue that such mismanaged plastic waste is similar to other persistent pollutants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which once threatened a “silent spring” on land. Such a scenario seems now possible in the ocean, where plastic cannot be easily removed, accumulates in organisms and sediments, and persists much longer than on land. New evidence indicates a complex toxicology of plastic micro- and nanoparticles on marine life, and transfer up the food chain, including to people. We detail solutions to the current crisis of accumulating plastic pollution, suggesting a Global Convention on Plastic Pollution that incentivizes collaboration between governments, producers, scientists, and citizens.
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Cites
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Cited by
Characterization and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase
Austin, H. P., Allen, M. D., Donohoe, B. S., Rorrer, N. A., Kearns, F. L., Silveira, R. L., Pollard, B. C., Dominick, G., Duman, R., El Omari, K., et al. (2018) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1718804115 · Cited by 1,079
Bioavailability and effects of microplastics on marine zooplankton: A review
Botterell, Z. L. R., Beaumont, N., Dorrington, T., Steinke, M., Thompson, R. C., & Lindeque, P. K. (2019) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.065 · Cited by 966
The Chinese import ban and its impact on global plastic waste trade
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Self-citationDistribution of plastic polymer types in the marine environment; A meta-analysis
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An Overview of Plastic Waste Generation and Management in Food Packaging Industries
Ncube, L. K., Ude, A. U., Ogunmuyiwa, E. N., Zulkifli, R., & Beas, I. N. (2021) · Recycling · doi:10.3390/recycling6010012 · Cited by 647
Metadata
- Authors
- Worm, B., Lotze, H. K., Jubinville, I., Wilcox, C., & Jambeck, J.
- Venue
- Annual Review of Environment and Resources
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2017-10-17
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-26
- ISSN
- 1543-5938 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-2050
- OpenAlex
- W2605908312
- Cited by
- 750
- References
- 22
- FWCI
- 4.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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- Worm, B., Lotze, H. K., Jubinville, I., Wilcox, C., & Jambeck, J. (2017). Plastic as a Persistent Marine Pollutant. Annual Review of Environment and Resources. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-060700
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