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Microplastics from Plastic Trash Choke the Philippines’ Sarangani Bay

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Microplastics from Plastic Trash Choke the Philippines’ Sarangani Bay

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URL:https://earthjournalism.net/stories/microplastics-from-plastic-trash-choke-the-philippines-sarangani-bay
TITLE: Microplastics from Plastic Trash Choke the Philippines’ Sarangani Bay
AUTHOR: Earth journalism network

DATE PUBLISHED: 03 October 2021
KEY INFO: Waste pollution is threatening Sarangani Bay, a protected seascape noted for its rich biodiversity: signs of microplastic particles have been found in fish, mollusks, and beach sediments. This blog discusses what is really going on in Sarangani Bay and how they are resolving the issue by safeguarding the entire oceanic ecology. This website was able to provide further information about how microplastics are destroying their neighborhood.

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Microplastics in our oceans and marine health

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Microplastics in our oceans and marine health

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URL: https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/5257
TITLE: Microplastics in our oceans and marine health

AUTHOR: Subhankar Chatterjee and Shivika Sharma
DATE PUBLISHED: 01 January 2019
KEY INFO: If the twentieth century was the plastic industry's revolution era, with too many plastic-based items ranging from buckets to cars, the twenty-first century is the time to face the repercussions. Improper management, a lack of knowledge about the detrimental effects of plastics, and irresponsible use, as well as the dumping of plastic products, have transformed this world into a "plastic planet." This page focuses on the effects of microplastic on sea organisms, as well as the various types of microplastic that may be found at the beach. Microplastic's impact on marine biota's health

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Environmental group alarmed after study found microplastics in Davao Gulf

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Environmental group alarmed after study found microplastics in Davao Gulf

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URL: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1913506/davao/local-news/environmental-group-alarmed-after-study-found-microplastics-in-davao-gulf
TITLE:  Environmental group alarmed after study found microplastics in Davao Gulf
AUTHOR: Sunstar Davao
DATE PUBLISHED: 18 November 2021
KEY INFO: A Davao City environmental group has expressed concern over a recent study that confirmed the presence of microplastics in some parts of the Philippines, including the Davao Gulf. Jon Alfonso P. Horvidalla, science research specialist and project leader, said the findings are concerning because the presence of microplastics in the study areas could have negative effects on the function of the marine ecosystem, particularly coral reefs. Microbeads, a form of microplastic, are extremely small bits of manufactured polyethylene plastic used as exfoliants in health and beauty goods such as cleansers, toothpaste and more (plastic) that considered as small. While in the other hand, The Davao City Government signed the "No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance of 2021" in June 2021 to reduce plastic pollution and save the entire ocean ecosystem.

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A DAVAO City-based environmental group said they are alarmed with a recent study confirming the presence of microplastics in some parts of the Philippines, including Davao Gulf.

Ecowaste Coalition revealed a report from the Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development and Extension Center (CRERDEC), confirming the presence of microplastics in the country's marine waters.

CRERDEC is a division under the Department of Environment and Natural Resource-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB).

The "Microplastic Contamination Determination of Selected Water Bodies in the Philippines" study of CRERDEC confirmed the presence of microplastics in Philippine waters with the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape in Badian and Moalboal, Cebu having the highest density of microplastics among the ten study areas nationwide.

Study sites and sampling points also included in the study are Manila Bay, Subic Bay, Lamon Bay, Boracay Island, Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, Davao Gulf, Butuan Bay, Iligan Bay, and the special area, Apo Reef Natural Park.

Jon Alfonso P. Horvidalla, science research specialist and study leader of the project, said such research finding is alarming considering that the presence of microplastics in the study areas could have detrimental effects on the function of the marine ecosystem, particularly coral reefs.

Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) Executive Director Mark Peñalver told SunStar Davao that the presence of microplastics in Davao Gulf has been a long-time problem and can be mainly attributed to improper solid waste management practices.

Peñalver said microplastics come from a variety of sources, including from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller pieces. In addition, microbeads, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpaste.

These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes, posing a potential threat to marine life.

He said studies showed that some marine creatures, particularly fishes, had digested microplastics. Some microplastics would eventually contaminate other bodies of water, including the sources of drinking water.

"Since these are microplastics, wala ta'y way to filter that (we don't have a filtering mechanism for that), and eventually, it will go to the waters na ginainom nato (that we drink). This can also be digested by our water animals such as fish and crustaceans. Mubalik gihapon sa atoa ang effects sa microplastics (The effects of microplastics would go back to us)," Peñalver said.

Peñalver said they have no independent study on the possible volume of microplastics collected in the body of waters in the city or the region.

He said the CRERDEC study should serve as a call to action for both the government and the public on addressing solid waste management by minimizing or eliminating the consumption of plastics.

The Davao City Government, in June 2021, signed the "No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance of 2021."

However, Peñalver said the implementing rules and regulations are still being crafted as of this writing.

In a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), there is insufficient information to conclude on the toxicity of plastic particles.

Studies on absorption indicate that microplastics greater than 150 micrometers are likely to be excreted directly through feces.

"Toxicology studies in rats and mice reported some impacts including inflammation of the liver. However, these few studies are of questionable reliability and relevance, with findings reported at very high exposures that would not occur in drinking-water," WHO said in a report.

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Environmental group alarmed after study found microplastics in Davao Gulf

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A DAVAO City-based environmental group said they are alarmed with a recent study confirming the presence of microplastics in some parts of the Philippines, including Davao Gulf. Ecowaste Coalition revealed a report from the Coastal Resources and Ecotourism Research, Development and Extension Center (CRERDEC), confirming the presence of microplastics in the country's marine waters.

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THE FATE OF THE PAWIKAN - A COLLABORATION TRIBUTE TO OUR NEARLY EXTINCT GREEN SEA TURTLES

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THE FATE OF THE PAWIKAN - A COLLABORATION TRIBUTE TO OUR NEARLY EXTINCT GREEN SEA TURTLES

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/516040872/posts/10158581359675873/?d=n
TITLE: THE FATE OF THE PAWIKAN - A COLLABORATION TRIBUTE TO OUR NEARLY EXTINCT GREEN SEA TURTLES
AUTHOR: Margrette Anne Sinajon Chavez
DATE PUBLISHED: 07 February 2021
KEY INFO: This post is about what is going on in our society, namely the oceanic ecosystem, which is suffering from a variety of issues, including the destruction of their own world and, most importantly, the death of marine mammals due to the plastic that we have thrown into the ocean (mircoplastic).

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

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URL: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/12/philippine-coastal-town-leads-war-against-plastic-trash-in-mindanao/

TITLE: Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

AUTHOR:  Bong S. Sarmiento
DATE PUBLISHED: 19 December 2019
KEY INFO: Plastic waste, with its threats to the town's marine and terrestrial wildlife, has been tagged as a major environmental priority.  The mountain is one of the last strongholds of the critically-endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and other threatened species in Mindanao. The anti-plastic campaign was also an attempt to protect Mt. Hamiguitan, a wildlife sanctuary that was designated a UNESCO world heritage site, the 34th ASEAN Heritage Park.

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

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DAVAO, Philippines - On August 4, 2018, a fisherman found an endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) floating weakly in the Davao Gulf, a diverse marine ecosystem and rich fishing ground spanning 308,000 hectares in the southern Mindanao region. The fisherman brought the stranded juvenile female green turtle ashore where it breathed more easily after a plastic food [...]

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Microplastics could be eliminated from wastewater at source

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Microplastics could be eliminated from wastewater at source

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URL: https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2021/01/microplastics-could-be-eliminated-from-wastewater-at-source/

TITLE: Microplastics could be eliminated from wastewater at source

AUTHOR: E&T editorial staff
DATE PUBLISHED: 18 January 2021
KEY INFO: The INRS researchers, led by water treatment expert Professor Patrick Drogui, decided to try degrading plastic particles through electrolytic oxidation - a process that does not require the addition of chemicals. Electrolytic oxidation is a promising process for degradation of microplastics in water without production of any waste or by-products, say researchers from the University of Drogui in Spain. Drogui envisions this technology being used to treat microplastic-rich wastewater emerging from sources such as commercial laundries.

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A team of researchers from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Quebec, Canada, have developed an electrolytic process for treating wastewater, degrading microplastics at the source.

Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5mm long, often contained in toiletries or shedding from polyester clothing. They are present in virtually every corner of the Earth, and pose a particularly serious threat to marine ecosystems. High concentrations of microplastics can be carried into the environment in wastewater.

There are no established degradation methods to handle microplastics during wastewater treatment; although some techniques exist, these involve physical separation as a means of filtering the pollutant. These techniques do not degrade microplastics, which requires additional work to manage the separated fragments. So far, research into degradation of microplastics has been very limited.

The INRS researchers, led by water treatment expert Professor Patrick Drogui, decided to try degrading plastic particles through electrolytic oxidation - a process that does not require the addition of chemicals.

"Using electrodes, we generate hydroxyl radicals to attack microplastics," Drogui said. "This process is environmentally friendly because it breaks them down into CO2 and water molecules, which are non-toxic to the ecosystem."

Drogui and his colleagues experimented with different anode materials and other parameters such as current intensity, anode surface, electrolyte type, electrolyte concentration and reaction time. They found that the electrolytic oxidation could degrade more than 58 ± 21 per cent of microplastics in one hour. The microplastics appeared to degrade directly into gas rather than breaking into smaller particles.

Lab-based tests on water artificially contaminated with fragments of polystyrene showed a degradation efficiency as high as 89 per cent.

"This work demonstrated that [electrolytic oxidation] is a promising process for degradation of microplastics in water without production of any waste or by-products," the researchers wrote in their Environmental Pollution report.

Drogui envisions this technology being used to treat microplastic-rich wastewater emerging from sources such as commercial laundries.

"When this commercial laundry water arrives at the wastewater treatment plant, it is mixed with large quantities of water, the pollutants are diluted and therefore more difficult to degrade," he explained. "Conversely, by acting at the source, i.e. at the laundry, the concentration of microplastics is higher, thus more accessible for electrolytic degradation."

Next, the researchers will move on to experimenting with degrading microplastics on water outside the artificial laboratory environment. Real commercial laundry water contains other materials that can affect the degradation process, such as carbonates and phosphates, which can trap radicals and limit degradation. If the technology is effective under these circumstances, the researchers plan to conduct a study to determine the cost of scaling up this treatment to implement in laundries.

Last week, researchers from the University of Barcelona published a study suggesting that encouraging a greater proliferation of seagrass meadows in the shallows of oceans could help trap, extract and carry marine plastic debris to shore.

Sign up to the E&T News e-mail to get great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day.

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Microplastics could be eliminated from wastewater at source

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A team of researchers from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Quebec, Canada, have developed an electrolytic process for treating wastewater, degrading microplastics at the source. Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5mm long, often contained in toiletries or shedding from polyester clothing.

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Matanglawin: Philippines' growing problem with plastic

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Matanglawin: Philippines' growing problem with plastic

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URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fo_CDHjSdk

TITLE: Matanglawin: Philippines' growing problem with plastic

AUTHOR: ABS-CBN News
DATE PUBLISHED: 16 December 2018
KEY INFO: In the Philippines, Kim Atienza discusses the subject of plastic garbage contamination. For the past ten years, Merlita Blaquera and her daughter Sarah Eustaquio have been practicing proper waste separation in their home.

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Matanglawin: Philippines' growing problem with plastic

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Microplastics removal through water treatment plants: Its feasibility, efficiency, future prospects and enhancement by proper waste management

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Microplastics removal through water treatment plants: Its feasibility, efficiency, future prospects and enhancement by proper waste management

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URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021002432

TITLE: Microplastics removal through water treatment plants: Its feasibility, efficiency, future prospects and enhancement by proper waste management

AUTHOR: ScienceDirect
DATE PUBLISHED: 01 December 2021
KEY INFO: Water treatment plants provide a viable solution for removal of microplastics from the environment. This review examines the overall and stage-wise efficiency of various water treatment technologies. It recommends enhancement of water treatment through adjustment of coagulants, potential use of emerging sol-gel technology and incorporation of advanced treatment.

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Abstract

With water treatment plants providing a viable solution for removal of microplastics from the environment, this review examines the overall and stage-wise efficiency of various water treatment technologies in removing microplastics and the technologies for managing water treatment wastes. More than 80 scholarly papers published in the past 10 years were reviewed. This review showed highly variable efficiency of the water treatment technologies with primary treatment of wastewater treatment plant reported to remove 16.5 to 98.4% microplastics. Secondary treatment of wastewater treatment plant has overall microplastics removal efficiency ranging from 78.1 to 100% and stage-wise efficiency from 7% (activated sludge) to 99.9% (membrane reactor). Tertiary treatment removes an overall 87.3% to above 99.9% microplastics. Initial coagulation and sedimentation of drinking water treatment plant can normally remove 1.8% to 54.5% of microplastics though advanced treatment pushes microplastics removal to overall 88.6%. Use of larger-than-normal dose of flocculent experimentally significantly increases microplastics removal up to 62%. The largest fraction of microplastics removed conventionally is trapped in sludge. This review highlights the feasibility of water treatment for removal of microplastics from water sources but reveals sludge and membranes as significant sources of microplastics from water treatment. It recommends enhancement of water treatment through adjustment of coagulants, potential use of emerging sol-gel technology and incorporation of advanced treatment for more efficient removal of microplastics. It advocates thermal pretreatment of sludge to potentially facilitate microplastics breakdown and recycle of membrane to reduce re-entry of microplastics into the environment.

Recommended articles Citing articles (0)

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Microplastics removal through water treatment plants: Its feasibility, efficiency, future prospects and enhancement by proper waste management

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With water treatment plants providing a viable solution for removal of microplastics from the environment, this review examines the overall and stage-wise efficiency of various water treatment technologies in removing microplastics and the technologies for managing water treatment wastes. More than 80 scholarly papers published in the past 10 years were reviewed.

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Plastics Waste in Our Oceans [INFOGRAPHIC]

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URL: https://www.reusethisbag.com/articles/plastic-in-the-ocean

TITLE: Plastics Waste in Our Oceans [INFOGRAPHIC]

AUTHOR: D. Lober
DATE PUBLISHED: 02 July 2021
KEY INFO: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) was first reported in 1997. Plastic pollution is more of a dense "smog" of small bits and pieces. Large plastics are constantly broken down into smaller and smaller pieces, by Heat, UV light, Oxidation and Bacteria. In 1971, Styrofoam pellets were found in the regurgitations of terns. Albatrosses are prone to eating plastic because they fish by skimming their beaks across the surface of the water. Chicks die of starvation and dehydration from eating plastic.

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URL: https://fb.watch/aXkmAHFJ50/
AUTHOR:  Project I-REDUCE
DATE PUBLISHED: May 26,2021

KEY INFO:   A stunning seascape known as Sarangani Bay may be located on the southern tip of Mindanao in the Philippines. Without a doubt, Sarangani Bay is a haven for marine biodiversity, with an abundance of fish, corals, seagrasses, mangroves, and marine mammals. This film is a group project in which students have been raising consciousness about what has happened in sea ecology. It is all about Sarangani Bay, which students are spreading awareness about, and we can really bring it back and make it more peaceful if we all lend a helping hand to one another.

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Full name: Marconi E. Ambrosio Jr.
Age: 16
School: Ateneo de Davao University SHS
Grade Level - Section: 11-Morse
Email: meambrosiojr@addu.edu.ph

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Full name: Jhennie May A. Cadiz
Age: 16
School: Ateneo de Davao University SHS
Grade Level - Section: 11-Morse
Email: jmacadiz@addu.edu.ph

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Full name: Allysa Keith D. Castillo
Age: 16
School: Ateneo de Davao University SHS
Grade Level - Section: 11-Morse
Email: akdcastillo@addu.edu.ph

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I-Witness: 'Plastic Republic', a documentary by Howie Severino

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I-Witness: 'Plastic Republic', a documentary by Howie Severino

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URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGNCK_buzNk
TITLE: I-Witness: 'Plastic Republic', a documentary by Howie Severino
AUTHOR: GMA Public Affairs
DATE PUBLISHED: 29 June 2019
KEY INFO: When it comes to disposing of plastic garbage, the Philippines is ranked third, according to a study by the University of Georgia. Despite the fact that plastic garbage is becoming more common, especially in the Manila Bay, some Filipinos are still working on their own ways to help minimize it.

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I-Witness: 'Plastic Republic', a documentary by Howie Severino | Full episode (w/ English subtitles)

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2917465278564211&set=a.1444533885857365&type=3
AUTHOR: Patricia Joy Yalong
DATE PUBLISHED: December 13, 2021
KEY INFO: This meme is raising awareness among humans about the fact that we have been harming marine life in a variety of ways. Always keep in mind that one piece of trash can kill as many animals as it can since the world is overpopulated. Even a single piece of plastic discarded properly can make a significant difference in the lives of our water creatures.

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The Growing Issue of Plastic Pollution in Oceans

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The Growing Issue of Plastic Pollution in Oceans

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URL: https://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_elkus_the_growing_issue_of_plastic_pollution_in_oceans
AUTHOR:  Eleanor Elkus
DATE PUBLISHED: March 2019

KEY INFO:

Eleanor’s talk is about the effects of plastic pollution on our oceans, and the steps we can take to break our cycle and solve this increasingly dangerous issue.

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The Growing Issue of Plastic Pollution in Oceans | Eleanor Elkus | TEDxYouth@MBJH

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKU0m4vdID0
AUTHOR: Tavana
DATE PUBLISHED: 16 January 2021
KEY INFO: Inspired by former manager Al Smith’s passion for spearheading beach clean-ups, Tavana felt motivated to write a piece highlighting Hawaii’s plastic problem. His goal in writing the song was to unite listeners in the realization of how serious the plastic pollution issue is not only in Hawaii but throughout the world. “Hawaii sits in the middle of the North Pacific Gyre. We are essentially the North Pacific’s collection area for plastic,” explained Lauren Blickley, Hawaii Regional Manager at Surfrider Foundation. “In the past, our beaches were comprised of natural materials like driftwood and shells. Today, many of these natural materials have been replaced with plastic - a material that is responsible for the large-scale pollution of our ocean and environment.” Tavana’s vision for “Plastic Island” was to create a stop-motion animated film in which objects are physically moved in small increments and captured one frame at a time. To achieve this, Tavana partnered with Hawaii-based collective Three Tree Creative and multi-dimensional artist Charles-Antoine Vallieres. The organic partnership between all creative parties resulted in a revolutionary music video aimed at bringing awareness to the global issue of plastic pollution. The stop motion video features unaltered plastic pieces collected from local beaches throughout Hawaii. The films unique visuals provide a gateway for people who wouldn’t initially be connected to plastic pollution to begin to understand the overall scope and scale of the tragic realities resulting from microplastic contamination. “My hope is that this song and music video will have an influence on companies big and small and encourage them to look into implementing more sustainable items and packaging,” said Tavana. “If we can work together in pushing the world toward a more sustainable way of life, I would be extremely happy about that.”

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URL: https://tumblehomebooks.org/book/microplastics-and-me/
AUTHOR: Anna Du
DATE PUBLISHED: February 2022
KEY INFO: The broken down consequence of plastic things we throw away on a daily basis is choking our oceans. But Anna Du, a middle-schooler, is on the case! Anna, now a top science fair winner, tells how she evolved from being concerned about the environment to inventing award-winning solutions. Anna, writing for children her own age, warns her readers about the dangers of microplastic contamination and encourages them to care about the environment. She guides them through the difficult-yet-rewarding process of design, engineering, and invention. This book has the potential to inspire a new generation of inventors and engineers!

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Book Details:

ISBN: 9781943431502

Genre: Children's Nonfiction: Science & Nature/Environmental Conservation & Protection

Page Count: 32

Age Range: 9-12

Grades: 3-6

Pub Date: 01/02/2020

Anna Du is a middle school student in Massachusetts. Her interest in saving the ocean from plastics pollution helped her place first in her state science and engineering fair, become a nationally recognized Broadcom MASTERS semifinalist, and win scholarships. Her success has been documented in newspapers, magazines, and national television programs.

"[...] More than just another educational survey of conservation issues, this proactive, 'can do' model for conservation activism is essential reading for elementary to middle grade learners also concerned about environmental degradation. The first thing to note about Microplastics and Me is that it's narrated in the first person by the young author and includes a wealth of colorful photographs capturing not just issues, but her love of collecting sea glass on the beach in the lovely environment of the New England shoreline.

[...]Microplastics and Me is a highly recommended, unique standout in the world of children's conservation writing. Its young author's enthusiasm, research, and concrete science fair tips are extraordinarily helpful and hopeful for fellow would-be young conservationists."

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Microplastics and Me - Tumble Home Learning

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An inspiring first-person account of a contemporary middle school girl tackling a global environmental problem through engineering. Microplastics-the broken down byproduct of plastic items we toss out every day-are choking our oceans. But middle-schooler Anna Du is on the case!

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Green groups laud Sara for 'urgent' action on plastic ban

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Green groups laud Sara for 'urgent' action on plastic ban

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1129287
AUTHOR: Che Palicte
DATE PUBLISHED: February 2, 2021
KEY INFO: Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the Sustainable Davao Movement have thanked Mayor Sara Z. Duterte for designating as urgent the proposed single-use plastic ban ordinance currently before the City Council. Davao City has a large population density and a lot of plastic, therefore Mayor Sarah Duterte was asked to ban single-use plastic in order to improve the environment during this pandemic and have a better society in the city and marine ecosystem.

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DAVAO CITY - Environmental advocacy group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the Sustainable Davao Movement have expressed gratitude to Mayor Sara Z. Duterte for certifying as urgent the proposed single-use plastic ban ordinance pending before the City Council.

"We intend on writing the City Council to request that the ban of the single-use plastic ordinance be treated as urgent," Duterte said in a radio interview Monday.

The ordinance, authored by Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., is still being deliberated in the environment committee.

In a statement Tuesday, IDIS underscored the importance of Mayor Sara's support to expedite the proposed law's enactment.

"Mayor Sara's statement is highly-appreciated. Plastic pollution is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed. This problem affects the urban area as plastic has since found its way in rural and coastal areas polluting our rivers and seas and endangering wildlife. We are hopeful that this ordinance will be passed this year or, better, it will be passed earlier," lawyer Mark Penalver, IDIS executive director, said.

Jill Banta, the regional coordinator for Mindanao of Break Free From Plastic, said they welcome the mayor's pronouncement, even as the group called on the City Council to pass the ordinance within the year.

"Plastic waste is increasing during the pandemic. Once the SUP (single-use plastic) ban ordinance is passed, the local government unit must ensure that it will create systems that will allow for enthusiastic public participation by supporting community-based plastic-free stores and alternative delivery systems for refill and reuse," Banta said.

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Green groups laud Sara for 'urgent' action on plastic ban

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DAVAO CITY - Environmental advocacy group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the Sustainable Davao Movement have expressed gratitude to Mayor Sara Z. Duterte for certifying as urgent the proposed single-use plastic ban ordinance pending before the City Council.

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A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO DISCUSSION AND INVESTIGATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES

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Microplastics in the Mottled Rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) in Negros Oriental, Philippines with Notes on the Siganid Fishery

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Microplastics in the Mottled Rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) in Negros Oriental, Philippines with Notes on the Siganid Fishery

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URL: https://su.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SJ-61-1-2020-with-cover.pdf
TITLE:  Microplastics in the Mottled Rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) in Negros Oriental, Philippines with Notes on the Siganid Fishery
AUTHORS:   Angel C. Alcala, Abner A. Bucol, Lilibeth A. Bucol, Edwin F. Romano, Sherlyn Cabcaban, Giselle Ann A. Alvarez,  Zoe Ruben, Micah Bachner, Chris Bird, Beth A. Polidoro, Kent E. Carpenter
DATE PUBLISHED: June 2020
KEY INFO: The content "Microplastics in the Mottled Rabbitfish (Siganus fuscescens) in Negros Oriental, Philippines with Notes on the Siganid Fishery", can be found on pages 19-36 of the Siliman Journal, Volume 61 Number 1.

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URL: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/june16/dd66-microplastics.html
AUTHOR:  Kate Nielsen
DATE PUBLISHED: nd
KEY INFO: A podcast about microplastics, and their effects. With the host Kate Nielsen, and Amy Uhrin the Chief Scientist of NOAA's Marine Debris Program.

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Little debris, big problem

Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but those that are less than five millimeters in length are called "microplastics."

Listen to our latest podcast
Download this podcast.
Transcript

Welcome to Diving Deeper! I'm your host Kate Nielsen. Today, we'll talk about microplastics and its effects on our ocean and Great Lakes environments, especially the aquatic life that live there. Joining us today is Amy Uhrin. Amy is the Chief Scientist with NOAA's Marine Debris Program.

Hi Amy-welcome back to our show!

AMY UHRIN: Thanks Kate, it's nice to be back.

HOST: What are microplastics? And when we say microplastics, just how small are we talking about?

AMY UHRIN: Right, so microplastics are defined as plastic particles that are less than five millimeters in their longest dimension. There are two types of microplastics, there are primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are actually manufactured to be that small and these include things like virgin resin pellets that are used in the plastics and manufacturing process, so these are very small pellets that are actually melted down to create plastic products. Then you have microplastics that are used in abrasive blast cleaning, so if you've heard of things being sand-blasted, it's the same idea except instead of sand, they would be using these tiny, tiny plastic particles. And then lastly, what folks might have heard of are microbeads. So these are the very tiny spherical plastic particles that are used in cosmetics and personal care products.

So those are your primary microplastics. And then there are secondary microplastics and folks are probably, maybe more familiar with these. So this is what happens when larger plastic items break down either through their natural life cycle, perhaps they're a somewhat expendable plastic and they break down to their natural use, or the plastic product becomes released into the environment and it breaks down there through weathering-the sunlight hitting it, wave action on a beach, all those physical forces can break down these larger items into smaller and smaller pieces.

In addition to the primary and secondary microplastics, we also find in the environment things that are termed microfibers. These are individual synthetic filaments that are woven together to make fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic-those materials are actually plastic. And it's been estimated that about 1,900 microfibers can be rinsed out into the water in the washing machine when a single clothing item made of those materials is washed. So that could be another potential source of microplastics, microfibers into the environment.

HOST: How long have we been using microbeads in our health and beauty products?

AMY UHRIN: That's a really good question. Microbeads appeared in cosmetics and personal care products about 50 years ago and as I mentioned previously these are considered primary microplastics because they are actually manufactured to be that small and for a specific use.

HOST: Amy, how do these end up in our marine environment? Wouldn't they be removed during wastewater treatment?

AMY UHRIN: One would think that right? So what's happening is that the mesh size of filters that are used at wastewater treatment plants are actually too large to capture things like microbeads and microfibers and so what happens is that they end up in the effluent water from these wastewater treatment plants which has been treated thoroughly. But then what happens is it's released into natural waterbodies-so streams, rivers-where do these streams and rivers end up? They end up in larger waterbodies like estuaries and the ocean. So they can enter the environment that way.

In addition, sometimes the microfibers in the wastewater treatment process will settle out into the sludge material and oftentimes that sludge material is used as fertilizer, so it's applied on land. And then what can happen is, with a strong rain storm, or even just maybe natural irrigation, water running off from that process-again the same idea-can trickle into local rivers, streams and eventually on out to larger waterbodies like the ocean.

HOST: What do microplastics do to aquatic life?

AMY UHRIN: Microplastic ingestion by marine animals has actually been reported in over 600 marine species ranging from zooplankton to finfish, shellfish, sea birds, turtles on up to marine mammals. When eaten, these small particles can actually damage or perforate the digestive tract or they can possibly obstruct the digestive tract entirely, particularly if the animal has eaten a number of these particles.

When they have eaten large amounts of particles, they can then collect in the stomach, obviously, and what happens is oftentimes the animal gets a sense of feeling full because there's a lot of material in its stomach, but the problem is that this material has no nutritional value and so the animal feels full, stops eating, it's not deriving any nutrition from the plastic particles and there's the potential for the animal to suffer malnutrition, starvation, death.

In addition, recent research has shown that plastic ingestion can impact some of the reproductive capacities of shellfish particularly oysters. A paper that came out earlier this year indicated that things like, in the reproductive process, the eggs were smaller, the sperm were less motile, and actually the next generation of oysters that were spawned were smaller in size. So we're starting to see evidence that perhaps there could be population level effects and not just individual effects.

So, another issue surrounding plastic ingestion is that plastics contain a number of chemical additives and those additives are put in the plastics for a very specific reason-to make them melt easier so that they can be shaped and molded into particular forms. And so it's possible that when the plastic particles are ingested by an animal, these chemicals can leach out into their gut fluid and then we have an issue surrounding the possibility for toxicity effects in the animal. Also, when the plastic particles are floating around in the marine environment in the ocean waters, pollutants that are already in the water can actually adhere to the surface of the plastic particles. Again then, if the plastics are ingested, those pollutants enter the animal and could then perhaps detach from the plastic particle and again create a situation where there's exposure and potential toxicity effects.

HOST: Can plastics ever degrade on their own in the environment?

AMY UHRIN: Plastics are synthetic polymers. So they're manmade. And what a polymer is is chains of individual monomers. And the monomers are linked together by carbon-carbon links. And the problem is that those carbon-carbon links are kind of a new thing for bacteria in the environment, they don't have the tools or the mechanisms for breaking those particular links in the environment. And so when plastic does enter the environment, they can be broken down into smaller and smaller pieces through weathering as I talked about previously when these plastics are exposed to sunlight or water or particularly on beaches with the turbulent nature of waves, they can break down into smaller and smaller plastic pieces, but they never completely biodegrade because at the molecular level, those chains of molecules that make up the plastic polymers cannot actually be broken apart by bacteria, so the plastic still exists at that molecular level.

HOST: Amy, with everything you've explained to us so far, I'm sure our listeners are wondering right now what they can do to help stop or combat this problem in some way?

AMY UHRIN: It's really important for the audience to understand, a lot of times we feel like, well I'm just one person and what can I do, but it really is important because you can teach others and you can learn from others all the time. There are some very little minor changes you can make in your daily life, your daily routine to address this flow of plastic into the environment.

Our program, the NOAA Marine Debris Program, we promote the strategy of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" so the three "R's." Reduce would mean when you're out shopping choose products that have the least amount of plastic packaging. You can also reduce by perhaps, when you get take-out, not getting the plastic utensils that are put in your bag and not using the plastic bag that's often provided. Make sure you have canvas totes in your car and you take them with you when you go to the grocery store. Really trying to reduce the amount of plastics that you bring into your daily living.

And then we talk about Reuse. For safety and health reasons, when it's possible, reuse plastic containers and goods to an extent that you're not harming yourself. Some plastics are not made to be microwaved, they're not made to be put in the dishwasher for obvious reasons, heat can break down the plastic, things of that nature. When it's safe, do reuse plastic containers and goods when possible.

And then we talk about Recycle. So being very cognizant of the recycling process in your community and understanding what plastics are able to be recycled in your community. Because a lot of times, there's a lot of variation across communities, not just states, but even at the sub-state level, so just being aware of what can and cannot go into your recycle bin.

HOST: So Amy, I've heard about, I think this came last year, the Microbead Free Waters Act. What is that? Can you explain a little bit more to our listeners about that?

AMY UHRIN: Absolutely, that's a really good question because probably our audience is not really sure what that entails. You're right, the Microbead Free Waters Act was passed in 2015. This is a nationwide ban on cosmetics containing microplastics particles, microbeads. And so there are actually two parts to this act. Beginning on July 1 of 2017, what happens is that the manufacturing of these cosmetics containing the microbeads becomes banned. And then the second part to that is there are products already in the commerce system on the shelves, those kind of have to wind their way through the market system and so by January 1 of 2018, the ban that comes into effect is the sale and distribution of these rinse-off cosmetics that contain the microbead.

HOST: Thank you for clarifying that. What is NOAA's role with microplastics?

AMY UHRIN: Our program is actually currently supporting research projects that are examining a number of issues surrounding plastics and microplastics. And when I mean support, I'm saying that these projects came from a research grant competition that we held in 2013. One project is looking at how changes in environmental conditions can affect the way these chemical additives leach out into the environment and also how environmental factors can affect how pollutants adsorb to the surface of the plastic, and so when I'm talking about environmental conditions, I mean they're looking at how temperature, salinity, even how just the sizes or the surface area of the plastic particles affect these processes. And so, preliminary result from that work that is very interesting, has indicated that the leaching process, so the additive chemicals coming out of the plastic, that leaching process happens for a longer period of time than they anticipated. So what this tells us is that leaching from plastics can actually possibly affect a wider geographic area for a longer period of time than we previously thought because it's taking some time for those chemicals to come out so it's not going to be a spontaneous, localized effect.

HOST: Amy, I like to ask our guests to tell us a little bit about themselves...how did you get to NOAA and in particular how did you get to the position that you're in today?

AMY UHRIN: I actually joined NOAA in the year 2000 and I've been in NOAA in a couple of different capacities for 16 years now. I joined NOAA fresh out of my Masters program in biological oceanography. I spent 15 years at an actual research field station in Beaufort, North Carolina. The majority of my research during those 15 years really focused on seagrass ecosystems, other coastal ecosystems, but mostly seagrass and different aspects of the ecology and restoration of seagrass habitats. And I also dabbled a little bit in the marine debris realm at that time. So I got involved in a couple of projects looking at derelict fishing gear particularly in south Florida and derelict gear generated from the commercial spiny lobster fishery that takes place in south Florida and so looking at distribution and abundance of that type of derelict gear and also its impacts to habitat. I was actually just looking for kind of a career change or a career shift. I just joined the Marine Debris Program last June, so its almost been a year. My background in derelict fishing gear issues really resonated with the program I think, and so here I am today!

HOST: Great, we're glad to have you Amy!

AMY UHRIN: Thanks, I'm enjoying my time with the program.

HOST: Did you have any final, closing words to leave our listeners with today?

AMY UHRIN: Actually 2016 is a very exciting year for the NOAA Marine Debris Program, this actually marks our 10 year anniversary. Our program was actually established through an act of Congress in the year 2006, the Marine Debris Act. And so I would encourage our listeners to just check out our program's website-marinedebris.noaa.gov-to learn more about what our program does and especially what we've accomplished over the past decade. For example, our program has awarded more than $12.5 million in grant funding for various removal, prevention, and research projects combined. And our removal projects over the last decade have resulted in more than 5,500 tons of debris being removed from the marine environment across the country. Our website also provides a number of educational materials that are freely downloadable. And I will stress the three R's again-always remember Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and know that you can make a difference because all those actions add up.

HOST: Thanks Amy for joining us today on Diving Deeper. For our listeners, we have more information available for you in our show notes. Thanks for tuning in, that's all for today's show!

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Listen to our latest podcast Download this podcast. Welcome to Diving Deeper! I'm your host Kate Nielsen. Today, we'll talk about microplastics and its effects on our ocean and Great Lakes environments, especially the aquatic life that live there. Joining us today is Amy Uhrin. Amy is the Chief Scientist with NOAA's Marine Debris Program.

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URL: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYXR1cmUuY29tL25hdHVyZS9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcy9uYXR1cmUueG1s/episode/Y2Q0YTc0MzQtNDExNy00YjdjLThkMTMtYjkxM2MyMDU4MWIy
AUTHOR: Benjamin Thompson
DATE PUBLISHED: 24 May 2021
KEY INFO: "Scientists are trying to figure out whether these pervasive plastic specks are dangerous.

Wherever they look – from the bottom of oceans to the top of mountains – researchers are uncovering tiny specks of plastic, known as microplastics.

Scientists are trying to understand the potential impacts of ingesting these pervasive plastics but early results are ambiguous, as some experiments might not reflect the diversity of microplastics that exist in the real world."

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Much of the coverage of COVID immunity often focuses on antibody response and for good reason - these small, y-shaped proteins can detect, and in some cases neutralise, viruses like SARS-CoV-2. But as variants like Omicron evolve to evade antibodies, the role of another part of the immune system, T cells, has been brought into sharper focus. These immune cells work in a different way to antibodies, attacking infected cells rather than the virus itself, which can make their response broader and more robust. Now, research is showing that, unlike antibodies, T cell potency is not impacted by the mutations in variants like Omicron. In this episode of Coronapod, we ask why T cells are so often overlooked, and what role they might be playing in our protection from the coronavirus. News:'Killer' immune cells still recognize Omicron variant ﻿Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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Nature Podcast - Audio long-read: How harmful are microplastics?

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Scientists are trying to figure out whether these pervasive plastic specks are dangerous. Wherever they look - from the bottom of oceans to the top of mountains - researchers are uncovering tiny specks of plastic, known as microplastics.

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WHO calls for more research into microplastics and a crackdown on plastic pollution

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WHO calls for more research into microplastics and a crackdown on plastic pollution

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URL: https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2019-who-calls-for-more-research-into-microplastics-and-a-crackdown-on-plastic-pollution
AUTHOR: World Health Organization | Geneva
DATE PUBLISHED: 22 August 2019
KEY INFO: "The World Health Organization (WHO) today calls for a further assessment of microplastics in the environment and their potential impacts on human health, following the release of an analysis of current research related to microplastics in drinking-water. The Organization also calls for a reduction in plastic pollution to benefit the environment and reduce human exposure." - WHO

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The World Health Organization (WHO) today calls for a further assessment of microplastics in the environment and their potential impacts on human health, following the release of an analysis of current research related to microplastics in drinking-water. The Organization also calls for a reduction in plastic pollution to benefit the environment and reduce human exposure.

"We urgently need to know more about the health impact of microplastics because they are everywhere - including in our drinking-water," says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health, at WHO. "Based on the limited information we have, microplastics in drinking water don't appear to pose a health risk at current levels. But we need to find out more. We also need to stop the rise in plastic pollution worldwide."

According to the analysis, which summarizes the latest knowledge on microplastics in drinking-water, microplastics larger than 150 micrometres are not likely to be absorbed in the human body and uptake of smaller particles is expected to be limited. Absorption and distribution of very small microplastic particles including in the nano size range may, however, be higher, although the data is extremely limited.

Further research is needed to obtain a more accurate assessment of exposure to microplastics and their potential impacts on human health. These include developing standard methods for measuring microplastic particles in water; more studies on the sources and occurrence of microplastics in fresh water; and the efficacy of different treatment processes.

WHO recommends drinking-water suppliers and regulators prioritize removing microbial pathogens and chemicals that are known risks to human health, such as those causing deadly diarrhoeal diseases. This has a double advantage: wastewater and drinking-water treatment systems that treat faecal content and chemicals are also effective in removing microplastics.

Wastewater treatment can remove more than 90% of microplastics from wastewater, with the highest removal coming from tertiary treatment such as filtration. Conventional drinking-water treatment can remove particles smaller than a micrometre. A significant proportion of the global population currently does not benefit from adequate water and sewage treatment. By addressing the problem of human exposure to faecally contaminated water, communities can simultaneously address the concern related to microplastics.

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WHO calls for more research into microplastics and a crackdown on plastic pollution

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The World Health Organization (WHO) today calls for a further assessment of microplastics in the environment and their potential impacts on human health, following the release of an analysis of current research related to microplastics in drinking-water.

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Marine Debris – Get Involved in Coastal Clean Ups!

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Marine Debris – Get Involved in Coastal Clean Ups!

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URL: http://www.keysproperties.com/blog/marine-debris-coastal-clean-up
AUTHOR: Key Colony Beach Realty, Inc.
DATE PUBLISHED: 21 January 2015
KEY INFO: The goal is not just awareness, but to get citizens involved in cleaning up marine litter.