Chapter 5. Recommendations
Despite the establishment of national and international regulations,
marine plastic debris, particularly microplastics, is still a significant threat to the
world’s oceans. Current policies and regulations are insufficient for the
prevention and reduction of marine plastics (UNEP 2011). There is also a lack of
comprehensive strategies for different regions and countries to control and
manage the marine plastic problem. Although the negative impacts of plastic
debris have been recognized internationally and regulations have been
developed, it is difficult to implement and enforce existing measures (UNEP
2009). Furthermore, there are often inadequate control and management of
landfills and industries, and insufficient education to workers and public
(Derraik 2002; Barnes et al 2009), which often lead to the accidental and
deliberate lost of plastics. Apart from macroplastics, in fact, the presence of
microscopic plastics is a more severe threat to aquatic environment. However,
there are still lack of information and data on the microplastic issues. The
divergence in definition of sizes, sampling methods and techniques increase the
difficulties for scientists to study and determine the source, amount and impact
of microplastics (Cole et al 2011). As microplastics is a global marine issue,
survey should have been conducted to the world’s oceans, however, this is often
expensive and time consuming (UNEP 2011). Due to the increase in plastic
production and consumption, with the presence of management problems,
incidence of marine plastics will continuously increase.
All sectors are essential to participate in dealing with and managing the
issue, including government, green groups, industrial sectors and individuals.
First of all, nations should make a clear definition on microplastics and develop
consistent strategies for management. Feasibility study should be made to
ensure measures are effective for the prevention and reduction of marine
plastics. As current policies and legislations are inadequate, it is necessary for
nations to develop comprehensive legislations, and to ensure implementation
and enforcement actions are adequate. Proper management should be developed
to control the release of plastics from sources. For instance, government may set
stringent legislations to prevent illegal dumping and manage landfills, and also
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encourage industries to commit the ‘zero plastic waste’ throughout their
operation (Cole et al 2011).
Recreational activities at beaches or along coastal areas are known as one
of the important sources of marine plastics, actions are required to prevent
plastics from entering the sea. Government and green groups should emphasize
the significance of beach clean up, which can remove macroplastic debris before
they undergo fragmentation process (Andrady 2011). At the same time, beach
cleaning may increase the aesthetic value and beaches attendance, and minimise
the chance of human injury caused by plastic debris. Plastics collected from
coastal areas can also be reused and recycled, hence to reduce the production of
plastic wastes and opportunity for plastics getting into waterways.
Education is another tool required for the prevention of marine plastics.
As improper disposal habits are often recognized as one of the sources of plastic
debris, it is necessary to let the public to understand the seriousness of their
inappropriate practices. Education is needed for children as they should learn
the importance of protecting the ocean and developing good habits, they can also
help to spread the message to their family (Derraik 2002). Besides, workers and
operators in plastic industries, at offshore platforms or on vessels should be
educated. As they are responsible to the direct disposal of marine plastics, they
should learn the appropriate practices that can minimize leakage during
operations and prevent both intentional and unintentional dumping at sea. It is
important to bring about the idea of ‘plastic free’ to the public. Since people
desire on products with less plastics, company will accompany the public’s idea
and produce less plastics. Therefore, there is a responsibility for the public to
decide their choices of consumption.
In fact, there are no existing legislations monitoring and managing
microplastic pollution. Majority of the above suggestions are only recommended
for tackling larger plastic pollution that is the secondary source of microplastics.
More efforts and awareness should be put on the prevention and control of
primary source of microscopic plastic particles. Due to the limitation on
knowledge and technologies, no cost effective methods are currently available
for the clean up of microplastics. As mitigation measures are less practical at this
stage, attentions should be put on prevention. For example, knowing washing
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machines are responsible for large amount of domestic microplastics, designers
of clothing and washing machines should take this issue into their consideration,
which may reduce the generation of fibres during the washing process. In fact,
other sectors should also consider the problem of microscopic plastic in their
product designs, such as cosmetic and health care products. Reducing the usage
of microplastics in products is suggested as an effective measure for minimising
plastic discharges. Besides, government should establish strong policies to
prevent leakage and direct dumping of tiny plastics from industrial operation.
Subsidies can also be provided for scientific researches as the studies of
microplastics are often expensive.
Studies are required in order to have a better understanding about
microplastics. It is necessary to investigate the sources of microplastics and their
distribution in the world’s oceans, hence to evaluate the impacts on aquatic
environment. Toxicological studies are needed as microplastics have high
potential to adsorb harmful chemicals, which may cause severe health effects to
organisms. Researchers are also needed to investigate the possibility of whether
microplastics can pass up to higher trophic levels in food chain. Quantity and
ways that microplastics enter body should be included in the investigation. If the
microscopic particles are known to enter organisms’ body and pass to predators,
it will become a critical health safety issue to the entire ecosystem and food web.
With better knowledge on microplastics, researchers can further investigate
potential mitigation measures. Although prevention is always staying at the first
priority, mitigation is required to remove the unpreventable and existing
microplastics. Microscopic particles from domestic and industrial sewage should
be removed before releasing into the sea. Researchers may invent new
technologies for sewage treatment facilities in order to provide cost effective
methodologies for microplastic mitigation.