Peter Sundt, Mepex Consult AS, 15 January 2018 SOURCES OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Transcription

1 Peter Sundt, Mepex Consult AS, 15 January 2018 SOURCES OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

2 Oslo, 15 January

3 Independent advisor waste management Waste/Environmental analysis Waste Policies and strategies Source separation, collection and sorting Recycling schemes and recycling Treatment, energy recovery and biogas Oslo, 15 January

4 The Team Authors Peter Sundt Per-Erik Schulze Quality assurance Frode Syversen Glenn Dunshea Oslo, 15 January

5 The report in brief Overview of different sources, primary and secondary At their upstream origin Estimates given for primary sources Not possible yet to estimate seconday sources Other contributions Defining «microplastics» A conceptual model for all sources A broad litterature base (reviewed 200 scientific articles) Involved many stakeholders Oslo, 15 January

6 The micro and other plastic particles can be classified as follows Size Name of particles Comparable sized aquatic organisms Plastics from industry <25 mm Macro plastic particles Macrofauna: sea mammals, fish, shellfish, mussels, birds 5-25 mm Meso plastic particles Mesofauna, benthos, polychaetes 1-5 mm Larger microplastic particles Copepods (Norw: raudåte) Consumer products, packaging, fishing equipment Granulates Textile fibers <1 mm Smaller microplastic particles Smaller Plankton Plastic particles in cosmetic industry, plastic dust Oslo, 15 January

7 Microplastics in brief General characteristics Solid phase material Comments Solid particulates, not fluid/ liquid. Includes particles in suspensions. But harder than particles in waxes. Some polymers are not solid. Insoluble in water Lack of knowledge on degradation in water, so insoluble is to understand as a relative term. Synthetic Often polymers can be regarded as synthetic, but not always, better wording might be man- made polymers Slowly degradable Some plastics claim they are biodegradable, other plastics degrade slowly, for example in the sun. Made from plastics Possibly also other particles made from polymers should be included, as long as the particles are solid. Small size < 5mm Includes very small particles, even nano. Particles can have all kinds of shape. Oslo, 15 January

8 Primary sources 1. Intentionally produced and used as such 2. An inherent by-product of other products or activities 3. Emitted as such by accidents or unintentional spill Oslo, 15 January

9 Personal care products Origin: Personal care products Number of sources: every household Plastic types: PE, PMMA, PTFE, PP, Nylon, PET Haz.additives: n.a. Particle size, mm: variable depending on product. Particle shape: irregular spherical Specific gravity: depending on product, e.g. PE: 0,9, PFTE: 2 Oslo, 15 January

10 Repair yards emit polymer paint particles directly to the sea Origin: maritime paint Number of sources: shipyards Plastic types: epoxy, polyurethane Haz.additives: yes. Particle size, mm: variable. Particle shape: tiny flakes and irregular Specific gravity: depending on product. Most will sink. The smallest fraction can float on surface film alone. Oslo, 15 January

11 Wear and tear during use 1. Tyre dust 2. Household laundry 3. Household dust 4. Road paint 5. Housepaint 6. Indoor city dusts Oslo, 15 January

12 Road marking paint & Tyre wear Tyre dust 0.1 mm or smaller Example ontyre wear Tyre designation Intensity of wear (g/km) Passenger car Light commercial Commercial Oslo, 15 January

13 Short facts about microplastics from household and laundry dust Origin: Household and laundry dust Number of sources: every household Plastic types: Polyamide, Polystyrene, Acrylic Haz.additives: yes. Particle size, mm: Textile fiber lint: x 5 Particle shape: fibers, also paint: tiny flakes, irregular pieces Specific gravity: depending on product. Oslo, 15 January

14 Production spill Origin: Production spill Number of sources: about 60 plastic converters in Norway Plastic types: PS, PE, PVC Haz.additives: yes, f.ex HBCD Particle size, mm: about 1 mm Particle shape: spherical or discs Specific gravity: depending on product, can have airbubbles adding buoyancy Oslo, 15 January

15 Secondary sources 1. Natural defragmenting of macroplastics by weathering and microbial activity 2. Defragmenting of macroplastics to micro particles directly by animal activity 3. Re-suspension of old microplastic contamination in soil or sediments. Oslo, 15 January

16 Global estimates on macro plastic littering A report from UNEP refers to a US study in 1975 estimating the plastic marine litter to 6.4 million tonnes/year. (This study though focused on waste dumping from ships). In 1995, another study also concluded with about 6.5 million tonnes. Later studies come to different results, from 0.1% ( tonnes) to 10% (30 million tonnes) of total global plastic production. (The very latest, 2015: 3%.) In Norway: Our best guess: Above tonnes per year, 1-2 kg/ innbygger Oslo, 15 January

17 Typical sewage related plastic litter from an Oslofjord beach Oslo, 15 January

18 Biobased vs. fossil-based plastics, biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable plastics Oslo, 15 January

19 Oslo, 15 January

20 What is new after 2015? Mepex on sources is highly cited, incl IUNC Other reports, new data from industry and reserach Report: "Primary micro plastic-pollution: Measures and reduction potentials in Norway, Advisor on Marine littering strategies in Norway, 2016 Mepex: «Kartlegging av plastavfall mm ved opprydding», 2017 Handelens Miljøfond,2017- chairman Oslo, 15 January

21 Takk for oppmerksomheten! Peter Sundt Mepex Consult AS Oslo, 15 January