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Microplastics in the Oresund Region of the Baltic Sea - sources and effects

Bystedt, Simon LU (2018) MVEM03 20181
Studies in Environmental Science
Abstract
Plastic production is only increasing, and it‟s not showing any signs of slowing
down. Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 mm, either produced
intentionally, or created from items being withered into small particles.
Microplastic contamination in marine environments is higher closer to cities, and
most of the plastic litter eventually ends up in the oceans. Microplastics have been
found in habitats all over the planet however, and are a huge environmental
concern. This literary review study aims to assess the current knowledge
concerning terrestrial sources of microplastics, and possible effects of
microplastics in a marine environment. Specifically this study will focus on the
Oresund, a shallow strait, in-between Denmark... (More)
Plastic production is only increasing, and it‟s not showing any signs of slowing
down. Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 mm, either produced
intentionally, or created from items being withered into small particles.
Microplastic contamination in marine environments is higher closer to cities, and
most of the plastic litter eventually ends up in the oceans. Microplastics have been
found in habitats all over the planet however, and are a huge environmental
concern. This literary review study aims to assess the current knowledge
concerning terrestrial sources of microplastics, and possible effects of
microplastics in a marine environment. Specifically this study will focus on the
Oresund, a shallow strait, in-between Denmark and Sweden, two densely
populated areas. The literature reviewed in this study indicates that over 1100
tonnes of microplastics could come from the Swedish coastline and into the
Oresund. Several major sources and pathways were identified: littering, artificial
turfs, roads, runoff, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and wastewater
sludge. Most microplastics entering into WWTPs get caught in the wastewater
sludge. A percentage. however escapes into water courses leading to the Oresund.
The filtered out microplastics get retained in the waste sludge, which is spread on
agricultural soils. Soils adjacent to Oresund receive approximately 139 tonnes
microplastic via waste sludge every year. Trafficated roads in the Oresund region
yearly release 798 tonnes of microplastic from tyres and markings, and artificial
turfs release 145 – 248 tonnes of microplastic. In Oresund microplastics can be
consumed by plankton, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and vertebrates.
Microplastics impact the entire ecosystem, proving toxic and lethal to many filterfeeders
and disruptive and damaging to fish. Via Oresund, which also functions as
a nursery to nearby fish populations, microplastics can negatively affect adjacent
regions, but more research is needed to fully understand the potential effects of
microplastics throughout Oresund. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Plastic production is only increasing, and it‟s not showing any signs of slowing
down. Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 mm, either produced
intentionally, or created from items being withered into small particles.
Microplastic contamination in marine environments is higher closer to cities, and
most of the plastic litter eventually ends up in the oceans. Microplastics have been
found in habitats all over the planet however, and are a huge environmental
concern. This literary review study aims to assess the current knowledge
concerning terrestrial sources of microplastics, and possible effects of
microplastics in a marine environment. Specifically this study will focus on the
Oresund, a shallow strait, in-between Denmark... (More)
Plastic production is only increasing, and it‟s not showing any signs of slowing
down. Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 mm, either produced
intentionally, or created from items being withered into small particles.
Microplastic contamination in marine environments is higher closer to cities, and
most of the plastic litter eventually ends up in the oceans. Microplastics have been
found in habitats all over the planet however, and are a huge environmental
concern. This literary review study aims to assess the current knowledge
concerning terrestrial sources of microplastics, and possible effects of
microplastics in a marine environment. Specifically this study will focus on the
Oresund, a shallow strait, in-between Denmark and Sweden, two densely
populated areas. The literature reviewed in this study indicates that over 1100
tonnes of microplastics could come from the Swedish coastline and into the
Oresund. Several major sources and pathways were identified: littering, artificial
turfs, roads, runoff, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and wastewater
sludge. Most microplastics entering into WWTPs get caught in the wastewater
sludge. A percentage. however escapes into water courses leading to the Oresund.
The filtered out microplastics get retained in the waste sludge, which is spread on
agricultural soils. Soils adjacent to Oresund receive approximately 139 tonnes
microplastic via waste sludge every year. Trafficated roads in the Oresund region
yearly release 798 tonnes of microplastic from tyres and markings, and artificial
turfs release 145 – 248 tonnes of microplastic. In Oresund microplastics can be
consumed by plankton, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and vertebrates.
Microplastics impact the entire ecosystem, proving toxic and lethal to many filterfeeders
and disruptive and damaging to fish. Via Oresund, which also functions as
a nursery to nearby fish populations, microplastics can negatively affect adjacent
regions, but more research is needed to fully understand the potential effects of
microplastics throughout Oresund. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bystedt, Simon LU
supervisor
organization
course
MVEM03 20181
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Microplastic, microbeads, source, effects, wastewater, review, baltic, agriculture, sludge
language
English
id
8947012
date added to LUP
2018-06-11 16:50:51
date last changed
2018-06-11 16:50:51
@misc{8947012,
  abstract     = {{Plastic production is only increasing, and it‟s not showing any signs of slowing
down. Microplastics are particles smaller than 5 mm, either produced
intentionally, or created from items being withered into small particles.
Microplastic contamination in marine environments is higher closer to cities, and
most of the plastic litter eventually ends up in the oceans. Microplastics have been
found in habitats all over the planet however, and are a huge environmental
concern. This literary review study aims to assess the current knowledge
concerning terrestrial sources of microplastics, and possible effects of
microplastics in a marine environment. Specifically this study will focus on the
Oresund, a shallow strait, in-between Denmark and Sweden, two densely
populated areas. The literature reviewed in this study indicates that over 1100
tonnes of microplastics could come from the Swedish coastline and into the
Oresund. Several major sources and pathways were identified: littering, artificial
turfs, roads, runoff, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and wastewater
sludge. Most microplastics entering into WWTPs get caught in the wastewater
sludge. A percentage. however escapes into water courses leading to the Oresund.
The filtered out microplastics get retained in the waste sludge, which is spread on
agricultural soils. Soils adjacent to Oresund receive approximately 139 tonnes
microplastic via waste sludge every year. Trafficated roads in the Oresund region
yearly release 798 tonnes of microplastic from tyres and markings, and artificial
turfs release 145 – 248 tonnes of microplastic. In Oresund microplastics can be
consumed by plankton, molluscs, echinoderms, crustaceans and vertebrates.
Microplastics impact the entire ecosystem, proving toxic and lethal to many filterfeeders
and disruptive and damaging to fish. Via Oresund, which also functions as
a nursery to nearby fish populations, microplastics can negatively affect adjacent
regions, but more research is needed to fully understand the potential effects of
microplastics throughout Oresund.}},
  author       = {{Bystedt, Simon}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Microplastics in the Oresund Region of the Baltic Sea - sources and effects}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}