scholarly journals Are litter, plastic and microplastic quantities increasing in the ocean?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois Galgani ◽  
Aleke Stoefen-o Brien ◽  
Judith Weis ◽  
Christos Ioakeimidis ◽  
Qamar Schuyler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Temporal Trend ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Modelling Studies

AbstractWhilst both plastic production and inputs at sea have increased since the 1950s, several modelling studies predict a further increase in the coming years in these respective quantities. We compiled scientific literature on trends in marine litter, consisting largely of plastic and microplastics in the ocean, understanding that monitoring programs or assessments for these aspects are varied, frequently focusing on limited components of the marine environment in different locations, and covering a wide spectrum of marine litter types, with limited standardization. Here we discuss how trends in the amounts of litter in the marine environment can be compared with the information provided by models. Increasing amounts of plastic are found in some regions, especially in remote areas, but many repeated surveys and monitoring efforts have failed to demonstrate any consistent real temporal trend. An observed steady state situation of plastic quantities in many marine compartments and the fate and transport of plastic in the marine environment remain areas for much needed further research.

scholarly journals Floating Marine Litter in Eastern Mediterranean From Macro to Microplastics: The Lebanese Coastal Area as a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharif Jemaa ◽  
Celine Mahfouz ◽  
Maria Kazour ◽  
Myriam Lteif ◽  
Abed El Rahman Hassoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Coastal Area ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Pollution Load Index ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Despite emerging and increasing concerns related to marine micro and macroplastics, no systematic surveys have been undertaken yet in the Lebanese marine area. To understand the spatio-temporal variation of plastic litter (macro and microplastics) in the Lebanese marine environment and to determine the sources of pollution, this study investigated the characteristics of plastic pollution in sea surface waters during wet and dry seasons in 22 sites of Beirut and Tyre regions. A total of 23,023 items were identified and assessed according to the shape, color, and concentration; moreover, the risk of microplastics (MPs) contamination was explored based on a risk assessment model. The obtained results demonstrated that the average macroplastics concentration was 0.45 ± 0.6 items/m3. The average microplastics concentration was found to be 20.1 ± 21.8 and 3.78 ± 5.2 items/m3 in spring and fall respectively. During fall, MPs fragments were dominant in Beirut (97%) and Tyre (91%), and no pellets were observed. During spring, filaments were most encountered in Beirut (76.5%). The most dominant marine litter color was blue followed by black and white. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values showed a moderate contamination of the Lebanese coast with MPs (PLI: 5.79 ± 3.93) except for several sites in Beirut that showed high values of PLI, highlighting the local influence of cities and rivers on MPs concentration. This study serves as an important baseline for understanding the characteristics of the seasonal variation of MPs along the Lebanese marine environment; it will help stakeholders and countries to take proactive and reactive actions to face plastic litter pollution in the Lebanese coastal area.

Protection of the Marine Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-211
Author(s):  
Margaret A. Young
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
General Obligation ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trade Measures

Abstract The general obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment is contained in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Increasingly, marine issues are addressed in regional or multilateral trade agreements, including the covered agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This article examines selected legal developments, such as provisions in regional trade agreements on marine capture fisheries, marine litter and waste management infrastructure. Rules on the use of trade measures to eliminate harmful fishing practices, and the prohibition of certain subsidies, are also explored. The article calls for attention to the impact of these developments on dispute settlement between states under UNCLOS, support for marine protected areas, and the capacity for regime interaction between relevant bodies. These issues have relevance for the conservation of marine living resources as well as other issues relating to the protection of the marine environment, including marine plastics and climate change.

Effects of Flow Accelerated Corrosion on Piping Steady-State Vibration Evaluations

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Voll
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Vibration Monitoring ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Wall Thinning ◽  
Piping Systems ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Piping steady-state vibration monitoring programs were implemented during preoperational testing and initial plant startup at most nuclear power plants. Evaluations of piping steady-state vibrations are also performed as piping and component failures attributable to excessive vibration are detected or other potential vibration problems are detected during plant operation. Additionally, as a result of increased flow rates in some piping systems due to extended power uprate (EPU) programs at several plants, new piping steady-state vibration monitoring programs are in various stages of implementation. As plants have aged, pipe wall thinning resulting from flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) has become a recognized industry problem and programs have been established to detect, evaluate and monitor pipe wall thinning. Typically, the piping vibration monitoring and FAC programs have existed separately without interaction. Thus, the potential impact of wall thinning due to FAC on piping vibration evaluations may not be recognized. The potential effects of wall thinning due to FAC on piping vibration evaluations are reviewed. Piping susceptible to FAC and piping susceptible to significant steady-state vibrations, based on industry experience, are identified and compared. Possible methods for establishing links between the FAC and vibration monitoring programs and for accounting for the effects of FAC on both historical and future piping vibration evaluations are discussed.

scholarly journals Marine litter within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1055-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Galgani ◽  
G. Hanke ◽  
S. Werner ◽  
L. De Vrees
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Marine Strategy Framework Directive ◽  
Member States ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Directorate General ◽  
Monitoring Protocols ◽  
Available Information

Abstract Galgani, F., Hanke, G., Werner, S., and De Vrees, L. 2013. Marine litter within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 1055–1064. There have been numerous anthropogenic-driven changes to our planet in the last half-century. One of the most evident changes is the ubiquity and abundance of litter in the marine environment. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) establishes a framework within which EU Member States shall take action to achieve or maintain good environmental status (GES) of their marine waters by 2020. GES is based on 11 qualitative descriptors as listed in Annex I of the MSFD. Descriptor 10 (D 10) concerns marine litter. As a follow-up to the related Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards (2010/477/EU) in which 56 indicators for the achievement of GES are proposed, the EC Directorate-General for the Environment, on the request of the European Marine Directors, established a Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter (TSG ML) under the Working Group on GES. The role of TSG ML is to support Member States through providing scientific and technical background for the implementation of MSFD requirements with regard to D 10. Started in 2011, TSG ML provides technical recommendations for the implementation of the MSFD requirements for marine litter. It summarizes the available information on monitoring approaches and considers how GES and environmental targets could be defined with the aim of preventing further inputs of litter to, and reducing its total amount in, the marine environment. It also identifies research needs, priorities and strategies in support of the implementation of D 10. The work of TSG ML also focuses on the specification of monitoring methods through the development of monitoring protocols for litter in the different marine compartments, and for microplastics and litter in biota. Further consideration is being given to monitoring strategies in general and associated costs. Other priorities include the identification of sources of marine litter and a better understanding of the harm caused by marine litter.

Sewer exfiltration and the colmation layer

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 2273-2280 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Ellis ◽  
D. M. Revitt ◽  
J. Vollertsen ◽  
D. J. Blackwood
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Pressure Condition ◽  
State Equilibrium ◽  
Matrix Potential ◽  
Exponential Decline ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Head Pressure ◽  
Loss Rates

Sewer rig studies demonstrate a rapid exponential decline in exfiltration rates from gaps and joints to establish an ultimate steady-state equilibrium varying between 10−3–10−6 l s−1, with minimum average daily rates per standardised leak area and sewer length varying between 0.02–9.0 l d−1cm−2 and 0.0002–2.0 l s−1 km−1 respectively. These loss rates are much larger than those derived from indirect monitoring/modelling studies which suggest losses between 1.4 × 10−5–0.179 l s−1 km−1. The confusion regarding conflicting definitions of the colmation, transition, bridging and biofilm layers is addressed, and the significance of these clogging layers in terms of both hydraulic and matrix potential on the exfiltration loss is evaluated. The influence of variability and instability of flow and bed turbulence on determining critical leakage conditions following the onset of equilibrium steady-state is assessed. This challenges the generally held assumption that elevated head pressure condition alone is a necessary precursor for rupture of the clogging layers.

scholarly journals MARINE LITTER ON THE COAST OF THE SEA OF AZOV: STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 149-153
Author(s):  
A.V. Kleshchenkov ◽  
◽  
K.S. Sushko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Coastal Processes ◽  
Sea Of Azov ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
The Sea Of Azov

The article is devoted to one of the most urgent problems of modern Oceanology – marine litter. The purpose of this work was to study the distribution of marine litter on the coast of the sea of Azov. The article presents the results of field expeditions, during which observations were made on an wide network of points covering various parts of the coast, which differ both in the type and direction of coastal processes, as well as in recreational load and economic development. All marine litter was divided into 12 classes and an assessment of the occurrence of various classes was performed. The regularities of the distribution of various classes of marine debris are considered and information about their quantity in different areas is provided. There is a widespread contamination of the coast of the sea of Azov with mounting foam, which is potentially dangerous in the context of microplastic pollution of the marine environment.

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