scholarly journals Impacts of plastic debris on biota and implications for human health: A South African perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (5/6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trishan Naidoo ◽  
Anusha Rajkaran ◽  
Sershen Not available
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Marine Biota ◽  
Lethal Effects ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Entanglement and ingestion of plastics are the main ecological impacts of marine plastic debris on marine biota, but indirect effects such as the transport of alien species and benthic smothering are also important to note. Entanglement of invertebrates, sharks, turtles, birds and marine mammals is mainly caused by macroplastics (>5 mm), and leads to reduced mobility, ineffective foraging and subsequent mortality. The main plastic types associated with entanglement are improperly discarded fishing nets, lines, ropes and straps. In South Africa and surrounding waters, plastic ingestion has been reported in a number of marine species: sharks (n=10), fish (n>=7), turtles (n=1) and birds (n=36). Lethal (macroplastic) and sub-lethal effects (microplastic ≤5 mm) of marine debris on biota have been noted, but at the time of this review there were no published reports on impacts at the population level. Consumed shellfish are possible vectors for the introduction of microplastics into humans. The specific impacts of microplastic ingestion on human health are largely unknown, but additives associated with plastics represent a threat. The research infrastructure in South Africa is insufficient to monitor and characterise marine plastic debris and, in many cases, not in line with global standards. More research effort is needed to understand the impacts of marine plastic debris on humans and marine biota in South Africa, particularly at the population level. Significance • Macroplastics affect marine biota mainly via entanglement and microplastics largely through ingestion. • Macro- and microplastic interactions with biota can result in sub-lethal effects and mortality but no population effects have been reported for South Africa. • Consumed shellfish are a potential source of microplastics for humans but their potential effects in humans remain unknown. • Better infrastructure is needed for improved monitoring and research on the effects of marine debris in South Africa.

scholarly journals Marine plastic debris in Indonesia: Baseline estimates (2010-2019) and monitoring strategies (2021-2025)

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-102
Author(s):  
Intan Suci Nurhati ◽  
Muhammad Reza Cordova
Keyword(s):  
Marine Debris ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Debris Accumulation ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Level Model ◽  
Data Source ◽  
Baseline Values ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Indonesia set the mission to reduce marine plastic debris by 70% between 2018-2025 with a global significance to support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.1. This short communication assesses marine debris baseline estimates in Indonesia before 2020 from available contributions and provides recommendations for monitoring marine debris mitigation between 2021-2025. Widely ranging model estimates of plastic debris released into seas highlight the roles of data source, the spatial resolution of models, and in situ data to provide representative baseline values. Recognizing the strengths and uncertainties of available contributions, model outputs converge on a baseline value of 0.52 ± 0.36 million tons (Mt) per year prior to 2020 in Indonesia, therefore setting a targeted reduced number of 0.16 Mt of marine debris releases in 2025. The Indonesian Institute of Sciences showed a preliminary value of plastic debris accumulation in beaches at 113.58 ± 83.88 g/m2 monthly or equivalent to 0.40 Mt/year by assuming plastic debris is most pervasive within 3 meters from Indonesia’s 99,093 km-long coastlines. It is important to distinguish that while river monitoring data informs land-based plastic debris releases, stranded beach debris represents a fraction of debris that is not present in the water column and bottom sediments. Moving forward, monitoring initiatives to mitigate marine debris should leverage on nationwide municipality-level model estimates (e.g., the source to leakage route framework of the National Plastic Action Partnership) as well as in situ river and coastal particularly but not limited to sites co-identified in previous monitoring studies (i.e., Medan, Batam-Bintan, Padang, Jakarta-Seribu Islands, Semarang, Pontianak, Bali, Lombok, Makassar, Manado, Bitung). The latter should be conducted at least seasonally, considering evidence of monsoonal variations of marine debris release and accumulation in Indonesia. Indonesia's vastness and regional diversity require coordination among stakeholders (government agencies, research institutions, universities, NGOs, citizen scientists) to monitor progress in the environments.

scholarly journals Strategy on marine debris reduction in Indonesia: a review and recommendation

2021 ◽  
Vol 925 (1) ◽  
pp. 012027
Author(s):  
FY Prabawa ◽  
NS Adi ◽  
WS Pranowo ◽  
SS Sukoraharjo ◽  
BG Gautama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Integrated Methods ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Abstract In 2018, the Indonesian government started a program: National Action Plan on Marine Debris, with the target to reduce 70% of marine plastic debris by 2025. Based on local research’s result in 2018, there was an estimated 0,27 to 0,59 million tons (MT) of marine plastic debris on local seas. Thus, the target of 70% debris reduction would be at 0.35 MT per year, or the reduction of 29.500 Tons of debris per month. That is a huge number to deal with, considering there are only 4 years left to 2025. To achieve the program, a roadmap was developed, parallel to other supporting programs as well the regulations, a national task force TKN PSL also established to run the programs. But an intriguing question remains: how to improve the achievement of this challenging target in a limited time? This study aimed to figure out the progress of existing waste reduction programs and contribute the way to improve the program. The method is a combination of literature review to collect data, a comparative and analytical work and finally the development of concept and action plans to formulate recommendation. We concluded that to improve the achievement of the target, proper strategy and program are needed to accelerate and boost the progress of marine debris reduction programs. To strengthen the waste reduction effort, the use of technology needs to be strongly emphasized. The program is best to be imply directly on sites, using various integrated methods to reduce more marine debris. More units of waste processing TPS 3R or “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle” are in urgency to obtained. The units will be located along the water body areas covering upstream to downstream, inland as well on-water. For the on-water site works, a concept of the green technology-based system integrated with small-sized floating TPS 3R barge, called STAMSAL P2K, is recommended to be implemented in the action plans.

scholarly journals Impacts of marine plastic on ecosystem services and economy: State of South African research

2020 ◽  
Vol 116 (5/6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumaiya Arabi ◽  
Anton Nahman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marine Ecology ◽  
Policy Response ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

In addition to its direct impacts on marine ecology and biota, marine plastic debris can affect the delivery of ecosystem services, with resulting impacts on human well-being, society and the economy. It is important to quantify these impacts in economic terms, so as to be able to provide evidence-based support for an appropriate policy response. We review the South African literature on the impacts of marine plastic debris on ecosystem services and on the economy, in order to identify relevant knowledge gaps. The gaps are found to be significant. Some research has been conducted in terms of impacts relating to recreation, aesthetics and tourism and the costs of beach and harbour clean-ups. However, there is a significant lack of research regarding impacts on ecosystem services relating to fisheries and aquaculture, heritage, habitat provision, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles. There is also a significant lack of research regarding direct economic impacts on the transport/shipping and fisheries industries, indirect economic impacts (such as costs associated with health-related impacts), and non-market costs (e.g. impacts on scenic, cultural and spiritual values). More research is needed in South Africa to address these gaps, in order to inform policy aimed at addressing plastic waste and marine plastic debris. Significance: • This review highlights the knowledge gaps in terms of the impacts of marine plastics on ecosystem services and on the economy in South Africa, which are important to understand in order to be able to direct funding for future research in this domain. Without better knowledge of the economic impacts of marine plastic debris, it is difficult to assess the costs of inaction, and therefore to inform an appropriate policy response for tackling the problem of marine plastic debris.

Detecting and Classifying Marine Plastic Debris from high-resolution multispectral satellite data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Kikaki ◽  
Ioannis Kakogeorgiou ◽  
Paraskevi Mikeli ◽  
Dionysios E. Raitsos ◽  
Konstantinos Karantzalos
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Machine Learning Classification ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

<p>Plastic debris in the global ocean is considered an essential issue with severe implications for human health and marine ecosystems. Remote sensing is a useful tool for detecting and identifying marine pollution; however, there are still few studies and benchmark datasets for developing monitoring solutions for marine plastic debris detection from high-resolution satellite data.</p><p>Here, we present an annotated plastic debris dataset from different geographical regions, seasons, and years, including annotations for sea surface features (e.g., foam), objects (e.g., ship) and floating macroalgae species such as Sargassum. Our dataset is based on high-resolution multispectral satellite observations collected mainly for the period 2014-2020 over the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea). Over this region, large plastic debris masses and Sargassum macroalgae blooms have been frequently reported, suggesting that it is an ideal region to examine satellite sensors' effectiveness in plastic debris identification, as well as monitoring along with sea surface circulation and meteorological data.</p><p>We also present a set of machine learning classification frameworks for marine debris detection on high-resolution satellite imagery, comparing qualitatively and quantitatively their overall performance. The new algorithms were validated against different regions that have been reported as major plastic polluted areas, as well as their performance was compared to well-established FAI and new promising FDI. This benchmark study can trigger more research and developement efforts towards the systematic detection and monitoring of marine plastic pollution.</p>

scholarly journals Distribution of marine debris in Jakarta Bay and its implication to the coastal ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 925 (1) ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
Nasir Sudirman ◽  
Devi Dwiyanti Suryono ◽  
August Daulat ◽  
Agustin Rustam ◽  
Hadiwijaya L Salim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Estuary ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Coastal Ecosystem ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
West Java ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Comprehensive Data ◽  
Polluted Rivers ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

Abstract Citarum River, which ended up in Muaragembong, Bekasi Regency-West Java Province, is known recently as one of the most polluted rivers globally, including pollution caused by plastic litter. This research was conducted in the surrounding river, estuary, and mangrove ecosystem in Muaragembong, which aimed to determine macro debris and analyze its impact on the coastal ecosystem. Marine debris sampling in the mangrove ecosystem was done by line transect, while the net using for marine debris sampling surrounding river and estuary. The result showed that debris composition in Muaragembong consisted of 80% inorganic and 20% organic, where plastic debris dominated with 50-81% and was distributed throughout the estuary and mangrove ecosystem. The highest density was found in the mangrove ecosystem in the Kali Mati Estuary (Pantai Sederhana Village) with 222.67 waste/m2, while the heaviest waste was found in the Bendera Estuary (Pantai Bahagia Village) 4,663.64 grams/m2. This condition explained the lack of marine debris management in the Muaragembong estuary, where most inorganic debris originated from household litter. This research also supports data and information for baseline Indonesia’s marine plastic debris due to comprehensive data needed to reduce 70% of marine plastic debris by 2025.

scholarly journals Source-Specific Patterns of Marine Debris and Associated Ecological Impacts in the Red River Estuary of Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel K. Giles ◽  
Cindy Anh Thu Nguyen ◽  
Thu Thi Yến Hồ ◽  
Công Văn Nguyến ◽  
Ngoc Thi Ngô ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Standing Stock ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Ecological Effects ◽  
Red River ◽  
Marine Debris

Vietnamese rivers are among the top ten contributors of anthropogenic debris to the ocean. However, there is limited empirical research documenting debris and its effects in Northern Vietnam. The goal of our research was to conduct the first baseline assessment of anthropogenic debris in the Red River. We aimed to understand the sources, accumulation patterns, and ecological effects of anthropogenic debris in the Red River (Song Hong) estuary. To assess debris patterns, we conducted standing stock debris surveys at sites in the mouth, and upstream of the Red River. To assess the ecological effects of anthropogenic debris on mangrove ecosystems, we measured mangrove diameter, canopy cover, and number of crab burrows/m2 in the same debris transects. Anthropogenic debris was found at all sites, and plastic was the most common material. We identified a non-significant trend, whereby ecological indices declined with increasing amounts of debris. Overall, our results demonstrate that anthropogenic debris is ubiquitous in the Red River estuary, composition varies among sites, and this debris may have adverse or neutral ecological effects on mangrove ecosystem health. Future work should conduct debris assessments at larger spatial scales, and assess ecological responses at the community or population level over extended time periods.

scholarly journals Correlation And Dispersion Of Marine Debris To Mollusca In The Interidal Zone

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenius Alfred Renjaan ◽  
Dortje Theodora Silubun ◽  
Dullah Irwan Latar ◽  
Marvin Mario Makailipessy ◽  
Megawati Elisabet Juley
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Sediment Surface ◽  
Collection Method ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
Data Collection Method ◽  
Sampling Points ◽  
Kei Islands ◽  
Marine Plastic Debris

The research was carried out on Langgur Beach from January to March 2021. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation and dispersion of marine debris to molluscs in the Intertidal Zone of Langgur Beach, the edge of the Rosenberg Strait, Kei Islands, Indonesia. The data collection method of this research is the quadratic method. The results of the study noted that the total marine debris accumulated at 21 sampling points amounted to 7,596 items consisting of 14 categories of marine debris and 6 species of Mollusca were found. The results of the analysis show that the dispersion of surface marine debris and marine debris in the sediments are scattered in groups, the dispersion per type of macrozoobenthos on the surface and in the sediments is scattered in groups, regularly and randomly. The results of the analysis also showed a positive correlation between marine plastic debris on the sediment surface and the bivalves of Gafrarium pectinatum on the sediment surface.

Cranial crassicaudiasis in two coastal dolphin species from South Africa is predominantly a disease of immature individuals

2020 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 93-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
MF Van Bressem ◽  
P Duignan ◽  
JA Raga ◽  
K Van Waerebeek ◽  
N Fraijia-Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Bone Development ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Osteolytic Lesions ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference

Crassicauda spp. (Nematoda) infest the cranial sinuses of several odontocetes, causing diagnostic trabecular osteolytic lesions. We examined skulls of 77 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins Sousa plumbea and 69 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus, caught in bather-protecting nets off KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from 1970-2017, and skulls of 6 S. plumbea stranded along the southern Cape coast in South Africa from 1963-2002. Prevalence of cranial crassicaudiasis was evaluated according to sex and cranial maturity. Overall, prevalence in S. plumbea and T. aduncus taken off KZN was 13 and 31.9%, respectively. Parasitosis variably affected 1 or more cranial bones (frontal, pterygoid, maxillary and sphenoid). No significant difference was found by gender for either species, allowing sexes to be pooled. However, there was a significant difference in lesion prevalence by age, with immature T. aduncus 4.6 times more likely affected than adults, while for S. plumbea, the difference was 6.5-fold. As severe osteolytic lesions are unlikely to heal without trace, we propose that infection is more likely to have a fatal outcome for immature dolphins, possibly because of incomplete bone development, lower immune competence in clearing parasites or an over-exuberant inflammatory response in concert with parasitic enzymatic erosion. Cranial osteolysis was not observed in mature males (18 S. plumbea, 21 T. aduncus), suggesting potential cohort-linked immune-mediated resistance to infestation. Crassicauda spp. may play a role in the natural mortality of S. plumbea and T. aduncus, but the pathogenesis and population level impact remain unknown.

scholarly journals Climate Change and Health Preparedness in Africa: Analysing Trends in Six African Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4672
Author(s):  
Samuel Kwasi Opoku ◽  
Walter Leal Filho ◽  
Fudjumdjum Hubert ◽  
Oluwabunmi Adejumo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
African Countries

Climate change is a global problem, which affects the various geographical regions at different levels. It is also associated with a wide range of human health problems, which pose a burden to health systems, especially in regions such as Africa. Indeed, across the African continent public health systems are under severe pressure, partly due to their fragile socioeconomic conditions. This paper reports on a cross-sectional study in six African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, and Kenya) aimed at assessing their vulnerabilities to climate change, focusing on its impacts on human health. The study evaluated the levels of information, knowledge, and perceptions of public health professionals. It also examined the health systems’ preparedness to cope with these health hazards, the available resources, and those needed to build resilience to the country’s vulnerable population, as perceived by health professionals. The results revealed that 63.1% of the total respondents reported that climate change had been extensively experienced in the past years, while 32% claimed that the sampled countries had experienced them to some extent. Nigerian respondents recorded the highest levels (67.7%), followed by Kenya with 66.6%. South Africa had the lowest level of impact as perceived by the respondents (50.0%) when compared with the other sampled countries. All respondents from Ghana and Namibia reported that health problems caused by climate change are common in the two countries. As perceived by the health professionals, the inadequate resources reiterate the need for infrastructural resources, medical equipment, emergency response resources, and technical support. The study’s recommendations include the need to improve current policies at all levels (i.e., national, regional, and local) on climate change and public health and to strengthen health professionals’ skills. Improving the basic knowledge of health institutions to better respond to a changing climate is also recommended. The study provides valuable insights which may be helpful to other nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Exploring sustainability potentials in vineyards through LCA? Evidence from farming practices in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Russo ◽  
A. E. Strever ◽  
H. J. Ponstein
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Human Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Wine Grape ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Manual Labour ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose Following the urgency to curb environmental impacts across all sectors globally, this is the first life cycle assessment of different wine grape farming practices suitable for commercial conventional production in South Africa, aiming at better understanding the potentials to reduce adverse effects on the environment and on human health. Methods An attributional life cycle assessment was conducted on eight different scenarios that reduce the inputs of herbicides and insecticides compared against a business as usual (BAU) scenario. We assess several impact categories based on ReCiPe, namely global warming potential, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial toxicity, freshwater toxicity, marine toxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity and human non-carcinogenic toxicity, human health and ecosystems. A water footprint assessment based on the AWARE method accounts for potential impacts within the watershed. Results and discussion Results show that in our impact assessment, more sustainable farming practices do not always outperform the BAU scenario, which relies on synthetic fertiliser and agrochemicals. As a main trend, most of the impact categories were dominated by energy requirements of wine grape production in an irrigated vineyard, namely the usage of electricity for irrigation pumps and diesel for agricultural machinery. The most favourable scenario across the impact categories provided a low diesel usage, strongly reduced herbicides and the absence of insecticides as it applied cover crops and an integrated pest management. Pesticides and heavy metals contained in agrochemicals are the main contributors to emissions to soil that affected the toxicity categories and impose a risk on human health, which is particularly relevant for the manual labour-intensive South African wine sector. However, we suggest that impacts of agrochemicals on human health and the environment are undervalued in the assessment. The 70% reduction of toxic agrochemicals such as Glyphosate and Paraquat and the 100% reduction of Chlorpyriphos in vineyards hardly affected the model results for human and ecotoxicity. Our concerns are magnified by the fact that manual labour plays a substantial role in South African vineyards, increasing the exposure of humans to these toxic chemicals at their workplace. Conclusions A more sustainable wine grape production is possible when shifting to integrated grape production practices that reduce the inputs of agrochemicals. Further, improved water and related electricity management through drip irrigation, deficit irrigation and photovoltaic-powered irrigation is recommendable, relieving stress on local water bodies, enhancing drought-preparedness planning and curbing CO2 emissions embodied in products.

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