Chapter 14 - Management strategy and mitigation measures for plastic pollution

Abstract

Numerous plastics is reported worldwide, for instance, on the beach and beach sediment, surface water or seafloor. Because of its durability, plastic can persist and accumulate in the marine environment and pose a risk to the marine organisms and the humans. Over 800 species and 87,000 individuals including seabirds, seals, whales, sea turtles, invertebrates, and fishes suffer from plastic ingestion. Large plastics such as discarded fishing materials, packing materials and ropes and net cause plastic entanglement to marine vertebrate species. The potential harmful effects to humans include generating reactive oxygen species in human liver cells adversely affecting epithelial cell function and physiological processes. The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly increases the single-use plastic products, especially in Asian countries, which worsens the problem of plastic pollution. In response to these emergent problems, mitigation measures, including the use of different recycling methods, such as thermal, chemical, and biological recycling are recommended to address plastic pollution issues.