Investigating the fate of secondary microplastics and bioplastic alternatives in future climate change scenarios

Plastic pollution and climate change have become two integral and interlinked focuses of environmental health research. Understanding the environmental fate of secondary microplastics from legacy plastic pollution in marine environments is crucial for evaluating their risk under current and future climate conditions. Our knowledge of the fragmentation mechanisms and size categories of microplastic particles and other degradation leachates remains limited. This oral presentation and/or poster will showcase a PhD research project by Stephanie Northen from the University of Portsmouth, which employs mesocosms and weathering protocols to predict plastic degradation and the response of bio-plastic alternatives to future climate change scenarios in temperate marine environments. The presentation will focus on phase 1 of the experimental methodology, detailing the weathering and stress-testing techniques applied to various plastic packaging materials subjected to UV radiation and freeze-thaw cycles. The research aims to explore mesocosm experiments as tools for examining changes in microplastic fragmentation rates under different variables, including virgin vs. weathered plastics, traditional plastics vs. bioplastic alternatives, floating vs. buried plastic pollution, and current vs. future climate conditions. Case studies from the UK and Adelaide will be discussed. Subsequent phases of the research will have the potential to investigate further biological interactions in the marine environment, such as ecotoxicity testing and biofilm growth on plastic pollutants. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559759/document