Mikromuovit Aasian rannikkovesissä

Microplastics are a significant and growing environmental problem, especially in coastal and marine regions. Asia’s coastal waters are globally critical due to the region’s large population and high plastic usage. The main goal of this thesis is to identify the most important sources of microplastics in the coastal countries of Asia. The scope is limited to coastal states because of the substantial and relatively continuous microplastic load in their coastal waters. This thesis is conducted as a literature review, drawing on scientific articles on the quantities and sources of microplastics in coastal waters, as well as various reports and reviews related to waste management and wastewaters treatments. For certain topics, political and regulatory documents have also been used. The results of this thesis identify main sources of microplastics as deficiencies in waste management and recycling infrastructure, wear and tear from transport and the urban environment (e.g. tyres, coatings), and textile microfibers arising from both production and consumption. Mitigation measures related to these sources include regulatory and law-based instruments, clear waste management guidelines, and the use of various filters in both industrial facilities and private households. Effective mitigation requires cooperation between governments, industry, and consumers to target the areas where microplastic pollution is most severe. It is important to identify where specific measures would be the most effective. Further research is needed to better understand the impacts and effectiveness of different mitigation strategies.