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Understanding Microplastic Generation to Improve Plastic Pollution Prevention Measures
Original title: Understanding Microplastic Generation to Improve Plastic Pollution Prevention Measures
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This Japanese-language paper describes ongoing research at Japan's National Institute for Environmental Studies on the degradation and fragmentation behavior of plastics and associated chemical contaminants. The research encompasses microplastic generation from material recycling processes, degradation on land, and the fate of plastic additives during weathering. The goal is to refine plastic emission inventories to support more targeted pollution prevention measures.
プラスチック (プラ) ごみによる海洋汚染は国際社会で対処すべき喫緊の課題となっている。課題解決に向けて，素材代替や発生抑制対策の優先順位の検討に資する発生源別の海洋流出量の推計 (流出インベントリ) が国内外で進められている。流出抑制対策の基礎となる流出インベントリの精緻化にむけては，発生源の同定を引き続き進めること，発生源から海洋までの流出過程における挙動や運命を理解することが重要である。本論文では，(国研) 国立環境研究所で実施中のプラの劣化・微細化挙動に関する研究と劣化・微細化と含有化学物質の挙動に関する研究について概説する。具体的には，プラごみのマテリアルリサイクルにおける劣化・微細化挙動に関する研究，陸域におけるプラごみの劣化・微細化挙動に関する研究，プラの劣化・微細化と含有化学物質の挙動に関する研究について，研究背景や動向を交えて実施内容や進捗を紹介し，流出インベントリの精緻化を通じた流出抑制に貢献するための研究展望を示す。
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