Microplastics in the NZ environment: Current status and future directions

Plastic pollution has increased exponentially in land and marine environment since its first usage started in the 1950s. Most of the microplastic studies have been conducted in the Northern hemisphere and little about microplastics is known in the Southern hemisphere particularly for New Zealand and Antarctic regions. Through this article we attempt to provide the current status of microplastic prevalence in entire New Zealand whilst analyse the environmental issues associated with it and the necessary actions being taken to mitigate those. Studies conducted specifically for New Zealand indicated that small urban streams served as the major transport pathways for microplastic pollution and local-scale processing factors had more impact than the overall catchment-scale processes being undertaken. Additionally, among the various types of microplastics a large proportion of plastics from wear and washing textile fabric were increasing the pollution load. These microplastic debris were eventually contaminating the waterways impacting the marine environment and the entire food chain. In order to reduce the contamination, New Zealand government took a firm step by banning the use of microbeads in some consumer products that are designed to be washed down the drain. Furthermore, businesses in New Zealand have taken firm action by stopping single-use plastic shopping bags and finding alternative solutions replacing plastics in various sectors. However, to completely eradicate microplastic contamination in New Zealand it is important to understand the level of damage done and for that more research is warranted, particularly attention needs to be at estimating the amount of plastic collected across New Zealand, types of plastics and their potential risks to human and the ecosystem health.