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2 Impact of plastics on marine environments: from macro- to microplastic pollution
Summary
This book chapter reviews the environmental impacts of plastic materials on marine ecosystems, from macroplastics to microplastics. The author examines how plastic production growth since the 1950s has led to widespread ocean contamination with ecological consequences across multiple marine habitats.
Since 1950s, the introduction of plastic materials in the global markets has led to important technological advances and brought many advantages in our life. Synthetic polymers are durable, lightweight, moldable and for these properties widely used in different sectors. However, the main disadvantage of the worldwide diffusion and the increased demand of plastics is represented by their disposal, which occurs too often in an uncontrolled way and ending up in the natural environment. Combining this aspect with the durability of plastics, the consequence is the problem of plastic pollution. In recent years, great attention and concern has been arising on the presence and consequent impact of plastics in marine environments. Plastic litter has been reported to interact by entanglement or ingestion with several species, from seabirds to crustaceans, fish, turtles and even big marine mammals. T