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Microplastics and the entry into force of the Ballast Water Convention : an arctic perspective
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This article examined whether the Ballast Water Management Convention — designed to prevent invasive species from being transported in ship ballast water — could also help combat microplastic pollution, with a focus on Arctic shipping routes where ballast water discharge adds to growing polar plastic contamination.
Ballast water is used to stabilize ships. It is taken on in one part of the ocean and often released thousands of miles away in a very different ecosystem. This practice leads to a risk of pollution and invasive species affecting ecosystems worldwide. To limit the potential harm from ballast water, the Ballast Water Management Convention has been created. The article looks at the utility of the BWM Convention in combatting water pollution from microplastics. Particular attention is given to the Arctic Ocean, where plastic pollution has been found even in remote, formerly pristine, areas.
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Microplastics in ballast water and limiting movement in the global aquatic environment: A case study
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Researchers detected microplastics in purified ballast water from ships, demonstrating that treated ballast water can still inadvertently transport plastic pollution between different marine environments worldwide. The microplastics were identified as originating from degraded plastic products and showed signs of environmental weathering. The study highlights an overlooked pathway for global microplastic distribution and suggests that current ballast water treatment standards may be insufficient to prevent this form of contamination.
The Role of MARPOL in Reducing Microplastic Pollution: Implications for Marine Species Health
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This paper assessed the effectiveness of MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) in reducing marine microplastic pollution, examining how ship-sourced plastic waste regulations are implemented and enforced. It found significant compliance gaps and called for stronger international mechanisms.
Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples
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Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.
Microplastic Pollution in Ship-Sourced Wastewater: Assessment of Pollution Load Risk for Ballast and Bilge Water
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A study of ship-generated wastewater found substantial microplastic contamination in both ballast water and bilge water, identifying maritime transport as an underappreciated pathway for spreading microplastic pollution across ocean environments. The findings suggest that current international shipping regulations may be insufficient to prevent microplastic dispersal from vessel operations.
The problem of Microplastic Accumulation in the Arctic Ocean
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This review highlights the emerging threat of microplastic accumulation in the rapidly warming Arctic Ocean, documenting MP presence in seawater, sediments, sea ice, and marine organisms and identifying the Arctic as a convergence zone for plastic pollution transported by ocean currents.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.