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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Investigation of plastic and microplastic waste from ships in the marine environment
ClearMicroplastic Pollution in Ship-Sourced Wastewater: Assessment of Pollution Load Risk for Ballast and Bilge Water
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.
Microplastic generation and emission from ship's greywater
Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations and characteristics in greywater discharged from three vessel types - a research vessel, a container ship, and passenger ships - and estimated total microplastic emissions from global commercial shipping. The study found that untreated ship greywater represents a significant but unregulated sea-based microplastic source, with passenger vessels generating the highest microplastic loads per volume of discharge.
Assessment of Microplastic Abundance and Discharge from Greywater of Ships
Researchers quantified microplastics in ship greywater from showers, washbasins, laundry, and dishwashers and found that laundry sources produced the highest microplastic concentrations. Since greywater can be discharged to the sea without treatment in most areas, ships contribute substantially to marine microplastic pollution. The study supports the case for regulating greywater discharge from vessels.
Microplastics in Ship Sewage and Solutions to Limit Their Spread: A Case Study
Researchers found microplastic particles in both grey water and post-treatment sewage from transport ships, with mean concentrations of 72 particles per litre in grey water and 51 per litre in treated sewage, demonstrating that ships represent a significant and underregulated source of microplastic pollution in protected marine areas.
Research vessel survey & assessment of surface marine microplastics: a comparative study between international water and the united arab emirates
Researchers conducted ship-based surveys to assess the diversity and abundance of microplastics in surface seawater, comparing results across different oceanic regions and collection methods. The study identified significant variability in microplastic concentrations related to proximity to land and shipping routes.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in greywater from a research vessel
Microplastics were found in greywater from a research vessel across multiple water usage types, with laundry water showing the highest microplastic concentrations, identifying ships as an underappreciated sea-based source of microplastic pollution.
A Review of Microplastics Research in the Shipbuilding and Maritime Transport Industry
This review examined microplastic research specifically focused on the shipbuilding and maritime transport industry, an underexplored source of plastic contamination in marine environments. The authors found that ship maintenance, antifouling paint degradation, and fiber rope wear generate significant quantities of microplastics that largely escape current monitoring frameworks.
Pollution of the Sea by Maritime Traffic
This Slovenian thesis examines how maritime shipping contributes to sea pollution through fuel emissions, cargo spills, ballast water discharge, and other vessel operations. While not focused exclusively on microplastics, shipping is a recognized pathway for plastic debris entering the ocean.
Estimating total microplastic loads to the marine environment as a result of ship biofouling in-water cleaning
Researchers estimated that the global shipping industry could be releasing thousands of tons of microplastics annually through the wear, maintenance, and cleaning of marine coatings on commercial vessels. Predictive modeling showed that bulk carriers are the largest contributors, and manual biofouling cleaning by divers generates more microplastics than mechanized cleaning systems with debris capture. The study highlights ship coatings as an underappreciated but substantial source of marine microplastic pollution.
Plastic Pollution from Ships
This review examines shipping as a source of marine plastic pollution, noting that despite international bans on plastic disposal at sea, monitoring data confirm that ships continue to contribute plastic litter, and discusses mitigation measures and outstanding questions regarding human health risks.
Research status and prospect of microplastics in ship grey water
This review examines microplastic pollution in ship grey water, covering potential sources, current management measures, and progress in qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques for characterizing marine grey water microplastics. The authors propose future research directions including standardized analytical frameworks and improved estimation methods for marine plastic inputs from vessels.
Microplastic generation and emission from ship's greywater
Researchers measured microplastic abundances and characteristics in greywater from different vessel types — a research vessel, a container ship, and passenger ships — and estimated global microplastic emissions from the discharge of untreated ship greywater. They found a mean abundance of 135,563 particles/m3 in research vessel greywater with fibers comprising about 66% of particles, identifying greywater discharge as a significant and largely unregulated sea-based microplastic source.
Plastic waste in the marine environment: A review of sources, occurrence and effects
This review covered the sources, occurrence, and ecological effects of plastic waste in the marine environment, synthesizing evidence on how plastic pollution enters the ocean, where it accumulates, and what harm it causes to marine life.
Sources and Leakages of Microplastics in Cruise Ship Wastewater
Researchers investigated microplastic sources and leakages from cruise ship wastewater systems, finding that onboard laundry, food waste processing, and sewage treatment all contribute microplastics to discharge, with poorly filtered grey water representing a significant and underregulated pathway to the ocean.
Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review
This review synthesized the state of knowledge on microplastics as marine contaminants, covering their sources, pathways, distribution, biological uptake, and potential ecological and toxicological effects.
Quantification of microplastics in ship-generated greywater and their contribution to Baltic marine pollution
Ships are a poorly studied but potentially significant source of microplastic pollution in enclosed seas. This study measured microplastic concentrations in eight greywater (sink, shower, and laundry) discharge streams from five vessels operating in the Baltic Sea, finding concentrations up to 600,000 particles per cubic meter in laundry wastewater. PET fibers from synthetic textiles dominated the samples. Extrapolating to the entire Roll-on/Roll-off ferry fleet operating in the Baltic, the researchers estimated a substantial annual microplastic load entering one of Europe's most ecologically sensitive and contaminated marine environments.
Fate of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment
This thesis reviewed how plastics and microplastics enter, move through, and accumulate in marine environments, examining sources, transport pathways, and long-term fate. Understanding the ocean's plastic burden is essential for predicting ecological and human health risks.
Qualitative and quantitative assessment of microplastics derived from antifouling paint in effluent from ship hull hydroblasting and their emission into the marine environment
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination generated during ship hull hydroblasting, a common maintenance procedure. They found that a single vessel produced billions of paint-derived particles, with the vast majority smaller than 5 millimeters and composed primarily of acrylic polymers. The study identifies ship maintenance activities as a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic emissions into marine environments.
Ocean-based sources of plastic pollution: An overview of the main marine activities in the Peruvian EEZ.
This study used material flow analysis to quantify the plastic waste entering the ocean from Peruvian fishing, shipping, and aquaculture activities, finding the fishing industry as the largest marine-based source. The results highlight the importance of ocean-based sources of plastic pollution alongside the better-studied land-based pathways.
Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions
This review synthesized research on the distribution and significance of microplastics across the marine environment, covering sources, transport pathways, ecological interactions, and the state of knowledge on biological and chemical effects.
Analysis of microplastics in ships ballast water and its ecological risk assessment studies from the Persian Gulf
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in ships' ballast water collected from the Persian Gulf, assessing the ecological risks of transporting plastic particles across ocean regions. The study found significant microplastic concentrations in ballast water samples, suggesting that international shipping may serve as an important vector for spreading microplastic pollution between marine ecosystems.
Plastic Pollution in Oceans: a Review
This review examines plastic pollution in the world's oceans, covering sources, distribution pathways, ecological impacts, and the current state of scientific understanding of marine plastic contamination.
Preliminary study of the source apportionment and diversity of microplastics: Taking floating microplastics in the South China Sea as an example
Researchers developed a source-specific classification system for floating microplastics in the South China Sea, analyzing surface water samples to estimate contributions from different land-based and ocean-based sources. The work advances understanding of which human activities contribute most to microplastic pollution in this heavily trafficked sea.
The Contribution of Microplastics to Marine Pollution
This review examines the contribution of microplastics to marine pollution, covering the pathways by which plastic particles enter ocean systems, their distribution across ocean basins, effects on marine life, and the challenges of reducing the flow of plastic into the sea.