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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Assessing the impact of banning the single-use plastic carrier bags: a case study for Kenyan marine environment looking at macro, meso, and microplastics
ClearAssessing the impact of banning the single use plastic carrier bags: A case study for Kenyan marine environment
This study assessed the impact of Kenya's ban on single-use plastic bags on marine plastic pollution, finding changes in plastic litter composition at eleven coastal sites. Policy interventions like bag bans can measurably reduce certain types of plastic pollution in marine environments.
Ubiquitous Presence of Microplastics (MPs): A Review of Occurrence, Abundances, Spatial Distribution and Future Effects in the Surface Waters, Kenya
This review examines the occurrence, abundances, spatial distribution, and potential future impacts of microplastics in surface waters across Kenya, synthesizing available research on plastic pollution in freshwater and marine systems following Kenya's 2018 single-use plastic ban. The paper highlights the growing body of research on microplastic pathways and accumulation in Kenyan water bodies and identifies knowledge gaps requiring further monitoring.
Addressing the single-use plastic proliferation problem
This review examined the effectiveness of single-use plastic bans as a policy tool for addressing plastic pollution, evaluating evidence on their environmental impact and discussing alternative regulatory approaches. The authors found that while bans have reduced certain plastic categories, broader systemic changes to plastic production and waste management are needed.
Impact of Policy Design on Plastic Waste Reduction in Africa
This paper is not about microplastics; it analyzes the design and effectiveness of single-use plastic bag policies across 39 African countries, identifying policy gaps that allow plastic waste to persist despite widespread bans.
Breaking the plastic cycle in Africa: Advancing sustainable solutions for single-use plastic reduction in marine ecosystem beyond current policies
This paper reviews the scale of single-use plastic pollution across Africa and evaluates current policies for reducing plastic waste in marine ecosystems. The analysis calls for stronger and more targeted interventions given Africa's rapidly growing plastic waste output and limited recycling infrastructure.
Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South.
Researchers synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence on marine plastic pollution in the Global South, identifying rapid urbanization, inadequate waste infrastructure, and weak governance as primary drivers, and recommending integrated strategies combining single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility, regional cooperation, and circular economy incentives.
Macro problems from microplastics: Toward a sustainable policy framework for managing microplastic waste in Africa
Researchers critically reviewed regulatory and policy approaches to managing microplastic pollution across African countries. They found that while environmental monitoring studies demonstrate an urgent need for action, the effectiveness of existing plastic waste policies in Africa remains poorly understood. The study proposes a sustainable policy framework tailored to the unique challenges African nations face in reducing microplastic waste generation and environmental contamination.
The Kenyan ban on plastic bags : a study of attitudes and adaptation in Nairobi
This study examined how Nairobi residents adapted to Kenya's 2017 ban on plastic bags, finding that most complied with the ban but concerns remained about enforcement consistency and availability of alternatives. The research provides insights into the social dynamics of plastic bag bans that can inform other countries considering similar policies.
A Review on the Impact of Plastic Debris on Marine Environment
This review summarizes the types, sources, and impacts of plastic debris in marine environments, covering both macro- and microplastics and their effects on marine biodiversity. The paper also discusses global initiatives and policy frameworks aimed at reducing marine plastic pollution.
Quantification, characterization, and source identification of macro- and mesoplastics in the water column of Rivers Sabaki and Tana.
Researchers sampled plastic litter in the water columns of two Kenyan rivers over a full year, quantifying plastic loads and tracing their sources using statistical analysis. The findings establish baseline data on riverine plastic flux to the Indian Ocean from East Africa and showed that rainfall significantly influenced plastic transport.
Influence of Polythene Bag Alternatives on Compliance to Environmental Legislation on Polythene Bag Ban in Rongai Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya
This study examined whether the availability of polythene bag alternatives influenced compliance with Kenya's plastic bag ban, finding that access to alternatives supports environmental legislation. Reducing plastic bag use is an important step in cutting the volume of plastic that eventually breaks down into microplastics.
Microplastics in Kenya's marine nearshore surface waters: Current status
Researchers collected microplastics from six locations along Kenya's marine nearshore surface waters, finding a mean concentration of 0.58 MPs per cubic meter with fragments (55%) and polypropylene (52%) as the dominant type and polymer. Malindi was identified as a hotspot for microplastic pollution, providing baseline data to support policy development in the region.
Impacto de la Contaminación Plástica en los Ecosistemas Marinos y su Panorama Actual
This literature review synthesizes evidence on how microplastics cause digestive blockages, cellular damage, and reproductive alterations across marine trophic levels, and evaluates the limitations of current single-use plastic reduction policies in addressing the broader plastic pollution crisis.
The transport and fate of marine plastics in South Africa and adjacent oceans
Researchers reviewed the transport pathways and fate of marine plastic pollution in South Africa and adjacent oceans, finding that while South Africa is considered a major plastic emitter, beach standing stocks are lower than global model predictions, suggesting much plastic is transported elsewhere or buried.
Single-use Plastic Ban and its Public Health Impacts: A Narrative Review
This review examines global policies and bans on single-use plastics, finding that they have helped reduce plastic pollution in some regions. However, enforcement and public health impacts vary widely, and more consistent international policy is needed to effectively address plastic waste.
Unraveling Macroplastic Pollution in Rural and Urban Beaches in Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, Mindanao, Philippines
Researchers surveyed macroplastic pollution on urban and rural beaches in Sarangani Bay, Philippines, finding significantly higher plastic densities in urban areas (0.66 items/m2) compared to rural beaches (0.29 items/m2), with food packaging like polyethylene bags being the most prevalent litter type.
Toward Balancing the Budget: Surface Macro-Plastics Dominate the Mass of Particulate Pollution Stranded on Beaches
Researchers found that surface macroplastics dominate beach plastic pollution by mass on a remote South African beach, even though microfibres accounted for 99.7% of items by count. The study revealed that buried litter represents 86% of macroplastic items but only 5% of macroplastic mass, and ongoing degradation of existing plastic will increase fragment counts even without new plastic inputs.
The Role of Legislation, Regulatory Initiatives and Guidelines on the Control of Plastic Pollution
This review examines existing plastic pollution regulations globally, finding that despite many proposals and national bans, the overall effectiveness of legislation is unclear and most measures focus narrowly on marine plastics or single-use items. The authors argue that laws often lag behind science and face practical limitations given how deeply embedded plastics are in daily life.
Marine Litter Sources and Distribution Pathways
This book chapter reviews the sources and distribution pathways of marine litter in African coastal environments, highlighting gaps in research and the need for targeted policies to address plastic pollution along African coastlines.
Abundance And Distribution Of Plastic Debris In Beach Sediment And Seawater Of The Northern Straits Of Malacca
Researchers surveyed the abundance and distribution of macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in beach sediments and seawater along the Northern Straits of Malacca in Malaysia, providing baseline contamination data relevant to the country's national roadmap toward reducing single-use plastics.
Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Single-Use Plastic Products towards Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations in Sri Lanka
Researchers applied life cycle assessment to common single-use plastic products in Sri Lanka, quantifying their environmental impacts across production to disposal and providing evidence-based recommendations to guide national plastic pollution policy.
Marine plastic pollution in Morocco: state of the knowledge on origin, occurrence, fate, and management
Researchers reviewed the state of marine plastic pollution in Morocco, identifying fishing, tourism, and maritime trade as major sources of coastal plastic inputs and finding that data gaps, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and weak enforcement of disposal laws are the primary barriers to addressing the problem.
The Microplastic Existence in Ecosystem of Semi-arid Coastal Area, Kupang City: A Literature Review
This literature review assesses the state of microplastic contamination in the marine environment around Kupang City, Indonesia, a semi-arid coastal area, compiling evidence of microplastic presence and potential health hazards from existing studies.
A Review on Microplastics Characteristics and Pollution in Tanzania: Mitigating Strategies and Future Perspectives
This review synthesizes the limited literature on microplastic contamination in Tanzania, identifying polymer types, environmental distribution, pollution sources, and knowledge gaps, and recommending national monitoring strategies and waste management improvements.