Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the marine fauna
Small pieces of plastic, termed “micro plastic” in the oceans derive mainly from degradation of big plastics such as beach littering, but also from sources of direct emission from e.g. beauty scrubbers and synthetic sand-blasting. These micro plastics are ingested by marine animals – mistaking them...
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| Format: | First cycle, G2E |
| Language: | Swedish Inglés |
| Published: |
2014
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| Online Access: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6634/ |
| _version_ | 1855571045750145024 |
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| author | Andersson, Elin |
| author_browse | Andersson, Elin |
| author_facet | Andersson, Elin |
| author_sort | Andersson, Elin |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | Small pieces of plastic, termed “micro plastic” in the oceans derive mainly from degradation of big plastics such as beach littering, but also from sources of direct emission from e.g. beauty scrubbers and synthetic sand-blasting. These micro plastics are ingested by marine
animals – mistaking them for plankton – or via prey. When ingested, the particles affect the animals due to their physical properties, their chemical properties (the plastic polymer itself and additives) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) gathered on their surface. The latter
because micro plastics have a large hydrophobic surface, which accumulate POPs to a great extent, leading to up to 105-106 times more POPs on micro plastics than in the surrounding water.
Main effects due to the particles themselves include reduced feeding activity, weight loss, and strong immune response, but studies concluding otherwise are also abundant. Additives such as bisphenol A and phthalates are otherwise known to be hormone disrupters and interfere
with development and sexuality, but there is a lack of studies concerning exposure of additives via ingested micro plastics. POPs, including PCB, DDT, PBDE and PAH, on micro
plastics are potentially a big threat with increased uptake of POPs because of ingested micro plastics. The question of bio-accumulation of micro plastics is not fully investigated. |
| format | First cycle, G2E |
| id | RepoSLU6634 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | Swedish Inglés |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU66342014-09-12T13:20:25Z https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6634/ Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the marine fauna Andersson, Elin Animal ecology Animal diseases Aquatic ecology Small pieces of plastic, termed “micro plastic” in the oceans derive mainly from degradation of big plastics such as beach littering, but also from sources of direct emission from e.g. beauty scrubbers and synthetic sand-blasting. These micro plastics are ingested by marine animals – mistaking them for plankton – or via prey. When ingested, the particles affect the animals due to their physical properties, their chemical properties (the plastic polymer itself and additives) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) gathered on their surface. The latter because micro plastics have a large hydrophobic surface, which accumulate POPs to a great extent, leading to up to 105-106 times more POPs on micro plastics than in the surrounding water. Main effects due to the particles themselves include reduced feeding activity, weight loss, and strong immune response, but studies concluding otherwise are also abundant. Additives such as bisphenol A and phthalates are otherwise known to be hormone disrupters and interfere with development and sexuality, but there is a lack of studies concerning exposure of additives via ingested micro plastics. POPs, including PCB, DDT, PBDE and PAH, on micro plastics are potentially a big threat with increased uptake of POPs because of ingested micro plastics. The question of bio-accumulation of micro plastics is not fully investigated. Mikroplast är små plastpartiklar som släpps ut i havet antingen direkt som mikroplast i skönhetsprodukter, tandkräm och industriprodukter, men också via nedbrytning av större plastbitar, framförallt från nedskräpning på stränder. Djuren i havet förväxlar mikroplasterna med plankton eller får i sig dem via bytsdjur. Väl uppätna kan partiklarna ge effekter på djuren antingen på grund av deras fysiska egenskaper, kemiska byggstenar (plastpolymerer eller tillsatser) eller att persistenta organiska miljögifter (POPs) ansamlas på deras yta. Det senare då mikroplast har en stor och hydrofob yta, vilken kan samla på sig POPs i koncentrationer upp till 105-106 gånger mer än i det omgivande vattnet. De huvudsakliga förmodade effekterna på grund av intag av mikroplasterna i sig är minskat födosöksbeteende, viktminskning, och ett starkt immunsvar, men det finns också flera studier som inte kunnat hitta några sådana samband. Tillsatser som bisfenol A och ftalater är i andra sammanhang kända för sina hormonstörande egenskaper, dock saknas studier gjorda med syftet att undersöka sambandet mellan intag av mikroplast och dessa tillsatser. POPs, som t.ex PCB, DDT, PBDE och PAH, på mikroplast utgör ett stort potentiellt hot eftersom upptag av dessa ökar vid intag av mikroplast. Det är inte heller helt klarlagt om mikroplaster bioackumuleras. 2014-04-15 First cycle, G2E NonPeerReviewed application/pdf sv https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6634/7/andersson_e_140904.pdf Andersson, Elin, 2014. Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the marine fauna. First cycle, G2E. Uppsala: (VH) > Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (until 231231) <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-713.html> urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-3728 eng |
| spellingShingle | Animal ecology Animal diseases Aquatic ecology Andersson, Elin Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the marine fauna |
| title | Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| title_full | Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| title_fullStr | Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| title_short | Micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| title_sort | micro plastics in the oceans and their effect on the
marine fauna |
| topic | Animal ecology Animal diseases Aquatic ecology |
| url | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6634/ https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6634/ |