IS34B:
Identification and Quantification of Plastic Particle Pollution and Its Impact on the Environment Posters
IS34B:
Identification and Quantification of Plastic Particle Pollution and Its Impact on the Environment Posters
Identification and Quantification of Plastic Particle Pollution and Its Impact on the Environment Posters
Session ID#: 28262
Session Description:
Microplastic particles (characterized as < 1 mm in size) have been reported in marine ecosystems worldwide and are the subject of growing concern. Despite the ubiquity of plastic particles in the environment, the extent of this pollutant is not well characterized. Water-column collection, identification and quantification methodologies are urgently needed to both ground-truth the many sweeping estimates and statements made about marine plastic and to refine needed studies assessing the potential environmental impacts of plastic particle pollution. Plastic pieces readily weather and fragment into smaller particles, increasing surface area relative to volume. Plastic particles hyper-accumulate persistent organic pollutants and other trace contaminants. Additives such as flame retardants may also play a large role in animal exposure to contaminants resulting in food web perturbation. This poster session will present groundbreaking research on plastic particle detection methodologies used for detection in fish tissue, water and sediment samples and will highlight international efforts to select and develop best technologies for remote and in-situ plastic particle observation. The session will present the latest in development of deployable sensors and platforms, including remote sensing and proxy imaging applications for observing plastic particles and predicting their behavior, creating a systems approach to understanding this environmental problem.
Primary Chair: Harry Allen, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA, United States
Co-chairs: William Robberson, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA, United States and Anna-Marie Cook, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, San Francisco, CA, United States
Moderators: Harry Allen, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA, United States and William Robberson, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA, United States
Student Paper Review Liaison: Anna-Marie Cook, US EPA, Region 9, San Francisco, CA, United States
Index Terms:
4251 Marine pollution [OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL]
4264 Ocean optics [OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL]
4803 Analytical chemistry [OCEANOGRAPHY: BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL]
9820 Techniques applicable in three or more fields [GENERAL OR MISCELLANEOUS]
Cross-Topics:
- CT - Chemical Tracers, Organic Matter and Trace Elements
- ES - Ecology and Social Interactions
- ED - Education, Outreach and Policy
- OD - Ocean Data Management