Plastics in the Sea

Plastics in the Sea: Occurrence and Impacts is a comprehensive reference written by renowned leaders in the field. It synthesizes existing knowledge of how mega-, macro-, micro-, and nanoplastics impact marine environments and marine life, ranging from zooplankton, fishes, and invertebrates to birds, mammals, turtles, manatees, and other megafauna. The chapters provide basic and integrated discussions of the presence, sources, and fates; methodologies for detection, chemistry, and degradation; impacts on organisms and food webs; implications for fisheries and aquaculture; policy and public engagement; and economic and legal implications of plastic pollution. Plastics in the Sea: Occurrence and Impacts is an indispensable resource for marine resource managers, ecotoxicologists, fisheries stakeholders, policymakers, and academic researchers interested in the occurrence, impacts, and mitigation of marine plastic pollution. - Provides readers with foundational information to guide research efforts and management decisions - Discusses how debris such as plastic bags, bottles, caps, fishing line, and more can have severe impacts on marine fauna - Presents the latest research on how microplastics interact with filter-feeding organisms and potentially accumulate within marine food chains - Presents detailed descriptions and critical assessments of methodologies for determination, identification, and reliable experimental design - Provides information on potential preservation methods and recovery rates to determine validity of extraction methods - Discusses and dispels myths and misconceptions regarding impacts of plastics on ecosystems and marine fauna - Describes chemical composition, breakdown of products, and implications for synergistic impacts of plastics and other pollutants - Considers economic policies and legal aspects of plastic pollution - Makes recommendations for international harmonization of technologies, development of biodegradable plastics and substitute products, and expanded education and recycling efforts