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(Fig.3c).However, a returndeposit feeon foodcontainersdoesnot ensure that the
container is reusedas the largeandgrowingproportionof returnablebut single-use
plastic bottles in Germany illustrate [113]; therefore, further incentives are
necessary.
Anotherway to reduce plastics is prohibition or taxing of plastic products that
canbeeasily replaced, suchasmicrobeads incosmetic anddailycareproducts and
plasticbagsforgroceries.Asurveyconducted inIrelandrevealed that fees/taxeson
plastic bags seem tobewell received amongcustomers [114].
Buyingfromlocal farmers’markets isanotherwayforacustomertoprocureless
packaging (Fig. 3d).While farmers’marketswere replaced inmost ofEurope and
NorthAmericaby large supermarket chains, theyare celebrating a comebackover
the last two decades [115]. In other countries it is still normal to procure the
majority of fresh foods from farmers’markets, despite the introduction of large
supermarket chains. This is the case inChilewhere “Ferias libres” (neighborhood
outdoor markets) supply the population with 70% of its demand for fruit and
vegetables and30%of seafoodproducts [116].
Collectively, all thesestrategieshelp reduce the leakageof low-value/single-use
plastics into terrestrial and aquatic environments and subsequent formation of
microplastics from their degradation. Regardless of themostmodernwasteman-
agement systemsavailable, leakageof single-use throwawayproducts andpackag-
ing occurs. Their reduction is the most efficient mitigation effort to reduce
microplastics in the environment.
9 Conclusion
An environmental movement may be defined as a loose, noninstitutionalized
network of organizations of varying degrees of formality, as well as individuals
andgroupswithnoorganizational affiliation,whoare engaged in collective action
motivatedby shared identity or concern about environmental issues [117].
In July of 2016, the American Chemistry Council published “Plastics and
Sustainability: A valuation of environmental benefits, costs and opportunities for
continuous improvement,” largely a comparison of life cycle analyses putting
plastic in a positive light against alternativematerials (glass,metal, paper).At the
same time, thePlasticPollutionPolicyProject convened18organizations focused
on zerowaste initiatives to align on policy and campaigns and to create common
messaging to counter industry-dominated narratives. A movement has emerged,
while stakeholder positions havedug in their heels.
Here we have discussed solutions to microplastics in freshwater ecosystems,
which largely form in terrestrial environments from primary or secondary
microplastics. We know that microplastics are global, increasingly toxic over
time, and impacts to wildlife are pervasive, leading to the collective conclusion
that plastic in the environment causes harm. We also know that capturing
microplasticdownstream isextremelydifficult and requiresupstreamintervention.
292 M.Eriksen et al.
Freshwater Microplastics
Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Titel
- Freshwater Microplastics
- Untertitel
- Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Autoren
- Martin Wagner
- Scott Lambert
- Verlag
- Springer Open
- Datum
- 2018
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-319-61615-5
- Abmessungen
- 15.5 x 24.1 cm
- Seiten
- 316
- Kategorien
- Naturwissenschaften Chemie