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Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Schmaltz, E; Melvin, EC; Diana, Z; Gunady, EF; Rittschof, D; Somarelli, JA; Virdin, J; Dunphy-Daly, MM
Published in: Environ Int
November 2020

As plastic waste accumulates in the ocean at alarming rates, the need for efficient and sustainable remediation solutions is urgent. One solution is the development and mobilization of technologies that either 1)prevent plastics from entering waterways or2) collect marine and riverineplastic pollution. To date, however, few reports have focused on these technologies, and information on various technological developments is scattered. This leaves policymakers, innovators, and researchers without a central, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on the status of available technology to target this global problem. The goal of this study was to address this gap by creating a comprehensive inventory of technologies currently used or in development to prevent the leakage of plastic pollution or collect existing plastic pollution. Our Plastic Pollution Prevention and Collection Technology Inventory (https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/plastics-technology-inventory) can be used as a roadmap for researchers and governments to 1) facilitate comparisons between the scope of solutions and the breadth and severity of the plastic pollution problem and 2) assist in identifying strengths and weaknesses of current technological approaches. We created this inventory from a systematic search and review of resources that identified technologies. Technologies were organized by the type of technology and target plastics (i.e., macroplastics, microplastic, or both). We identified 52 technologies that fall into the two categories of prevention or collection of plastic pollution. Of these, 59% focus specifically on collecting macroplastic waste already in waterways. While these efforts to collect plastic pollution are laudable, their current capacity and widespread implementation are limited in comparison to their potential and the vast extent of the plastic pollution problem. Similarly, few technologies attempt to prevent plastic pollution leakage, and those that do are limited in scope. A comprehensive approach is needed that combines technology, policymaking, and advocacy to prevent further plastic pollution and the subsequent damage to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Environ Int

DOI

EISSN

1873-6750

Publication Date

November 2020

Volume

144

Start / End Page

106067

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Plastics
  • Humans
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Ecosystem
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Schmaltz, E., Melvin, E. C., Diana, Z., Gunady, E. F., Rittschof, D., Somarelli, J. A., … Dunphy-Daly, M. M. (2020). Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution. Environ Int, 144, 106067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106067
Schmaltz, Emma, Emily C. Melvin, Zoie Diana, Ella F. Gunady, Daniel Rittschof, Jason A. Somarelli, John Virdin, and Meagan M. Dunphy-Daly. “Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution.Environ Int 144 (November 2020): 106067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106067.
Schmaltz E, Melvin EC, Diana Z, Gunady EF, Rittschof D, Somarelli JA, et al. Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution. Environ Int. 2020 Nov;144:106067.
Schmaltz, Emma, et al. “Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution.Environ Int, vol. 144, Nov. 2020, p. 106067. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.106067.
Schmaltz E, Melvin EC, Diana Z, Gunady EF, Rittschof D, Somarelli JA, Virdin J, Dunphy-Daly MM. Plastic pollution solutions: emerging technologies to prevent and collectmarineplastic pollution. Environ Int. 2020 Nov;144:106067.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environ Int

DOI

EISSN

1873-6750

Publication Date

November 2020

Volume

144

Start / End Page

106067

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Plastics
  • Humans
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Ecosystem