The Behavior of Microplastics in Environment

Dear Colleagues,

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive defines marine environment as “the heritage that must be protected, preserved and, where practicable, restored with the ultimate aim of maintaining biodiversity and providing diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive”. Nevertheless, every year around 8 million tonnes of plastics reach the ocean, which over time reduce in size, giving rise to microplastics.

Although plastic is inert, many additives used are toxic, such as plasticizers (i.e., phthalates, bisphenol A), surfactants, pigments, nanofibers, biocides, lubricants, etc. In addition, microplastics can concentrate contaminants present in the environment and act as transfer vectors in the marine environment. Therefore, microplastics are recognized as an emerging contaminant in the environment, but the impact of plastic particles on aquatic ecosystems is far from understood. Hence, acquiring knowledge about microplastics’ behavior is crucial in order to determine their content in sediments and in the aquatic environment, as well as to develop up-to-date environmental legislation which aims to preserve and protect marine ecosystems more effectively.

Dr. Ana Virginia Filgueiras
Guest Editor

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