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Marine Plastic Pollution: Sources, Impacts, and Policy Issues

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  • Bethanie Carney Almroth
  • Håkan Eggert

Abstract

Plastics have been instrumental in providing access to clean drinking water, medical applications, and improved hygiene and food safety. However, plastics also cause problems. More than 10 million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually. Marine plastic pollution has documented impacts on marine organisms and ecosystem services. The use of chemical additives in plastics also poses a potential threat to human health. While desirable, recycling of plastics is currently constrained by material and chemical complexity, limitations in available technologies, and market demands. This article provides a brief introduction to plastic materials, marine plastic pollution, and its potential effects on marine ecosystems and human health. We also discuss some of the policy and technical issues and suggest priorities for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Bethanie Carney Almroth & Håkan Eggert, 2019. "Marine Plastic Pollution: Sources, Impacts, and Policy Issues," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 13(2), pages 317-326.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:renvpo:v:13:y:2019:i:2:p:317-326.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/reep/rez012
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    Cited by:

    1. Duc-Nam Luu & Magali Barbaroux & Gaelle Dorez & Katell Mignot & Estelle Doger & Achille Laurent & Jean-Michel Brossard & Claus-Jürgen Maier, 2022. "Recycling of Post-Use Bioprocessing Plastic Containers—Mechanical Recycling Technical Feasibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Adriana Abril Ortiz & Dolores Sucozhañay & Paul Vanegas & Andrés Martínez-Moscoso, 2020. "A Regional Response to a Global Problem: Single Use Plastics Regulation in the Countries of the Pacific Alliance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Hirotaka Kumamaru & Kenji Takeuchi, 2023. "The recycled content of plastic products: estimating the impact of a recycling law on the input mix," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 25(3), pages 355-376, July.
    4. Grilli, Gaetano & Andrews, Barnaby & Ferrini, Silvia & Luisetti, Tiziana, 2022. "Could a mix of short- and long-term policies be the solution to tackle marine litter? Insights from a choice experiment in England and Ireland," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    5. Xiaowei Ni & Yongbo Quan, 2023. "Measuring the Sustainable Development of Marine Economy Based on the Entropy Value Method: A Case Study in the Yangtze River Delta, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Zhuxuan Yan & Juliann Cortese, 2023. "I Can Feel Your Pain: Investigating the Role of Empathy and Guilt on Sustainable Behavioral Intentions to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Plastic Bags among College Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Mohammad Izadi & Mahmood Parsamanesh & Waleed Adel, 2022. "Numerical and Stability Investigations of the Waste Plastic Management Model in the Ocean System," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(23), pages 1-26, December.
    8. Rumana Hossain & Md Tasbirul Islam & Riya Shanker & Debishree Khan & Katherine Elizabeth Sarah Locock & Anirban Ghose & Heinz Schandl & Rita Dhodapkar & Veena Sahajwalla, 2022. "Plastic Waste Management in India: Challenges, Opportunities, and Roadmap for Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-34, April.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q00 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - General
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General

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