Occurrence and potential effects of microplastics in the Belgian coastal area By: ir. S. De Meester M. Claessens

Facts Growing plastic production: 1950: 1.5 million tons per year 2006: 245 million tons per year The largest part is still being dumped Worldwide problem: the oceans are connected

Facts Growing plastic production: 1950: 1.5 million tons 2006: 245 million tons The largest part is still being dumped Worldwide problem: the oceans are connected Of all garbage 60-80% is plastic (macroplastics)

UV + mechanical forces 01 Microplastic

Microplastics Thompson et al. 2004: “Lost at sea, where is all the plastic” Detection of microplastics in sediment and water In all following research microplastics were found, but there is no agreement on concentrations

Overview of this research Method Occurrence in the Belgian Coastal area? Historical trend? Origin? Microplastics vs macroplastics? Potential effects? Conclusion

Method Koksijde-Bad Groenendijk Nieuwpoort Sandbank Zeebrugge Oostende

Method Microplastics Sediment Saline solution Taking samples in the Belgian coastal area Filtration of top layer Identification with IR Stirring sediment in a saline solution Searching for an appropriate method was difficult Method of Thompson modified (based on density)

Method Scale: mm Fibers Granules Plastic films PS spheres

Occurrence (Belgian coastal area)

Occurrence (Oostende)

Historical trend?

Short-term (Koksijde-Bad)

Long-term (Groenendijk)

Origin Fibers: Fishery,… Granular: shipping, sewers, tourists,… Plastic films: tourism, shipping,… PS spherules: scrubbers in (hand) cleansers: used in harbours. PS sinks: up to 100 spherules/m³

Microplastics vs macroplastics Difficult: no unity in research (per m²,kg,…?) Macroplastics: ± 52 – 1179 g/100m² Microplastics: ± 5 – 11 g/100m²  ± 1 – 20% of all plastic is microplastics (weight)  More unity & further research needed

Potential effects Plastic Pollutant

Potential effects Plastic Pollutant

Potential effects Worst case calculation through equilibrium  Microplastics are indeed able to spread the pollution and transfer it through pore water to organisms  Arenicola marina in an otherwise clean environment with contaminated microplastics can take up ng phenanthrene and ng PCB per worm Physical effects? Ingestion? Desorption? …?  Further research needed (experiments)

Conclusion Microplastics were found in all samples The problem seems to be growing A lot of further research needed: – Effects: physical & chemical experiments – Method needs to be optimized (density + particles < 30nm) – …