Marine litter management
Marine litter management
This research line focuses on studying the distribution of microplastics and macroplastics in the ocean, including their circulation and accumulation patterns. The goal is to identify the origin points of plastics that end up in the sea, as well as to understand their arrival rates and specific accumulation sites. It’s important to note that while a significant percentage of plastics reaching the sea are known to sink for various reasons, this submerged quantity isn’t globally quantified, and its consequences for benthic communities are still unknown. Based on these premises, the key aspects studied in this research line include:
- The distribution of microplastics and macroplastics in the marine environment.
- The accumulation of plastic in different marine reservoirs and its transfer between them.
- The effects of plastic waste on marine biota.