Primary microplastics in the marine environment: scale of the issue, sources, pathways and current policy

The world’s population has been growing at an unprecedent rate, so has the production and per capita consumption of plastics around the world. With approximately half of the world’s population residing in coastal areas concerns have been raised regarding plastic pollution in the marine environment. Micro-plastics (<5 mm) (primary or intentionally added and secondary) are the major component of the marine plastic waste. While the impact of macroplastics in the marine environment has been well researched, the impacts, sources and pathways of microplastics in the marine environment need to be further addressed.