The Montreal Protocol and the fate of environmental plastic debris

M A K Jansen; P W Barnes; J F Bornman; K C Rose; S Madronich; C C White; R G Zepp; A L Andrady

doi:10.1007/s43630-023-00372-x

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The Montreal Protocol and the fate of environmental plastic debris

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The Montreal Protocol and the fate of environmental plastic debris

M A K Jansen, P W Barnes, J F Bornman, K C Rose, S Madronich, C C White, R G Zepp and A L Andrady

Photochemical & photobiological sciences, Vol.22(5), pp.1203-1211

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00372-x

PMID: 36705849

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging class of pollutants in air, soil and especially in all aquatic environments. Secondary MPs are generated in the environment during fragmentation of especially photo-oxidised plastic litter. Photo-oxidation is mediated primarily by solar UV radiation. The implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments, which have resulted in controlling the tropospheric UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation load, is therefore pertinent to the fate of environmental plastic debris. Due to the Montreal Protocol high amounts of solar UV-B radiation at the Earth's surface have been avoided, retarding the oxidative fragmentation of plastic debris, leading to a slower generation and accumulation of MPs in the environment. Quantifying the impact of the Montreal Protocol in reducing the abundance of MPs in the environment, however, is complicated as the role of potential mechanical fragmentation of plastics under environmental mechanical stresses is poorly understood.

Details

Title: The Montreal Protocol and the fate of environmental plastic debris
Authors/Creators: M A K Jansen - University College Cork
P W Barnes - Loyola University New Orleans
J F Bornman - Murdoch University, Food Futures Institute
K C Rose - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
S Madronich - NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
C C White - Exponent (United States)
R G Zepp - Environmental Protection Agency
A L Andrady - North Carolina State University
Publication Details: Photochemical & photobiological sciences, Vol.22(5), pp.1203-1211
Publisher: Springer
Grant note: 16-IA-4418 / Science Foundation Ireland
Identifiers: 991005590368707891
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)
Murdoch Affiliation: Food Futures Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Industry collaboration; Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning; 3.60.2078 Microplastics
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biophysics; Chemistry, Physical
ESI research areas: Biology & Biochemistry