Micro-plastic refers to the floating in the environment, long-term residue, easy to be swallowed by living organisms, diameter less than 5 mm of plastic fiber, debris or particles. ' Many micro-plastics are hard to see with the naked eye. ' A few days ago, Shihuahong, a professor at the Estuary and Coast Science Institute of East China Normal University, said in an interview with the China Science Daily that foreign studies even showed that micro-plastics were found in drinking water.
The research group, which was published several years ago, revealed that micro-plastics were found in salt.
As a new type of pollutant in the environment, the control and detection of micro-plastics is being put on the agenda.
' PM2.5 in the water '
In recent years, the ecological effects, fishery impacts and health risks of the marine environment and the coastal micro-plastic pollution have been paid more and more attention in the world. ' In the ocean, the effects of plastic on living things are already very large, some of them are like boiled frogs in warm water, people don't realize it, but actually it's slowly approaching us.
' said Shihuahong.
Micro-plastic pollution in marine and coastal environment has become another major global environmental problem after global climate change, ozone depletion and ocean acidification. ' China is considered the largest emitter of marine plastic waste and micro-plastics. The pollution of micro-plastics in marine environment will become an important part of marine environmental governance and diplomacy in China.
' In an interview with the China Science News reporter, Ming Yongming, a researcher at Yantai coastal zone, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said. It can be predicted that the amount of plastic in China will continue to grow at a high rate for a long time.
Wu Chenxi, deputy researcher of the Institute of Aquatic Biology of CAs, suggested that the current research results have amply illustrated the universality and severity of micro-plastics in China's freshwater environment, which, if not taken seriously, could adversely affect the health of freshwater ecosystems and their service functions. Some people liken the micro-plastic in water to ' PM2.5 in the water ', Shihuahong that this is not in a way too much. In the soil, the long-term use of agricultural plastic film has caused serious degradation of the soil, and some land can not even be cultivated.
He said that when many problems were not uncovered, they would feel far away from us, but when the problem was uncovered it was actually very serious.
The action starts with the details. A few days ago, the first national environmental (marine) micro-plastic pollution and control of the symposium held at the Ocean College of Zhejiang University. ' This may be the first time in the country to really not provide a one-time plastic supplies conference, a milestone.
"The conference organizing Committee director, Zhejiang University of Technology Environmental College professor Pan loudly said." The conference does not provide bottled mineral water and paper cups with polyethylene film in it, encourage participants to use water cups, do not provide plastic shell signature pens instead of pencils, and do not provide tea breaks with plastic packaging.
The only disposable plastic product of the conference-the badge is also recycled and is intended for use at the next session. In order to enhance the publicity and education of micro-plastic pollution, to promote the prevention and control of micro-plastic pollution in China, the Conference also formed a proposal, advocating Community action to reduce the use of disposable plastic products, all walks of life to establish waste plastics recycling and resource system, academia to strengthen the problem of micro-plastic pollution and control countermeasures;
Relevant departments to strengthen the development of micro-plastic pollution prevention and control policy.
Coping with problems ' Over the past decade, the pace of social development has gone beyond our imagination and even control, and there's a lot of times when management can't keep pace with change. For example, the plastic pollution caused by fast food business is unprepared.
' said Shihuahong. In Ming Yongming's view, there are two problems in the management and policy of China's marine plastic waste and micro-plastics. On the one hand, the appearance of long management, unclear powers and responsibilities, insufficient investment and so on. China's marine plastic waste and micro-plastics management involves environmental protection, marine, agriculture, housing, industry and other departments, lack of national level of specialized policy arrangements and institutional system, has not formed a multi-party joint efforts to supervise and control. On the other hand, the research on the monitoring and impact assessment of plastic pollution is insufficient, and no effective coping strategies have been formed.
The existing monitoring work can not meet the management needs and effectively respond to the requirements of the relevant international affairs. At present, the research direction of micro-plastics has moved from ocean to land and atmosphere.
Ming Yongming stressed that the development of micro-plastic pollution research and solutions requires government attention, public participation, technological innovation and global governance. Wu Chenxi also suggested that China should further strengthen the management of waste plastics, improve the relevant policies and regulations, and increase the implementation of relevant policies and regulations.