Report Urges California to Act to Protect Marine Ecosystems Against Microplastics

Roughly 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, and the U.S. is one of the top contributors to plastic pollution. It’s been found in the seafloor and surface water, on beaches and shorelines. Microplastics — tiny plastics less than 5 millimeters in size  — are pervasive worldwide and have been found inside marine animals, in drinking water and food.  

A new report on microplastic pollution in California urges the state to take action to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems by reducing microplastic materials at their source, which may be the most effective way to remedy the situation.  

Eunha Hoh, San Diego State University environmental health scientist and professor of public health, served as co-chair of a working group of leading interdisciplinary experts who developed the 68-page report.  

The group was convened by the California Ocean Science Trust (OST) and the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to share scientific guidance on risk assessment and the scale of pollution with the state legislature, which requested the guidance in 2018 (SB 1263).   

“Microplastic pollution is an emerging threat to coastal environments,” Hoh said. “Microplastics are persistent in environments and can accumulate in marine organisms, which can be harmful to the ingesting organisms and cause human exposure. It is urgent to collect specific data regarding microplastic pollution in the California coastal environments.”   

The highlights:

• Reducing the sources of microplastics may be the most effective and precautionary measure.
• Identifying the top sources of micro- and macro-plastic emissions into the marine environment in California is crucial for assessing risk and stopping the flow of microplastics now and into the future.
• As science on microplastics evolves, the state should revisit the framework in five years. 

The scientists’ recommendations include a technical framework for addressing microplastic pollution and prioritizing knowledge gaps to better understand the issue. The group comprises experts from six institutions including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and regional universities. 

“Microplastics have been found in all corners of the world, as well as in us — in every ocean, Antarctic sea ice, deep-sea trenches, the air we breathe, agricultural soils, and even in human placentas,” said Susanne Brander, Oregon State University ecotoxicologist and co-chair of the working group. “As a scientist who studies the occurrence and impacts of microplastics in fish and other marine biota, the best approach to protecting ocean health is to curb pollution at its source.”    

Scientific knowledge of microplastics is still growing, but the group recommends the state take a precautionary approach in its response because plastic production is expected to continue to increase and plastics don’t degrade in the same way as other materials. Evidence shows microplastics contaminate and can harm marine life and humans. Current tools and the large scale of pollution make mass cleanups too challenging.   

The scientists call for more California-specific research identifying the largest sources of microplastic pollution to inform appropriately targeted source reduction activities. They note that in California, existing evidence suggests that microfibers from textiles, as well as tire and road wear particles, are the most common types of microplastic materials found in the marine environment to date.   

Additionally, stormwater runoff in both agricultural and urban settings contribute a large share of microplastics into the marine environment. Microplastic loading via air and wastewater treatment should also be watched closely, they cautioned. They noted that even smaller plastics such as nanoplastics may be more harmful to marine life and humans, but more research is needed on this topic.

“This effort is a prime example of how California is leveraging science and partnerships to identify a roadmap towards healthier and more productive coasts and oceans,” said Kiya Bibby, senior science officer at OST. “This team of experts is pointing California towards action on a very visible issue.”