New plastic formations in the Anthropocene

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Geology

Background:

• Plastic pollution is a significant global challenge, with marine debris undergoing transformations into novel materials.
• Recent years have seen the emergence of new plastic formations in marine environments, including plastiglomerates, pyroplastics, plasticrusts, and anthropoquinas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss the environmental fate and threats posed by four recently identified marine plastic formations.
• To highlight knowledge gaps and propose future research directions for understanding these novel plastic types.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion of existing data on plastiglomerates, pyroplastics, plasticrusts, and anthropoquinas.
• Analysis of potential environmental impacts, including chemical leaching, ingestion, and biological transport.

Main Results:

• Identified threats include toxic chemical release, plastic ingestion, transport of invasive species/pathogens, and fragmentation into microplastics.
• Some formations may persist and travel in the ocean, while denser types may become buried in sediments.
• The characteristics of these formations influence their interaction with marine biota and their potential to enter the geological record.

Conclusions:

• Standardized sampling protocols and reporting for these new plastic categories are crucial to accurately assess marine plastic pollution.
• Monitoring plans should incorporate these novel plastic types to identify sources and understand their distribution.
• Further research is essential to confirm suspected impacts and fully understand the distribution and ecological significance of these plastic formations.