MICROPLASTICS IN COASTAL WETLANDS
Systematically quantifying the sequestration of microplastics in Australia’s coastal wetlands and modelling their impacts
Background
Over 8 million metric tonnes (Mt) of plastic wastes accumulate in the global ocean annually, and if the current trend continues, this figure will be over 20 Mt per year by 2030. Other aquatic systems like major rivers and lakes will accumulate an additional 60 Mt of plastic waste in the next 20 years if drastic changes are not made in waste management.
These plastic wastes, including microplastics (particles smaller than 5 mm in size), are transported from rivers, estuaries, stormwater runoff, and wind into the ocean via coastal environments. This means that coastal wetlands, such as seagrass meadows, tidal marshes, and mangroves, have the potential to serve as sinks for plastics and microplastics, similarly to how they sequester carbon. However, it is not known how these plastics could affect coastal wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide, such as carbon sequestration.
Our work
This project – hosted as a new partnership between the Blue Carbon Lab (BCL), the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), and the Centre for Integrative Ecology (CIE) will address three knowledge gaps:
- Investigate the capacity of different coastal wetlands to capture microplastics, and thereby prevent them from being discharged to the ocean
- Assess the possible ecological impact of microplastics on coastal wetlands and their ability to sequester carbon
- Model the fate and transport of microplastics in coastal wetlands under current “business as usual” conditions compared to possible future intervention, such as a 10% reduction of plastic on land
Project impacts
The impacts of this research are far-reaching. Coastal wetlands provide immense value through ecosystem services such as coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and habitat for biodiversity, but the general public may underestimate or fail to recognize these benefits. The potential of coastal wetlands to bury and sequester microplastics is a new and attractive ecosystem service that could draw societal and financial support to protect and restore more coastal wetlands.
Our research on the fate of microplastics in coastal wetlands will be able to inform effective management of Australia’s coastal wetlands as well as plastic pollution. We can also develop practical solutions for managing ecosystems like coastal wetlands that aid in microplastic attenuation. As a result, this project will involve a strong outreach component to meet the growing demand from governments, corporates, and the general public to understand how to mitigate the impacts of microplastics in our oceans and coasts.
This project will advance our knowledge on two of Australia’s Science and Research Priorities: “Soil and Water” and “Environmental Change”, and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), 12 (Responsible consumption and production), and 14 (Life below water).
This project seeks collaboration with other research organisations, regulatory authorities, local city councils, communities, plastic/packaging industries, non-governmental organisations, volunteer groups, corporates, and more for smart plastic use and plastic waste management.
Selected Publications and Resources
- Waldschläger, K., Brückner, M.Z.M., Carney, B., Hackney, C.R., Adyel, T.M., et al, 2022. Learning from natural sediments to tackle microplastics challenges: A multidisciplinary perspective. Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 228, article no. 104021.
- Adyel, T.M. and Macreadie, P.I., 2022. Plastics in blue carbon ecosystems: a call for global cooperation on climate change goals. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(1), pp.e2-e3.
- Adyel, T.M. and Macreadie, P.I., 2021. Australia’s plan to reduce plastic waste falls short. Science, 374(6564), pp.163-164.
- Adyel, T.M. and Macreadie, P.I., 2021. World’s largest mangrove forest becoming plastic cesspit. Frontiers in Marine Science, p.1473.
- Miao, L., Guo, S., Wu, J., Adyel, T.M., Liu, Z., Liu, S. and Hou, J., 2021. Polystyrene nanoplastics change the functional traits of biofilm communities in freshwater environment revealed by GeoChip 5.0. Journal of Hazardous Materials, p.127117.
- Miao, L., Wang, C., Adyel, T.M., Zhao, J., Yan, N., Wu, J. and Hou, J., 2021. Periphytic biofilm formation on natural and artificial substrates: Comparison of microbial compositions, interactions and functions. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, p.1917.
- Liu, Z., Adyel, T.M., Miao, L., You, G., Liu, S. and Hou, J., 2021. Biofilm influenced metal accumulation onto plastic debris in different freshwaters. Environmental Pollution, 285, p.117646.
- Adyel, T.M., 2021. Enforce ban on plastic exports or it could backfire. Nature, 591(7848), pp.34-34.
