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Handbook of Microplastics in the Environment pp 1–27Cite as

Microplastics Pollution and Regulation

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Abstract

Microplastics pollution of terrestrial and marine environmental compartments is an issue of concern worldwide, but information on the key sources, pathways, distribution, and impacts is still scarce in many cases, fragmentary at best, and typically difficult to compare owing to a lack of harmonization in methodologies. In this chapter, we present the latest evidence of microplastics as a global threat, together with current knowledge gaps, the challenges associated with establishing a global monitoring system and what legislative framework might be needed for their control. The chapter will also describe the complexity of this environmental problem, highlighting the key reasons for why regulation at the local, regional, and global levels is currently limited and discussing possible ways forward.

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Acknowledgments

The contribution from J. G. was supported by CLEANATLANTIC’ INTERREG Atlantic Area project. It only reflects the author’s view, thus the Atlantic Area Programme authorities are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The contributions from A.B.. and R.T. were supported by the EU H2020 project ‘GoJelly’ (Grant 774499) and the Research Council of Norway projects ‘MICROFIBER’ (Grant 268404) and ‘REVEAL’ (Grant 656879). The contribution from J.L. was supported by European EMFF funds and co-funded by the Basque Government ‘MICROPLAS’ (00005-INA2019-33), European Union (LIFE LEMA project, LIFE15/ENV/ES/000252) and EASME/EMFF/2017/1.2.1.12/S2/01/SI2.788894 – BLUENET.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Vigo, Spain

    Jesús Gago

  2. SINTEF Ocean, Trondheim, Norway

    Andy M. Booth & Rachel Tiller

  3. Grid-Arendal, Arendal, Norway

    Thomas Maes

  4. AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain

    Joana Larreta

Authors
  1. Jesús Gago
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  2. Andy M. Booth
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  3. Rachel Tiller
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  4. Thomas Maes
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  5. Joana Larreta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jesús Gago .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Teresa Rocha-Santos

  2. Departamento de Oceanografia, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Mónica Costa

  3. Faculty of Sciences, Université Catholique de L'Ouest, Angers cedex 01, France

    Catherine Mouneyrac

Section Editor information

  1. Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Vigo, Spain

    Juan Santos Echeandia

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Gago, J., Booth, A.M., Tiller, R., Maes, T., Larreta, J. (2020). Microplastics Pollution and Regulation. In: Rocha-Santos, T., Costa, M., Mouneyrac, C. (eds) Handbook of Microplastics in the Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10618-8_52-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10618-8_52-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10618-8

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