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86 | CURBING PLASTIC POLLUTION

EXPERTS FACE TWO MAJOR TOWARDS A MORE IN-DEPTH
CHALLENGES STUDY
During the session, these local and international ex- The identification of new research applications and po-
perts focused on two major challenges: tential institutional collaborations for a more in-depth
1. assessment of microplastics as vectors of pollu- study of the impact of plastics on marine organisms
tants and pathogens in marine organisms, was discussed. Particular attention was paid to the
2. the difficulties in assessing the concentrations of challenges and gaps in knowledge in assessing the
this micro-waste that infiltrates marine ecosys- role of microplastics as vectors of contaminants for
tems. marine organisms, as well as in assessing the impact
Indeed, as Philippe Bersuder, head of the IAEA's Ma- of plastic additives that seep into marine ecosystems.
rine Environmental Studies Laboratory, has shown, As vectors, microplastics can absorb environmental
"the effects of chemical contaminants from plastics contaminants from the surrounding environment and
on marine ecosystems are not yet widely understood. transfer them to organisms when ingested. Plastic
It is therefore extremely important to identify and fill additives (flame retardants, plasticisers, etc.) can also
these gaps." Such challenges in assessing the im- seep into marine organisms, potentially affecting their
pact of this pollution call for the sharing of knowledge health and that of the human beings who depend on
and collaboration between institutions to expand them. In addition, microplastics come in a wide va-
the current state of knowledge. The very aim of this riety of sizes and chemical compositions, leading to
workshop, during which the experts highlighted the different impacts on marine organisms and requiring
need to study the role and impact of microplastics different solutions.
and associated chemicals in the marine environment.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
CORALS AFFECTED BY PLASTIC
WASTE The workshop reached a consensus that substitutes
for plastics and toxic additives should be evaluated
"Pollution by micro- and nanoplastics has been ob- with a view to their widespread use and that further
served even in the most pristine and remote coral research is needed to determine which materials
reefs", explained Christine Ferrier-Pagès, director could be used that have less impact on the health
of ecophysiology research at the Monaco Science of the oceans. Workshop participants also agreed
Centre, before going on to explain the consequences: that the lack of evidence of the harmfulness of nano
"The presence of artificial chemicals in coral reefs can and microplastic pollution at environmental concen-
increase the risk of coral bleaching." trations should not be a determining factor in efforts
to reduce plastic pollution. Finally, future research
should focus on collaborative efforts on a global scale
to assess the potential risk of these particles on ma-
rine ecosystems.

MICROPLASTICS IN CORAL REEFS
“They are mainly composed of fibres, pellets, fragments, films
and granules (...) which mainly include PP, PET, PA, PVC, PE, PS,
PU, PP-PE, PAN and UA, which mainly come from waste emis-
sions from coastal cities and intensive fisheries”.
© Francesco Ungaro - pexels.com (Sources: "Microplastics in the coral reefs and their potential impacts on corals:

a mini-review", Huang & al, Science of The Total Environment, 762, 2021)