Plastic Pollution in the Coastal Environment: Current Challenges and Future Solutions

© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.. The dependence on plastic materials for modern life has led to an increase of plastic waste in coastal systems. Microplastics (plastics < 5. mm in size) in particular, have induced alarm among scientific and management bodies as an emerging marine and coastal contaminant. Recent studies suggest that these small plastic particles are ubiquitous in the marine system, as they have been recorded in every coastal and marine habitat around the world. The presence of microplastics in the environment has been shown to have negative consequences for many marine wildlife species, such as marine birds, turtles, and fish. To mitigate the harm caused by plastic pollution, it is essential to understand the life cycle of plastic products, beginning with plastic use and disposal, to the arrival at coastal marine environments. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the issue of plastic pollution in the coastal environment and reviews the current knowledge base on sources, dispersal, accumulation, and most importantly solutions for the problem of plastic pollution. This chapter also discusses and gives examples of current initiatives to reduce the plastic load, including the circular economy approach, and other successful campaigns around the world. Lastly, it discusses the importance of the behavioral, social, and economic changes needed to reduce plastic demand and use for lasting systematic solutions. © 2019 Copyright