INVESTIGADORES
ARIAS Andres Hugo
artículos
Título:
Assessing threats, regulations, and strategies to abate plastic pollution in LAC beaches during COVID-19
Autor/es:
ALFONSO, M. B; ARIAS, ANDRÉS H.; MENENDEZ, C.M.; RONDA, A.C.; J.E.MARCOVECCHIO; PICCOLO, C.M.
Revista:
Ocean and Coastal Management
Editorial:
Elsevier BV
Referencias:
Lugar: Londres; Año: 2021
ISSN:
0964-5691
Resumen:
Plastic use and production have dramatically increased globally over the past 65 yearswith the improvement of life quality by the daily use of plastic products. Still, around50% of the plastic produced is disposable products that generate substantial waste.Several reports pointed out the adverse effects of plastic litter in coastal environmentsin recent years, emphasizing single-use plastics (SUP). In this manner, Latin Americaand the Caribbean (LAC) coastal environments are highly vulnerable due towastewater treatment facilities scarcity and poor plastic waste management strategies.Since COVID-19, the single-use plastic waste/person rate is expected to rise due to theuse of personal protective equipment and SUP as health care measures. Based onliterature research and the review of plastic waste regulations, this paper will assessthe main COVID-19 plastic pollution threats and LAC beaches´ regulations to suggestpossible measures to abate this problem. The main findings suggest that unify theongoing fragmented and overlapped policies is key to abate plastic pollution, includingplastic industry regulations and circular economies. Also, increase public riskperception about plastic pollution is critical to reducing plastic waste generation.Research advances in plastic debris adverse effects could improve the public´sperception of plastic pollution risk, pushing forward global marine plastic governance.