Global ecological, social and economic impacts of marine plastic

This research takes a holistic approach to considering the consequences of marine plastic pollution. A semi-systematic literature review of 1191 data points provides the basis to determine the global ecological, social and economic impacts. An ecosystem impact analysis demonstrates that there is global evidence of impact with medium to high frequency on all subjects, with a medium to high degree of irreversibility. A novel translation of these ecological impacts into ecosystem service impacts provides evidence that all ecosystem services are impacted to some extent by the presence of marine plastic, with a reduction in provision predicted for all except one. This reduction in ecosystem service provision is…

• JD
  John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• DF
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government

  Award: NE/L003279/1
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/L003988/1, pml010005, pml010010, NE/L003279/1
• NF
  Norges Forskningsråd

  Award: 257584
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: NE/L003279/1, pml010005, NE/L003279/1, pml010010, NE/L003988/1, L003279/1, NE/L003988/1