The present study analyses and reviews the literature on plastic pollution and the background knowledge about marine plastic pollution in Morocco. Marine activities such as fisheries, tourism, and maritime trade were identified as the main in-situ sources of plastic entering Moroccan coastal waters. The analysis of the results showed that the increasing abundance of plastics in such marine systems causes substantial economic loss to blue economy activities. The lack of data on the quantity of plastic waste entering Moroccan water is a limiting factor for assessing plastic pollution. This highlights the need for a risk assessment and more field investigations to value the weighted impacts of marine activities as generators of plastics on biodiversity and the economy. Implementation of laws and rules forbidding the disposal of plastic waste (PW) in public spaces, mainly beaches and streets, is something that needs attention. Raising awareness of plastic waste management and prioritising improved waste collection, sorting, and management would facilitate Morocco’s establishment and adoption of circular economy strategies. The study also highlights that while implementing management projects and regulatory frameworks for plastic waste, it is mandatory to consider their source and purpose of usage.
This paper characterizes the fungal and bacterial colonizers of 5 types of plastic films (High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate) throughout a 242-day incubation in the south-eastern Mediterranean and relates them to the chemical changes observed on the surface of the samples via ATR-FTIR. Neither bacterial nor fungal community structures were related[…]
This paper provides insights into the sustainable alternatives that can replace conventional plastic mulches, such as biodegradable mulches made from natural fibers and biopolymers. The microscopic and FTIR analyses conducted during the study showed the degradation of the fibers from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The nonwoven mulches provide higher[…]
This paper investigates the degradation of biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) and traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic under two typical abiotic conditions: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and mechanical abrasion (MA) for up to nine months. The quantitative analysis of the degradation products was carried out using membrane filtration and total organic carbon determination (MF-TOCD). The results[…]
This paper identifies technological innovation, policy formulation, advocacy and sensitization, and bioremediation as some of the approaches that are currently used for the mitigation of plastic pollution in Nigeria. This chapter also highlights the need to encourage, enhance, and disseminate scientific research on mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution in Nigeria. It concluded with[…]
This review provides insights into the sources of microplastics, the ecotoxicity of microplastics, and the impact microplastics have on aquatic and marine life, management, and bioremediation of microplastics. Policies and strategies adopted by the government to combat microplastic pollution are also discussed in this review. Microplastics tend to accumulate in many aquatic systems, contaminate them,[…]