ACR+

By Simon Hann, Olly Jamieson, Alice Thomson, Chris Sherrington.

Executive summary

This research project sets out to understand the sources, pathways, fate and environmental impact of microplastics in Scotland in three environmental contexts and the interaction between these: the terrestrial environment, including agricultural land; the freshwater environment, and the marine environment. Large plastic items can entangle marine life, as well as be ingested by larger marine animals. Microplastics are small (<5mm) fragments of plastic which are of additional concern because of their potential to accumulate organic contaminants in increasing quantities with decreasing size. When they enter aquatic systems, microplastics can be ingested by a range of organisms and accumulate through the food web, causing harm to health and the environment. The Scottish Government has made tackling marine litter and plastics one of its key goals, and this featured strongly in the 2017/18 Programme for Government – a commitment that has continued in the 2019/20 Programme for Government, with the aim ‘to meet or exceed the standards set out in the European Union’s Single-Use Plastic Directive’. Under the ScottishMarine Litter Strategy, a number of initiatives are underway in order to bring a strategic approach to tackling this growing anthropogenic threat to our seas, the life within them and to wider society. Further evidence is required on the sources, pathways, fate and environmental impact of microplastic pollution in the Scottish context. This will be used to inform targeted action and further investigation. The aims of this research project are to:

• Appraise the main environmental risks posed by microplastic pollution in Scotland’sterrestrial, freshwater and marine environment;
• Determine and quantify the main sources and pathways of microplastics in Scotland’sterrestrial, freshwater and marine environment;
• Determine further work that needs to be carried out to strengthen the evidence base and propose mitigation measures.