Alessio Gomiero holds a PhD in Environmental Science. As Senior Researcher he has contributed with the development of integrated chemical and biological tools to routinely assess the environmental pollution associated to different anthropogenic activities with emphasis on the characterization of chemicals induced adverse effects by cellular and sub cellular endpoints on several marine and freshwater biological models.
Plastics in the Environment is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field of plastic pollution and how it is affecting the environment. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in the research area. All chapters are complete in themselves but united under a common research study topic. This publication aims at providing a thorough overview of the latest research efforts by international authors on the trending topic of plastics in the environment and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments.
Go to the bookMarine litter is human-created waste that has been discharged into the coastal or marine environment. “Marine debris” is defined as anthropogenic, manufactured, or processed solid material discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the environment, including all materials discarded into the sea, on the shore, or brought indirectly to the sea by rivers, sewage, storm water, waves, or winds. A large fraction of marine debris is made up of plastic items. Plastic marine debris has become one of the most prevalent pollution related problems affecting the marine environment globally. The widespread challenge of managing marine litter is a useful illustration of the global and transboundary nature of many marine environmental problems. At a global level, plastic litter constitutes 83–87% of all marine litter. Land-based sources are estimated to be responsible for approximately 80% of marine litter. The largest portion of plastic associated with marine pollution is often linked to the contribution from terrestrial sources associated with accidental or deliberate spills as well as inefficient waste management systems in heavily anthropized coastal regions. This chapter is intended to serve as a catalyst for further discussion to explore the potential for developing a Mediterranean regional framework for addressing marine litter.
Part of the book: Plastics in the Environment