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Für Mensch & Umwelt
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment
The German Perspective
Dr. Lilian Busse
Head of Division Environmental Health and Protection of Ecosystems
Marine Litter in the North Sea & Baltic Sea: Observations
and estimates
Southern North Sea:
In average 236 litter items per 100 m coastline
(average entire North Sea 712 items/100m) (ongoing
OSPAR beach litter monitoring)
11 kg litter per km² seafloor (UBA R&D 2013)
96 % of dead found Northern fulmars contain plastics
in their stomachs (average 25 items (0.43 g))
(UBA R&D 2014)
97,4 % of nests assessed of the Gannet colony
at Helgoland contain plastics (net rests, ropes) (UBA R&D
2014)
Baltic Sea:
Litter on beaches range from 76 items/100m at rural to 237
items/100m at urban beaches (project MARLIN 2013,
HELCOM 2014)
5,500 – 10,000 lost fishing nets annually (HELCOM 2014)
Micro-particles in the water column (size range 10-220
µm): up to 4 fibres and 32 other anthropogenic litter
particles/ L-1
(Magnusson & Noren 2011)
11.05.2015
@J. van Franeker (IMARES), www.forthseabirdgroup.org
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Annual Plastics Demand of Selected Industries in Germany*
Mio. Tons/Year
12
Annual Plastics Demand (2013)
9,7
10
8
6
Annual Plastic Waste (2013)
5,6
4
3,1
2,1
2
1,4
0,8
0,8
0,4
0,5
0,4
0,2
0
* According to PlasticsEurope 2013
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Annual Plastics Production in Germany*
Mio. Tons/Year
Annual Plastics Production (2013)
3
2,7
2,5
1,9
2
1,8
1,5
1,5
1,2
1
0,5
0,3
0,6
0,5
0
PE
PP
PS
PS-E
PVC
PA
Other TP
Other
* According to PlasticsEurope 2013
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Selected Pathways of Plastics - From Sources to Sinks
Littering
Households
Sources
Industry
Stormwater, Untreated
Waste/Wastewater
Technical Facilities
Treatment
(WWTP, Waste Incineration, Disposal
Sites)
Different Transport Mechanisms
Water
Regulated Entry and
Quantity
Soil
Air
Transport
Accumulation in the Environment
Water
11.05.2015
Unregulated Entry and
Quantity
Soil
Air
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
Sinks
5
Plastics and Microplastics (Primary and Secondary) in
Germany - Available Data
111.000 *
Tire Abrasion
Treated/Untreated
Entries and Quantities?
50.000**
Littering
Cosmetics
545
***
Biowaste
15.000
***
5.000
Sewage Sludge
Residue in the
River Rhine
**
25
Residue in the
Treated Effluent
**
8
0
20.000
40.000
* According to Hillenbrad et al. (2005) ** According to a UBA estimation
11.05.2015
60.000
80.000
100.000
Tons/Year
120.000
*** Limit Value for impurities in Fertilizer Ordinance (max. 0,5% of DM)
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Treatment of Waste Water in Germany
Foto: Andreas Hartmann
11.05.2015
Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Untreated Water and Littering
*
*Bruno Tassin
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Untreated Water and Littering
*
After a rain event in Berlin
*Foto: Daniel Venghaus
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Strategies and Measures to Reduce Marine Litter
Coordinated from a Global to a National Perspective
Honululu Strategy – A Global Framework for Prevention and Management of Marine
Debris
Rio + 20 agreement (art 163) – Significant reduction of marine litter until 2025
International Conference on Prevention and Management of Marine Litter in European
Seas 2013 in Berlin - Identification of dedicated regional actions (Regional Action Plans in
the EU)
G7 – Action Plan on Marine Litter is one topic under discussion during current DE presidency
Regional Action Plans on Marine Litter
Barcelona Convention (Mediterranean) - Action plan on marine litter adopted in 2013
OSPAR (North East Atlantic) - Action Plan adopted in June 2014
HELCOM (Baltic) - Final adoption (Recommendation incl. actions) envisioned for June
2015
Bucharest Convention (Black Sea) - Marine litter part of an overarching strategic action
plan
EU MSFD PoM - measures aiming at reduction of marine litter closely linked with global and
regional action
NOTE - All action plans follow the same general structure
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Planned Measures in Germany - Implementation of the
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Environmental target 5: Seas without pressures from litter
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UZ5-01
Including the topic “marine litter” in learning
goals, teaching plans and materials
UZ5-02
Modification/substitution of products in a
comprehensive life-cycle approach
UZ5-03
Avoiding the use of primary microplastic
particles
UZ5-04
Reducing inputs of plastic litter e.g. plastic
packaging, into the marine environment
UZ5-05
Measures relating to lost and abandoned
fishing nets and gear
UZ5-06
Establishing the fishing for litter approach
UZ5-07
Removing existing marine litter
UZ5-08
Reducing amounts of plastic litter through local
regulatory provisions
UZ5-09
Reducing emissions and inputs of microplastic
particles
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Upcoming Challenges
1.
−
−
−
−
Identification
Specify objects to be identified
Assess current situation (therefore: define harmonized, reproducible and
representative methods)
Analyze additional effects like persistency or microplastics as a vector
Determine sources of possible pathways
2.
−
−
−
Evaluation
Evaluate legal situation (water, soil, air, prevention of potential hazards)
Evaluate properties of materials (physical, biological, chemical)
Evaluate possible effects on health and environment
3.
Measures
Possible measures to reduce the pollution due to plastics are:
Legal frameworks
Economical incentives or penalties
Education, communication and information
−
−
−
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Current and Planned Research in Germany (Examples)
Federal Research
BMUB
− Coherent monitoring of German coastal and marine waters
− Analysis of microplastics in water
− Analysis of microplastics in food
BMBF
− JPI Oceans
German Länder
− Bavaria: Pathways, occurence and distribution of
microplastics in Bavarian waterbodies
− North Rhine-Westphalia: Occurence and distribution of
microplastics in the River Rhine
− Baden-Württemberg: Microplastic pollution of waterbodies in
Baden-Württemberg
Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
− Microplastic as a vector for microbial populations in the
ecosystem
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Research Needs for Plastics and Microplastics
Development of Methods:
− Media specific consistent sampling techniques
− Consistent sample preparation methods
− Consistent and sensitive detection methods
− Appropriate ecotoxicological methods
− Mass flow analysis (soil, water, air)
Monitoring/Surveys:
− Survey of consistent data for different environmental media
Processes:
− Development of environmental sound polymers
− Development of specific treatment processes (waste water)
Behavior:
− Study of the social behavior in relation to littering
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Next Steps in Germany
1. Adopt and implement the MSFD measures on ML - 2016
2. Conduct projects that reduce (micro)plastic entries (“green associations”)
3. Coordinate various research activities (Federal/Länder)
4. Develop harmonized, reproducible and representative methods
5. Initiate standardization works in ISO TC 61 – Plastics
6. Gather further data on plastic distribution in the environment
7. Analyze (micro)plastic entries from different products
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Conclusions
1. The ongoing discussions about plastics and microplastics in the environment
prove that this topic needs further research and assessment
2. Measures to reduce inputs of litter to the environment with special focus on the
seas have to be taken immediately
3. Effects and measures concerning other media like freshwater, soil and food
should be taken into consideration
4. Harmonized, reproducible and representative methods need to be developed for
the further assessment
5. Development of standardized methods (ISO)
6. A framework to assess the current situation needs to be set up
7. Further research needs to focus on areas with high uncertainty (e.g. DG RES
(Horizon 2020), member states (JPI))
11.05.2015
(Micro-)Plastics in the Environment - The German Perspective; Dr. Lilian Busse; UBA DE
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Kontakt:
Dr. Lilian Busse
Head of Division Environmental Health and Protection of Ecosystems
Environment Agency Germany
Dessau
16.05.2015
/ Hier steht der Veranstaltungstitel in 12 Punkt
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