Global Plastic Pollution and Its Regulation: History, Trends, Perspectives

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lastic, a marvel of modern innovation, has permeated nearly every facet of our lives. From the convenience of disposable utensils to the durability of plastic packaging, it has become an integral part of our daily routines. However, this very convenience has ushered in a quiet and insidious threat that now looms large on the world’s environmental stage: global plastic pollution.

The statistics surrounding this crisis are nothing short of staggering. Each year, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste find their way into our oceans, equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the sea every minute. By 2050, if current trends persist, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by weight.

The problem extends far beyond our coastlines, as microplastics, tiny fragments of broken-down plastic, have infiltrated our food chain and bodies, with one study estimating that the average person ingests the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic particles every week.

Similarly, in March 2020, a groundbreaking discovery marked the first instance of microplastic contamination in human blood. This finding emerged during a scientific examination of blood specimens collected from 22 healthy adult volunteers, revealing the presence of plastic particles in approximately 80% of the tested samples.

Beyond its impact on marine life and human health, plastic pollution exacerbates climate change. The production of plastic generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, and as plastic waste decays, it releases harmful compounds into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the environmental toll of extracting the fossil fuels needed to produce plastic cannot be overlooked.

In the face of such alarming statistics, it has become evident that global plastic pollution is not merely an environmental concern but a complex crisis that demands immediate attention. Furthermore, the far-reaching effects of plastic pollution calls for an interdisciplinary approach to the topic.

In Global Plastic Pollution and its Regulation: History, Trends, Perspectives, the authors delve into one of this urgent environmental challenge of our time. They meticulously examine the current scope of this crisis and scrutinize contemporary strategies aimed at its control. Employing a robust interdisciplinary approach, the book effectively encapsulates the primary hurdles and potential remedies associated with this universally relevant issue.