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History of Marine and Ocean Waste Pollution: From Identification to Management
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Mohammad Velayatzadeh *   |
| Department of Industrial Safety, Caspian Institute of Higher Education, Qazvin, Iran , mv.5908@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (27 Views) |
Scientific studies on plastic pollution in marine environments began in the 1960s with the first observations of marine debris. In the early 1970s, several reports documented substantial amounts of plastic pellets (nurdles) in the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. At the same time, researchers adopted new approaches to studying marine plastic debris, extending beyond documentation of their presence on the seafloor to investigating their impacts on marine organisms. Subsequently, research focused on the Pacific Ocean and its coastlines, examining the factors contributing to plastic ingestion by seabirds.
By the early 1980s, growing concerns about the potential effects of marine debris led to a series of specialized meetings. Two early international conferences, organized by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service in Honolulu, played a pivotal role in shaping the research agenda for the following decade. By the late 1980s, most of the ecological impacts of marine debris had been well recognized, and scientific attention increasingly shifted toward seeking effective solutions to address the problem.
Over the past decade, rising concern over microplastics and the discovery of alarming concentrations of plastic particles in the North Pacific Ocean have triggered a new wave of research. At present, investigations into the role of microplastics in transporting persistent organic pollutants into marine food webs remain at the forefront of scientific inquiry. This article provides a historical overview of the evolution of studies on marine debris and waste pollution.
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| Keywords: Plastic waste, Marine debris, Microplastics, Ocean pollution, Ecotoxicology |
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Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Marine Medicine
Received: 2022/08/26 | Accepted: 2025/09/2 | Published: 2025/09/1
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