May 18 2015
University of Exeter researcher, Professor Tamara Galloway, has contributed to one of the most expansive summaries of our knowledge of man-made litter in the world's oceans to date. The new book, Marine Anthropogenic Litter is published by Springer and is set to be available through open access, allowing its content to reach the wider audience that is so necessary to raise awareness of this important challenge.
Marine litter is receiving growing attention after the recent discovery of great oceanic garbage patches and the ubiquity of microscopic plastic particles in marine organisms and habitats. Credit: University of Exeter
Marine litter is an environmental issue that has captured the public's attention, with images of vast circling 'islands' of rubbish seemingly miles from human activity providing a tangible example of the reach that our impact upon the environment has. The book is compiled by international experts in the field. It summarises research from the past 50 years, and is due for publication on the 14th of June 2015.
Professor Galloway, from Biosciences, writes about the tiny fragments of micro- and nano-plastics in the environment and the implications for human health. This is a topic which is the focus of much research in biosciences, with teams on nanoparticles and micro-plastics.
Publishing with open access benefits researchers by increasing the visibility, use and impact of the research.
Professor Galloway said: "Making this book open access is a great way to make it available to people in every country, irrespective of their ability to pay. We hope this will increase the impact of our research on marine litter and bring it to as wide an audience as possible".
In 16 chapters, authors from all over the world have created a universal view on the diverse field of marine litter pollution, the biological impacts, dedicated research activities, and the various national and international legislative efforts to combat this environmental problem. They recommend future research directions necessary for a comprehensive understanding of this environmental issue and the development of efficient management strategies. The book addresses scientists, and it provides a solid knowledge base for policy makers, NGOs, and the broader public.