MARINE LITTER
Marine litter is a global concern,
affecting all the oceans of the
world. Every year, millions of
tonnes of litter end up in the ocean,
posing environmental, economic,
health and aesthetic problems
MICROPLASTICS
Microplastics are tiny plastic
particles that are incluced in certain
commercial products or result from
the breakdown of larger plastics.
Microplastics can be harmful to the
environment and animal and
human health
NANOPLASTICS
Nanoplastics are plastic particles
generally produced during the
degradation and manufacturing of
plastic objects, which present
colloidal behavior and size range
from 1 to 1000 nm
TOXICITY
Plastic products contain additives
that can be toxic. Besides, plastic
can retain toxic chemicals including
persistent organic compounds.
Small plastic particles can also
accumulate in tissues and exert
toxic damage
RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk assessment puts hazard and
exposure together in an attempt to
understand the real world danger
posed by a chemical based on its
intrinsic hazards in the light of
anticipated exposure
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
The ecological impact is defined as
the set of effects left on organisms
and their environment due to
actions made by humans and
natural occurrences. These
changes are not necessarily
adverse, but they generally are
REMEDIATION
Environmental remediation is the
process of removing contaminants
from sites that have been polluted
by any kind of human impact,
including industrial, manufacturing,
mining, residential and commercial
activities
DISSEMINATION
Dissemination is a conscious effort
to spread findings, knowledge, and
practices to target audiences or to
the public at large. It is a
responsibility towards society,
which is providing most of our
funding
NAVEGACIÓN
REES SOCIALES
A new anthropogenic pollutant
Since the onset of the industrial productuion of plastic, and especially after its massive commercialization in the sixties of the 20th century, about ten billion tons of plastic have been produced. The presence of plastic in wildlife and in different natural environments was an early discovery. However, the warnings of scientists strated with the repeated findings of very small fragments, named microplastics (acronym for microscopic plastics), first in the oceans and later in the mos diverse envieonrments. The term microplastic currently refers today to plastic particles whose largest dimension is between one thousandth of a millimeter and five millimeters. Even smaller plastics are referred to as nanoplastics.
Bakelite
Leo Bakelandt cre- ated the first syn- thetic polymer, a phenolic resin
1907
Polystyrene
BASF chemists pro- duced the first thermoplastic polymer
1930
PVC
Known since the XIXth
century, two patents
issued in 1933 allowed
the commercial
production of PVC as
water resistant coating
for fabrics
1932
Polyethylene
Synthesized at ICI
it was used for the
isolation of
electrical wires and
kept in secrecy due
to the IIWW
1933
Nylon
After a decade of researh Du Pont got a bit market success with this polyamide
1938
Polyester
First discovered by W.H. Carothers, chemists from ICI marketed the polyester fibre Terylene
1941
ENVIROPLANET
OUR FIELDS OF RESEARCH
We have different fields of research, linked by our common interest in plastic pollution. We cover topics that range from monitoring activities to molecular aspects of toxic response in the biota. All of us are highly committed with the dissemination of our results in the benefit of the society, who grant most of our activities via taxes.
The timeline of plastics
The history of plastic production usually starts with the discovery of parkesine by Alexander Parkes in Birmingham made from cellulose nitrate and camphor. con alcanfor, a variation of which is celluloid, initiall intended as subtutute of ivory. However, the true origin of the industry of plastics stated with the production of totally synthetic polymers, the first of which was the termoset bakelite, a phenol formaldehyde resin. Synthetic polymers can be classified as plastics and rubbers. Amont plastics, there is a difference between thermosets and thermoplastics. Thermoplatics can melt while thermosets consist of polymeric chains linked together by crosslinking (like vulcanized rubbers).
Recent news
MARES CIRCULARES -
CIRCULAR SEAS PROJECT
Network project participated by the
association Zero Discharges with the
aim of cleaning coasts, protected areas
and seabeds in Spain and Portugal, as
well as promoting recycling
UNIVERSITY OF VIGO
Conference held at the University of
Vigo as part of the 'Circular Seas'
programme, with the participation of
esxpertes in environmental
sustainability from several institutions
FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN
Video produced by the NGO Friends
of the Ocean in its struggle to
implement solutions to the
environmental problem caused by
marine litter in the Atlantic Ocean
NAVEGACIÓN
CRÉDITOS
Copyright 2022 © Design &
Development by EnviroPlaNet.
All rights reserved
CONTACTO
NAVEGACIÓN
REDES SOCIALES
Bakelite
Leo Bakelandt cre- ated the first syn- thetic polymer, a phenolic resin
1907
Polystyrene
BASF chemists produced the first thermoplastic polymer to replace cast zinc objects
1930
PVC
Known since the XIXth
century, two patents
issued in 1933 allowed
the commercial
production of PVC as
water resistant coating
for fabrics
1932
Polyethylene
Synthesized at ICI it
was used for the
isolation of
electrical wires and
kept in secrecy due
to the IIWW
1933
Nylon
After a decade of researh Du Pont got a bit market success with this polyamide
1938
Polyester
First discovered by W.H. Carothers, chemists from ICI marketed the polyester fibre Terylene
1941
The timeline of plastics
The history of plastic production usually starts with the discovery of parkesine by Alexander Parkes in Birmingham made from cellulose nitrate and camphor. con alcanfor, a variation of which is celluloid, initiall intended as subtutute of ivory. However, the true origin of the industry of plastics stated with the production of totally synthetic polymers, the first of which was the termoset bakelite, a phenol formaldehyde resin. Synthetic polymers can be classified as plastics and rubbers. Amont plastics, there is a difference between thermosets and thermoplastics. Thermoplatics can melt while thermosets consist of polymeric chains linked together by crosslinking (like vulcanized rubbers).A new anthropogenic pollutant
Since the onset of the industrial productuion of plastic, and especially after its massive commercialization in the sixties of the 20th century, about ten billion tons of plastic have been produced. The presence of plastic in wildlife and in different natural environments was an early discovery. However, the warnings of scientists strated with the repeated findings of very small fragments, named microplastics (acronym for microscopic plastics), first in the oceans and later in the mos diverse envieonrments. The term microplastic currently refers today to plastic particles whose largest dimension is between one thousandth of a millimeter and five millimeters. Even smaller plastics are referred to as nanoplastics.
MARES CIRCULARES -
CIRCULAR SEAS PROJECT
Network project participated by the
association Zero Discharges with the
aim of cleaning coasts, protected areas
and seabeds in Spain and Portugal, as
well as promoting recycling
UNIVERSITY OF VIGO
Conference held at the University of
Vigo as part of the 'Circular Seas'
programme, with the participation of
esxpertes in environmental
sustainability from several institutions
FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN
Video produced by the NGO Friends
of the Ocean in its struggle to
implement solutions to the
environmental problem caused by
marine litter in the Atlantic Ocean
Recent news
About
EnviroPlaNet
EnviroPlaNet started activities in 2020 as
Thematic Research Network specialized in
plastic pollution funded bu the Ministry of
Science and Innovation of Spain. Since
then, the network has grown to bring
together more reserch groups with the
aim of giving visibility to a variety of
researchers from different disciplines as
well as associations and NGOs working
on different aspects related to pollution
by plastic materials. The objective of the
network is to improve coordination
between groups and to offer
opportunities for cooperation in aspects
like the exchange of experience, the
access to research resources or the
participation in dissemination activities.
ENVIROPLANET
OUR FIELDS OF RESEEARCH
We have different fields of research, linked by our common interest in plastic pollution. We cover topics that range from monitoring activities to molecular aspects of toxic response in the biota. All of us are highly committed with the dissemination of our results in the benefit of the society, who grant most of our activities via taxes.
MARINE LITTER
Marine litter is a global concern,
affecting all the oceans of the
world. Every year, millions of
tonnes of litter end up in the ocean,
posing environmental, economic,
health and aesthetic problems
MICROPLASTICS
Microplastics are tiny plastic
particles that are incluced in certain
commercial products or result from
the breakdown of larger plastics.
Microplastics can be harmful to the
environment and animal and
human health
NANOPLASTICS
Nanoplastics are plastic particles
generally produced during the
degradation and manufacturing of
plastic objects, which present
colloidal behavior and size range
from 1 to 1000 nm.
TOXICITY
Plastic products contain additives
that can be toxic. Besides, plastic
can retain toxic chemicals including
persistent organic compounds.
Small plastic particles can also
accumulate in tissues and exert
toxic damage
RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk assessment puts hazard and
exposure together in an attempt to
understand the real world danger
posed by a chemical based on its
intrinsic hazards in the light of
anticipated exposure
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT
The ecological impact is defined as
the set of effects left on organisms
and their environment due to
actions made by humans and
natural occurrences. These
changes are not necessarily
adverse, but they generally are
REMEDIATION
Environmental remediation is the
process of removing contaminants
from sites that have been polluted
by any kind of human impact,
including industrial, manufacturing,
mining, residential and commercial
activities
DISSEMINATION
Dissemination is a conscious effort
to spread findings, knowledge, and
practices to target audiences or to
the public at large. It is a
responsibility towards society,
which is providing most of our
funding
