• Title/Summary/Keyword: Marine plastic pollution

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Composition and Abundance of Meiofaunal biofouling on the Surface of Plastic Debris Washed Ashore (해변 표착 플라스틱 쓰레기 서식 중형저서부착생물 조성과 서식밀도)

  • Eun-Ran Baek;Minju Kim;Hyeon Kim;Jung-Hoon Kang
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.125-140
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    • 2023
  • We investigated meiofaunal biofouling (40-1,000 ㎛) on stranded marine plastic debris (hereafter MPD) collected from 8 coastal areas highly affected by plastic pollution located in the southern part of Korea during June, 2021, in order to analyze the abundance and composition of MPD associated organisms. A total of eight shapes of MPD was collected and classified into four types of plastics (LDPE, PET, PP and EPS) based on Resin Identification Coding System. Meiofounal biofouling was identified into 35 taxa belonging to 11 phylum, 10 classes and 12 order, and were numerically dominated by harpacticoids (EPS: 21.6%, PP: 27.1%), nematodes (LDPE: 23.2%) and foraminiferans (PET: 29.6%). Surface area of MPD was negatively correlated with abundances of organisms on the plastic debris (r = -0.487, p < 0.05, n = 24), indicating that abundances (avg. 3,225 inds. 0.1 m-2) on the smallest area of PP debris (avg. 0.0208 m2 ) were higher than those (avg. 50 inds. 0.1 m-2) on the largest area of LDPE debris (avg. 0.4029 m-2). Whereas, there was no correlation between surface area of MPD and the number of taxa on the debris (r = 0.147, p = 0.49, n = 24). These results showed that higher abundances of meiofaunal biofouling were observed on the PP material debris than those on the other debris collected from eight hot spots of the southern coastal waters in Korea, associated with not only polymer type and surface area of the PP debris, but also possibly surface microstructure of the PP debris.

Separation of micro-plastics from sea water using electromagnetic archimedes force

  • N. Nomura;F. Mishima;S. Nishijima
    • Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.18-21
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    • 2023
  • Pollution of the environment by micro-plastics is now a worldwide problem. Plastics are difficult to decompose and put a great load on the marine environment. Especially a plastic with a size of 5 mm or less is defined as micro-plastic and are carried by ocean currents over long distances, causing global pollution. These are not easily decomposed in the natural environment. In this paper, we aimed to experimentally demonstrate that micro-plastics in seawater can be continuously separated by electromagnetic Archimedes force. Using polyethylene particles of 3 mm in diameter as the separation target, a flow channel was fabricated and separation conditions were investigated by particle trajectory calculations for separation experiments. Based on the calculation results, a solenoid-type superconducting magnet was used as a source of magnetic field to conduct separation experiments of micro-plastics in seawater. Although a high separation rate was assumed in the simulation results, the experimental results did not show any significant improvement in the separation rate due to the electromagnetic Archimedes force. It was found that the gas generated by the electrolytic reaction may have inhibited the migration of the particles.

Study to Improve the Legal System to Reduce Marine Accidents caused by Marine Plastic Litter (해양 플라스틱 쓰레기에 의한 부유물 감김 해양사고 저감 정책방안 연구 - 법제도 측면 개선 중심으로 -)

  • Lee, Hye-Jin;Kim, Bo-Ram
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.27 no.7
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    • pp.967-976
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    • 2021
  • Over the last ten years, the number of entanglement marine accidents has increased more than other accident types. This study analyzed the annual statistical report of marine accidents from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and Korea Coast Guard. Despite some discrepancies between data of the two organizations, it was found that marine accidents involving fishing vessels were more prevalent than those involving non-fishing vessels. In addition, the main floating materials that caused wounded entanglement accidents were fishing nets, fishing gear, and ropes, and the proportion of them was high. Foreign and domestic policies on marine plastics recognize most marine plastics as marine environmental hazards and focus on marine litter recovery and the prevention of marine pollution. The representative Acts related to the marine environment and marine litter, the Marine Environment Management Act and the Marine Waste and Sediments Management Act, recognize marine litter as a type of marine waste, and deal with the types and definition of this waste. However, clearly defining marine waste is difficult. Therefore, this study tried to examine the relevant legal system of marine litter on ship operation and suggested improvement measures. Moreover, the definition of marine litter for the safe navigation and operation of ships was clearly proposed.

A Study on the Characteristics of Marine Debris in Coastline : Daekwang Beach In Imja Island, Jeollanam-Do, Korea (해안표착물의 특성에 관한 연구 : 전라남도 신안군 임자도 대광해수욕장)

  • Jang, Seong-Woong;Oh, Seung-Yeol;Kim, Dae-Hyun;Yoon, Hong-Joo
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.123-129
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    • 2011
  • A study on the occurrence and movement of marine debris is required for protecting the marine environment and ecosystem from marine pollution. The aim of this study is to show annual production and movement characteristics through analysis for the flow path, composition and the sources of marine debris. This study analyzed the distribution and characteristics of marine debris collected in the region of $100\;m{\times}20\;m$($=2,000\;m^2$) at the Daekwang Beach in the Yellow Sea. During the collection period from 2008 to 2010, the total weight of the marine debris was 1,445 kg in this site. The most marine debris was plastic amounting to 46.5% of the whole collection; the rest were styrofoam(20%) and wooden material(12.6%). The amount of marine debris mused from foreign country observed 155.5 kg, more than 90% of them was plastic came from China such as buoys. Additionally, this study analyzed seasonal change if marine environment to understand occurrence amount change if marine debris. 2009 and 2010 was high occurrence ratio in season that the north wind is very strong and the occurrence rate appeared highest by 40% in the summer(July) of 2008 that appeared westbound tidal current. Overall, marine Debris mused from foreign country was high occurrence ratio in January, May and then November has a lot of quantity secondly. While, occurrence ratio was the highest by 46% summer(July) in 2008, but in 2009 and 2010 showed the lowest rate to 4%.

Design of Induction Heating Coil for Automatic Hull Forming System

  • Ryu, Hyun-su
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.360-366
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    • 2018
  • In shipyards hull forming is performed by the line heating method using a gas torch and by cold treatment using a roll-press. However, this forming process has some issues, such as difficulties in controlling and accurately estimating the amount of the heat input, as well as a harsh working environment due to exposure to loud noises and air pollution. The induction heating method, which is introduced in this paper, exhibits good control and allows for the estimation of precise heat input. Also, workers can carry out the induction heating in a comfortable working environment. In this research, the induction heating simulation, which consists of electro-magnetic, heat transfer and thermal elasto-plastic analysis, was developed and modified through induction heating experiments. Finally, the effective heating coil was designed for the automatic hull forming system based on the results of induction heating simulation. For the purposes of a future study, if an algorithm to obtain optimal working conditions is developed, automatic systems for hull forming can then be constructed.

A Study on the Standard of Ship Hull Construction for Aluminium Alloys Fishing Boats (알루미늄 합금제 어선건조를 위한 선체구조기준 설정에 관한 연구)

  • Hong, Bong-Ki
    • Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.22-82
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    • 2000
  • The ship hull construction materials of fishing boat has changed in order that wooden, steel, and fiber glass reinforced plastic(FRP). The fishing boat made from FRP has increased every year because that materials has proved excellent of the characteries for fishing boats construction members. Recently, FRP tend towards evasion for the pollution of air enviroment. Therefore. the materials of fishing boat construction must be exchanged by another one. Aluminium alloys must be recommended for fishing boats construction mateials because that is light weight and corrosion resisting in the sea water. Regulation of the standard of ship hull construction for aluminium alloys fishing boats did not enact laws in the interior now. Therefore, this regulation was studied by the following items. that is Rudder, Bottom construction, Side hull plate construction, Deck plate construction, piller. Water tight bulkhead, Deep tank, Fish tank, Stern construction, Superstructure, Deck house construction, Hatch, Engine room opening, Hatch opening, Bulwark, Welding and Rivet etc. A study on the regulation will be contributed to enact laws for fishing boat construction of aluminium alloys.

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Experimental study on release of plastic particles from coastal sediments to fluid body (해안 유사에서 수체로의 플라스틱 입자 방출에 관한 실험적 연구)

  • Hwang, Dongwook;Park, Yong Sung
    • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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    • v.56 no.2
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    • pp.125-137
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    • 2023
  • In marine environments, plastics have become more abundant due to increasing plastic use. Especially, in coastal regions, particles may remain for a long time, and they interact with flows, wind, sand and human activities. This study aimed thus to observe how plastic debris interacts with and escape from sediments. A series of experiments were conducted in order to gain a better understanding of particle release from coastal sediments into water body. An oscillating water tunnel was built for the experiments, and used to generate oscillatory flows of relatively high Reynolds number and induce sediment transport. Spherical plastic particles of three different sizes was used in lieu of plastic debris in environments. It was observed that release of the particles was directly related to change of bedform, which is in turn determined by the flow condition. Also smaller particles tend to escape the sediment more readily. Critical values for dimensionless parameters are proposed.

Distribution and Composition of Marine Debris on the Sea Bed around the Busan Port (부산항 부근 해역의 해저폐기물 분포에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Min-Seok;Lee, Jong-Mun;Kim, Jong-Hwa;Kang, Il-Kwon
    • Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.236-243
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    • 2006
  • A series of surveys are performed to evaluate the abundance, composition and distribution of marine debris on the sea bed around the Busan port. In order to set up a master plan for the marine environmental pollution the relevant maritime authority must understand how many and w㏊t kinds of marine litters are distributed on the sea bed. At first we planed to survey areas divided regularly according to the coast line but there were many sea going vessels and fishing boats. So we selected and surveyed the around area where there were no sea going vessels or fishing boats.The obtained results are as follows: 1. The mean values of litters in number and weight are 5.8 pieces/㏊. and 3.5㎏/㏊. respectively. 2. The highest density in terms of number are vinyl and plastic item, and in weight are fishing gear and ship articles. 3. The nearer to the shore we surveyed the more we collected in terms of the density of marine litters in number and in weight per hectare. 4. Eel pot, oiled waste, rope, others, other pot and net of fishing gear litters in number were 59.9, 22.7, 7.9, 4.5, 3.1 and 1.9% respectively. 5. There is no relationship between the amount of fish caught and the amount of marine debris.

Mechanical and Electrochemical Characteristics in Welding with Robot on 6061-T6 Al Alloy for Al Ship (로봇으로 용접한 알루미늄 선박용 6061-T6 합금의 기계적, 전기화학적 특성)

  • Kim, Seong-Jong;Jang, Seok-Ki
    • Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.313-321
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    • 2009
  • The construction of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats is decreasing trend since the application of international regulations on the control of marine environmental pollution, which recommended the use of environmentally friendly materials. The aluminum alloy used with material for ship is a superior to FRP. It is environmental friendly, easy to recycle, and provides a high added value to fishing boats. However, the welding for Al alloy materials have many problems, such as deformation by welding heat and effect of the working environment. In this paper, it was carried out welding by robot with welding material of ER5183 and ER5556 on 6061-T6 Al alloy for ship. The mechanical and electrochemical characteristics evaluated for specimen welded by robot. The cathodic polarization trend for the base metal and welding metal showed the effects of concentration polarization due to oxygen reduction and activation polarization due to hydrogen generation. The hardnesses of welding zone and heat affected zone are lower than that of base metal. At the result of tensile test, the specimen welded with ER5183 presented excellent property compared with ER5556.

Microplastic Management for Preventing Risk of Persistent/Bioaccumulative Substance (잔류성.생물축적성 물질 피해저감을 위한 미세플라스틱(Microplastic) 관리방안)

  • Park, Jeong-Gue;Gan, Sun-Yeong
    • Journal of Environmental Policy
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.65-98
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    • 2014
  • Plastics of the marine environment are broken gradually down into smaller particles by chemical weathering, called "microplastic". Microplastics absorb organic pollutants that are persistent bioaccumulative substances. If marine animals ingested microplastic added to contaminant, it will lead to a bioaccumation through the food web. It eventually destroy health of marine environment and is harmful to marine top predators including humans. Also, Microplastics can impact marine animals by leaching the endocrine disruptor in microplastic itself as well as playing an adsorbent role of organic pollutants. Persistent and bioaccumulative substances in Korea have been regulated in terms of chemical risk but existing regulations largely have been limited in land-based source management of microplastic. Thus, the harmful impact will be increased whether the microplastics absorbed contaminants. To prevent risk of persistent bioaccumulative substances, this study suggests the following: (1) the strict management of microplastic by designating the hazardous substances, (2) expand the use of biodegradable plastic, (3) the effort for reuse and recycle, (4) the expand of microplastic clean-up programs.

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