Modelling the Uptake and Exchange of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems using a Novel, Integrated System of High-Resolution Numerical Models

微塑料是尺寸小于5毫米的小塑料颗粒。它们在海洋环境中数量丰富且无处不在，随着塑料产量的增加，它们的浓度预计将在未来几年增加。mPs对海洋环境的有害影响已导致它们被列为欧盟海洋战略框架指令（MSFD 2008/56/EC）关注的领域，并被纳入OSPARs东北大西洋环境战略战略目标4，该目标旨在“防止输入并显著减少海洋垃圾，包括mPs，在海洋环境中达到不会对海洋和沿海环境造成不利影响的水平，最终目的是消除垃圾的输入”。最近的研究表明，塑料污染会引发独特的疾病，如海鸟的“塑料中毒”，并证明了人类通过其存在于人类的肠道、粪便、血液和胎盘中而摄入多聚塑料，这加剧了人们对海洋多聚塑料污染的担忧。因此，了解海洋mPs可能造成的潜在生态危害至关重要。mP污染是一个多方面的问题，提出了环境和公共卫生问题，只有通过综合的、多学科的研究才能充分理解。要充分了解有机污染物对海洋环境的影响，并确定不会造成不利影响的有机污染物污染水平，就必须了解它们的潜在来源和汇、它们的运输方式，以及推动它们在海洋环境中吸收和交换的过程。但是，由于目前对这些过程缺乏了解，因此无法开展这些活动。本研究旨在通过开发一套数值模型系统来模拟西北欧大陆架地区较低营养水平（浮游植物和浮游动物）的mPs吸收和交换过程，从而有助于解决围绕海洋mPs的知识差距，并增加我们对海洋生态系统中驱动mPs吸收和交换过程的理解。这些信息对于决策者完成海洋环境中mPs的风险评估也是至关重要的。研究人员和决策者之间必须进行强有力的对话，以传播信息并使基于科学的决策能够将相关研究转化为减轻海洋塑料污染的行动。因此，这项研究将为政策制定者提供与管理和减轻海洋mP污染有关的信息。本研究的目标是：(A)通过对潜在重要过程的回顾，提高对推动海洋生态系统中低营养水平mPs吸收和交换的重要过程的理解；(B)开发一个数学模型系统，以调查已确定的海洋生态系统中低营养水平mPs吸收和交换过程的重要性。(C)通过对西北欧大陆架地区海洋环境中多聚物的河流输入和大气沉积的潜在参数化方法进行调查，增加对海洋生态系统中多聚物的潜在来源和汇的了解；(D)利用研究结果为决策者提供有关多聚物污染风险评估及其潜在重大影响的相关信息和建议生态危害和实施适当的缓解措施，以减少mPs对环境的影响。

Microplastics are small plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size. They are abundant and ubiquitous in the marine environment and their concentration is expected to increase in future years alongside the increasing plastic production rates. The detrimental impacts of mPs in the marine environment has led to their indication as an area of concern in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/EC) and their inclusion within OSPARs North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy Strategic Objective 4, which aims to "prevent inputs of and significantly reduce marine litter, including mPs, in the marine environment to reach levels that do not cause adverse effects to the marine and coastal environment with the ultimate aim of eliminating inputs of litter". Concerns surrounding marine mP pollution have been compounded by recent studies which have demonstrated that plastic pollution can induce unique pathologies, such as 'plasticosis' in seabirds and have evidenced the uptake of mPs by humans through their presence in human bowels, faeces, blood, and placenta. Therefore, it is of critical importance that we understand the potential ecological harm that may be caused by marine mPs.mP pollution is a multi-faceted issue presenting environmental and public health problems which can only be fully understood through integrated, multi-disciplinary research. To fully comprehend the impacts of mPs in the marine environment and ascertain levels of mP pollution which will not cause adverse effects, it is vital that there is an understanding of their potential sources and sinks, their mode of transport and the processes driving their uptake and exchange within the marine environment. However, the current lack of understanding of these processes prevents such activities from being undertaken. This research aims to contribute towards addressing the knowledge gaps surrounding marine mPs and increase our understanding of the processes driving the uptake and exchange of mPs in marine ecosystems by developing a system of numerical models to simulate these processes at lower trophic levels (phytoplankton and zooplankton) in the northwest European Continental Shelf region.This information is also essential for policy makers to complete a risk assessment of mPs in the marine environment. There must be a strong dialogue between researchers and policy makers to disseminate the information and enable science-based decision making that translates relevant research into action to mitigate against marine plastic pollution. Accordingly, this research will contribute information to policy makers that is relevant to the management and mitigation of marine mP pollution.The objectives of this research are (A) to improve the understanding of the processes which are significant in driving the uptake and exchange of mPs at lower trophic levels in marine ecosystems by conducting a review of potentially important processes, (B) to develop a mathematical model system to investigate the importance of the identified mP uptake and exchange processes at lower trophic levels in marine ecosystems, (C) to increase the understanding of the potential sources and sinks of mPs in marine ecosystems by investigating the potential means of parameterising the riverine input and atmospheric deposition of mPs to the marine environment in the northwest European continental shelf region and (D) to utilize the research findings to provide relevant information and recommendations to policy makers relating to the assessment of the risks posed by mP pollution and their potential to cause significant ecological harm and the implementation of suitable mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impacts of mPs.