Estimation of plastic waste inputs from land into the Caspian Sea: A significant unseen marine pollution

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 151; p. 110871
• Main Authors: Ghayebzadeh, Mehdi, Aslani, Hassan, Taghipour, Hassan, Mousavi, Saeid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Caspian Sea; Coastal states; Coastal zone; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Health problems; Marine ecosystems; Marine pollution; Mismanagement; Plastic debris; Plastic waste; Plastics; Pollution; Probability theory; Sea pollution; Solid waste management; Solid wastes; Strategic management; Waste disposal; Waste management; Waste management industry; Waste Products; Caspian Sea; Caspian Sea; Mismanagement; Pollution; Plastic debris; Plastic waste
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110871

It has been proven that there is an extensive bulk of plastic debris in marine ecosystems. The present study analyzed solid waste generation, its management and final disposal methods in Caspian Sea coastal countries, and the amount of plastic waste entering the Caspian Sea. The results showed that, on average, more than 90% of waste in the Caspian Sea coastal countries is mismanaged. According to our estimates, 425 kilotons (Kt) of plastic waste was generated by Caspian Sea coastal countries in 2016, of which, with high probability, 58–155 Kt find their way to the Caspian Sea. It is estimated that without improved waste management infrastructures, the amount of plastic waste entering the Caspian Sea will increase to 68–182 Kt by 2030, an increase of about 15%. Accordingly, the related cumulative environmental and health problems could be more severe. All countries located in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea should revise their solid waste and plastic waste management programs to protect that sensitive marine ecosystem.
•The amount of waste plastic entering the Caspian Sea is estimated.•On average, more than 90% of waste in the Caspian Sea countries is mismanaged.•Estimated that 425 thousand tons of plastic waste was generated in coastal countries Caspian Sea in 2016.•The amount of waste plastic entering the Caspian Sea estimated to reach 68-182 thousand tons in 2030.