Sources of Plastic Pellets in the Aquatic Environment

Abstract

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Oceans and Coastal Protection Division of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds initiated the study summarized in this paper to determine possible land- based sources of plastic pellets within the plastics industry. The study objectives were to (1) identify and locate possible sources of pellet releases into the environment, (2) evaluate the significance of each source as a pellet-release pathway, and (3) recommend mechanisms for controlling and preventing the release of pellets. The complete study, published by the EPA (1992d), represents the first comprehensive assembly of information regarding the sources of pellets in the aquatic environment and is expected to become a basic reference for the EPA and plastics industry.