The Montreal Protocol and the fate of environmental plastic debris

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging class of pollutants in air, soil and especially in all aquatic environments. Secondary MPs are generated in the environment during fragmentation of especially photo-oxidised plastic litter. Photo-oxidation is mediated primarily by solar UV radiation. The implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments, which have resulted in controlling the tropospheric UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation load, is therefore pertinent to the fate of environmental plastic debris. Due to the Montreal Protocol high amounts of solar UV-B radiation at the Earth's surface have been avoided, retarding the oxidative fragmentation of plastic debris, leading to a slower generation and accumulation of MPs in the environment. Quantifying the impact of the Montreal Protocol in reducing the abundance of MPs in the environment, however, is complicated as the role of potential mechanical fragmentation of plastics under environmental mechanical stresses is poorly understood.

Automated summary

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants, especially in aquatic environments, generated from the fragmentation of photo-oxidized plastic litter. The implementation of the Montreal Protocol, which controls UV-B radiation, has reduced the oxidative fragmentation of plastic debris, leading to a slower accumulation of MPs. However, the role of mechanical fragmentation in the environment is not well understood, making it difficult to quantify the impact of the Montreal Protocol on reducing MPs.