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Chapter 4: Microplastic Pollution

1 Hours

4 Sections

20 MCQ 

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簡介

Introduction:

 

Many plastic or plastic containing products are used in the modern world. Plastic pollution is a serious threat to the marine environment. Microplastic is an emerging threat. Microplastics are plastic fragments with a diameter of less than 5mm which often come from the degradation of plastic products. Some daily products such as cleaning milk may also contain microplastics. A study in Hong Kong has estimated that the mean microplastic abundance in regional waters is higher than that of the global average, and microplastics have been detected in various marine organisms and habitats. 

 

Apart from affecting marine organisms, microplastic pollution is potentially threatening human health via the food web. 

To prevent plastic wastes from affecting the marine environment, we need to control the use of plastics at sources.

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課程目的
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Course Objectives:

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i. To understand what is microplastic pollution, and the types and sources of microplastics.

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iv. To understand the impacts of microplastics on marine organisms and human beings

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ii. To get to know what kind of daily products contribute to marine microplastic pollution directly.

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v. To learn about the challenges of controlling marine microplastic pollution in Hong Kong.

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iii. To understand the situation of microplastic pollution in Hong Kong waters.

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vi. To equip you with a better understanding of what actions you can take to tackle marine microplastic pollution.

課程大綱

Course Outline:

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Content may relate with:

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Overfishing
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Coral Conservation
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Ocean Acidification

Section 1: Introduction 

  • Macroplastics VS Microplastics

  • Forms & source of microplastics

  • Global & Local

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Section 3: Challenges

  • Impacts on human 

  • Covid-19

  • Cleansing microplastics

Section 2: Ecological Impacts

  • Vulnerable organisms 

  • Microplastics, toxins & bacteria 

  • More Examples

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Section 4: Actions

  • Management

  • Fight against daily microplastics

  • Fight against marine microplastics

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鳴謝

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to Dr. Christelle Not (HKU), Ir. CK Lee (HKIE) , Kitty Chan, Ben Lo, and Deidra Wirakusumah for contributing to this online course module “Microplastic Pollution”. 

 

We are particularly grateful to Yukon Siu for graphic design; the Bloom Association, 114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey, Environmental Geochemistry & Oceanography Research Group and divers for providing photographs and diagrams.

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