Thesis Title «Biodegradation of LDPE microplastics in the marine environment»

Wednesday  2 October 2019, at: 13:00, Venue: Hall Κ2.A3

Examination Committee

• Professor Nicolas Kalogerakis (advisor)
• Associate Professor Danae Venieri
• Dr  Evdokia Siranidou

Abstract

Plastic pollution is one of the main environmental issues plaguing the planet Earth for many years, since plastic has entered humanity’s everyday activities. In the last decade, plastic pollution has become widespread through social networks, but it is frighteningly large and mainly exists in the oceans, where it was not easily distinguishable because of the sea’s vastness, so for many years it was supposed that it didn’t exist. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect and behavior of marine microorganisms on secondary microplastics formed in the sea by the fragmentation of larger plastic pieces. Therefore, marine conditions were created, where marine microorganisms were placed, with the only source of carbon being the microplastics, in erlenmeyer flasks. The expirement lasted for 4 months. Every month measurements were made, which contributed to the study of the impacts of the marine communities to secondary micropalstics.