Publications by authors named "A L Lusher"
Article Synopsis
- Anthropogenic litter, specifically plastic, significantly impacts ecosystems, and scientists from various fields are working together to assess and reduce these pollutants.
- The research aimed to determine the best methods for monitoring macroplastic litter in rivers and oceans by surveying 46 researchers who evaluated different techniques such as visual census, drone surveys, satellite imagery, and GPS/GNSS trackers.
- Results indicated that traditional visual census and drone use were the most favored methods (scoring 3.5 and 2.0), while satellite imagery and GPS trackers were less effective due to validation challenges and range limitations, with scores below 1.2.
Article Synopsis
- Kitchen equipment and processes can significantly contribute to microplastic contamination on our plates, beyond just food and packaging sources.
- This review examines how various utensils and cooking methods may release microplastics during food preparation, addressing a knowledge gap in existing research.
- The findings raise important concerns about food safety and potential health risks associated with microplastic exposure from everyday kitchen activities.
Microplastic pollution was studied in surface waters of Isfjorden, Svalbard in July 2021 as a part of an international regional harmonisation exercise. Surface microplastics (0.5-5 mm) were sampled with a neuston net in triplicate per study site in several branches of Isfjorden, covering populated and unpopulated fjords.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfrastructure is often a limiting factor in microplastics research impacting the production of scientific outputs and monitoring data. International projects are therefore required to promote collaboration and development of national and regional scientific hubs. The Commonwealth Litter Programme and the Ocean Country Partnership Programme were developed to support Global South countries to take actions on plastics entering the oceans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics are a prolific environmental contaminant that have been evidenced in human tissues. Human uptake of microplastic occurs via inhalation of airborne fibres and ingestion of microplastic-contaminated foods and beverages. Plastic and PTFE-coated cookware and food contact materials may release micro- and nanoplastics into food during food preparation.
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