Session 1E Plastic Pollution in the Marine Coastal Zone of Peru

Plastic production has experienced an exponential growth in the last decades, with a current production of more than 350 million tons of plastic worldwide. It is known that around 5 to 10% of this plastic ends up in the marine environment. Plastic marine pollution possesses a threat tomarine life, ecosystems, human health, and economy. In Peru, the biggest cities are located by the sea, which means a big risk of plastic waste entering the ocean, enhanced by an inefficient waste management. Therefore, the present research project assesses the presence, sources and impacts of plastic pollution in the Peruvian coast