Microplastics in the Ecosphere Discover the environmental impact of microplastics with this comprehensive resource Microplastics are the minute quantities of plastic that result from industrial processes, household release and the breakdown of larger plastic items. Widespread reliance on plastic goods and, particularly, single-use plastics, which has been increased by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made microplastics ubiquitous; they can be found throughout the ecosphere, including in the bloodstreams of humans and other animals. As these plastics emerge as a potential threat to the environment and to public health, it has never been more critical to understand their distribution and environmental impact. Microplastics in the Ecosphere aims to cultivate that understanding with a comprehensive overview of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems. It analyzes microplastic distribution in aerosphere, hydrosphere, and soil, tracing these plastics from their production on land to their distribution—overwhelmingly—in maritime ecosystems. The result is a book that will inform researchers and policymakers as we look to tackle this emerging challenge globally. Microplastics in the Ecosphere readers will also find: Introductory information about the production and distribution of single-use plastics An emphasis on management and mitigation strategies designed to reduce contamination over time A multidisciplinary approach, combining concepts and analytical techniques from a range of scientific fields Microplastics in the Ecosphere is a valuable guide for researchers and scientists, advanced undergraduate and graduate students, industry professionals, and policymakers looking to understand the impact of these widespread materials.

Environmental Materials and Waste: Circular Economy and Pollution Abatement, Second Edition, contains the latest information on environmental sustainability as a wide variety of natural resources are increasingly being exploited to meet the demands of a worldwide growing population and economy. The book takes a multidisciplinary approach to fully realize the number of by-products which can be remanufactured, providing the foundation needed across disciplines to tackle this issue. As awareness and opportunities to recover valuable resources from process and bleed streams is gaining interest, sustainable recovery of environmental materials, including wastewater, offers tremendous opportunity to combine profitable and sustainable production. In this 2nd edition, operational principles of circular economy for sustainable development with reference to environmental waste shall be covered. Circular economy research is discussed in depth as it has gained considerable momentum in the scientific literature thus far, and both conceptual debates and the creation of useful implementation strategies are still in their infancy. Although circular systems are now being implemented, this book will emphasize the importance to properly consider and convert circular economy goals and principles into actions. As a whole, this 2nd edition of Environmental Materials and Waste covers a wide range of issues that must be covered in order to improve environmental sustainability. - Presents a state-of-the-art guide to environmental sustainability - Provides an overview of the field, highlighting recent and emerging issues in environmental resource recovery that cover a wide array of by-products for remanufacture potential - Details a multidisciplinary approach to fully realize the number of by-products which can be remanufactured, providing the foundation needed across disciplines to tackle these global issues

This open access book examines global plastic pollution, an issue that has become a critical societal challenge with implications for environmental and public health. This volume provides a comprehensive, holistic analysis on the plastic cycle and its subsequent effects on biota, food security, and human exposure. Importantly, global environmental change and its associated, systems-level processes, including atmospheric deposition, ecosystem complexity, UV exposure, wind patterns, water stratification, ocean circulation, etc., are all important direct and indirect factors governing the fate, transport and biotic and abiotic processing of plastic particles across ecosystem types. Furthermore, the distribution of plastic in the ocean is not independent of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics, since much of the plastic in marine ecosystems originates from land and should therefore be evaluated in the context of the larger plastic cycle. Changes in species size, distribution, habitat, and food web complexity, due to global environmental change, will likely alter trophic transfer dynamics and the ecological effects of nano- and microplastics. The fate and transport dynamics of plastic particles are influenced by their size, form, shape, polymer type, additives, and overall ecosystem conditions. In addition to the risks that plastics pose to the total environment, the potential impacts on human health and exposure routes, including seafood consumption, and air and drinking water need to be assessed in a comprehensive and quantitative manner. Here I present a holistic and interdisciplinary book volume designed to advance the understanding of plastic cycling in the environment with an emphasis on sources, fate and transport, ecotoxicology, climate change effects, food security, microbiology, sustainability, human exposure and public policy.

This book addresses pertinent issues relating to microplastic pollution including its sources and sink of the microplastics and their environmental fate. It focuses on the impacts of microplastic pollution on marine life and human health. Available conventional methods and future solutions for the prevention and control of the marine microplastic pollution, such as bacterial and marine fungus biodegradation, membrane technology, and bioengineered microbes are included along with limitations and future challenges. Features: Provides detailed insight into the marine microplastics pollution, fate, health impacts, and removal technology Reviews ecological risks and environmental fate of microplastic pollution to the marine ecosystem Describes control and prevention methods of the microplastics pollution Covers global legislature for the mitigation of microplastic to the marine environment Discusses the role of community participation for the reduction of microplastic emissions This book is aimed at researchers and professionals in environmental engineering, science, and chemistry, marine pollution, marine and aquatic science.

This book covers the topic of microplastics in water and wastewater. The chapters start with introductory issues related to the growing interest in the scientific community on microplastics and the human water cycle and point out where the microplastics could interact with water. The subsequent chapters examine evidence of the microplastic presence in freshwater, such as in both rivers and lakes, in freshwater biota, and hazardous chemicals associated with microplastics in such systems. Another set of chapters discuss the presence of microplastics in wastewater: their sources; their transfer through a wastewater treatment plant; the concentration of microplastics in effluents throughout the world; the plastic biomedia used in wastewater treatment plants and the effect on the surrounding environment of effluent wastewater pipes. These chapters also discuss the sampling methods, the sample treatment and analysis techniques used so far for microplastics in wastewater. Additionally, the presence of microplastics in sewage sludge and in soils irrigated with wastewater or fertilized with sludge are discussed. The possible impact of plastics and their additives on plants, microalgae, and humans are reviewed and presented in a critical way. Finally, a chapter summarizes all the relevant regulations and initiatives that point to the necessity of a global directive for the protection of the environment from plastic and microplastic pollution. The topic of microplastics in freshwater systems and in wastewater has scarcely been studied and requires more attention. Microplastics in Water and Wastewater aims to bring these initial findings to the attention of a broader audience and especially to operators and managers of freshwater and wastewater systems. It will also be helpful to people already aware of the marine debris problem to understand the sources of microplastics in the oceans, from freshwater systems and wastewater treatment plants.

This book focuses on microplastics as emerging persistent contaminants in terrestrial environments. Scientists from around the globe review recent advances in multi-disciplinary research on micro(nano)plastics, including analytical methods; the sources, fate and distribution of microplastics; ecological risks; toxicity and health risks; and control and countermeasures for microplastics in terrestrial environments. Offering a comprehensive overview of microplastics in terrestrial environments, the book is a valuable resource for environmental researchers, ecologists and toxicologists, as well as for policymakers and non-experts.

Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions begins with an introduction to the different types of plastic materials, their uses, and the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle before examining plastic types, chemistry and degradation patterns that are organized by non-degradable plastic, degradable and biodegradable plastics, biopolymers and bioplastics. Other sections cover current challenges relating to plastic waste, explain the sources of waste and their routes into the environment, and provide systematic coverage of plastic waste treatment methods, including mechanical processing, monomerization, blast furnace feedstocks, gasification, thermal recycling, and conversion to fuel. This is an essential guide for anyone involved in plastic waste or recycling, including researchers and advanced students across plastics engineering, polymer science, polymer chemistry, environmental science, and sustainable materials. - Presents actionable solutions for reducing plastic waste, with a focus on the concepts of collection, re-use, recycling and replacement - Considers major societal and environmental issues, providing the reader with a broader understanding and supporting effective implementation - Includes detailed case studies from across the globe, offering unique insights into different solutions and approaches