Microplastics in the Ecosphere - Air, Water, Soil, and Food

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.

List of contents

List of Contributors xvii
 
Preface xxii
 
Section I Single Use Plastics 1
 
1 Scientometric Analysis of Microplastics across the Globe 3
Mansoor Ahmad Bhat, Fatma Nur Eraslan, Eftade O. Gaga, and Kadir Gedik
 
1.1 Introduction 3
 
1.2 Materials and Methods 5
 
1.3 Results and Discussion 5
 
1.3.1 Trends in Scientific Production and Citations 5
 
1.3.2 Top Funding Agencies 6
 
1.3.3 Top 10 Global Affiliations 7
 
1.3.4 Top Countries 8
 
1.3.5 Top 10 Databases and Journals 9
 
1.3.6 Top 10 Published Articles 9
 
1.3.7 Top 10 Author Keywords and Research Areas 10
 
1.4 Conclusion 11
 
Acknowledgments 12
 
References 12
 
2 Microplastic Pollution in the Polar Oceans - A Review 15
Manju P. Nair and Anu Gopinath
 
2.1 Introduction 15
 
2.1.1 Plastics 15
 
2.1.2 Plastic Pollution 15
 
2.1.3 Microplastics 16
 
2.1.4 Importance of Microplastic Pollution in the Polar Oceans 17
 
2.2 Polar Regions 17
 
2.2.1 General 17
 
2.2.2 Sea Ice 19
 
2.2.3 Water 19
 
2.2.4 Sediments 21
 
2.2.5 Biota 22
 
2.3 Future Perspectives 23
 
2.4 Conclusions 24
 
References 24
 
3 Microplastics - Global Scenario 29
Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad
 
3.1 Introduction 29
 
3.2 Environmental Issues of Plastic Waste 54
 
3.3 Coprocessing of Plastic Waste in Cement Kilns 55
 
3.4 Disposal of Plastic Waste Through Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT) 56
 
3.4.1 Merits of PPT 57
 
References 59
 
4 The Single- Use Plastic Pandemic in the COVID- 19 Era 65
Fatma Nur Eraslan, Mansoor Ahmad Bhat, Kadir Gedik, and Eftade O. Gaga
 
4.1 Introduction 65
 
4.2 Materials and Methods 66
 
4.2.3 Estimation of the Daily Amount of Medical Waste in Hospitals 67
 
4.3.1 Personal Protective Equipment 67
 
4.3.2 Packaging SUPs 68
 
4.3.2.1 Trends in Plastic Waste Generation, Management, and Environmental Fate during the COVID- 19 Era 69
 
4.4.1 Environmental Impacts from SUP Waste 70
 
4.4.2 Management of SUP Waste 71
 
4.5 Conclusions and Future Prospects 72
 
References 72
 
Section II Microplastics in the Aerosphere 77
 
5 Atmospheric Microplastic Transport 79
Yudith Vega Paramitadevi, Ana Turyanti, Ersa Rishanti, Beata Ratnawati, Bimastyaji Surya Ramadan, and Nurani Ikhlas
 
5.1 The Phenomenon of Microplastic Transport 79
 
5.2 Factors Affecting Microplastic Transport 81
 
5.2.1 Types of MPs 81
 
5.2.2 Characteristics and Sources of Microplastics Emitters 81
 
5.2.3 Meteorological Conditions 82
 
5.2.4 Altitude and Surface Roughness 83
 
5.2.5 Microplastic Deposition Processes in the Ocean 83
 
5.2.6 Microplastics Deposition Processes in the Air 84
 
5.3 Microplastic Transport Modelling 85
 
5.3.1 Eulerian Method 87
 
References 92
 
6 Microplastics in the Atmosphere and Their Human and Eco Risks 97
Dhammika N. Magana- Arachchi and Rasika P. Wanigatunge
 
6.1 Introduction 97
 
6.2 Microplastics in the Atmosphere 97
 
6.2.2 Chemical Composition 98
 
6.2.3 Sources of Microplastics 99
 
6.2.5 Effects of Climatic Conditions on MP Distribution 101
 
6.3 Impact of Microplastics on Human Health and the Eco Risk 102
 
6.3.2 Eco Risk 106
 
6.4 Strategies to Minimise Atmospheric MPs through Future Research 107
 
6.5 Conclusion 108
 
Acknowledgements 109
 
References 109
 

About the author

Meththika Vithanage, PhD is a Professor and founding Director of the Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. She holds adjunct professor positions in the UWA, Australia, UPES, India and NIFS, Sri Lanka. She has published more widely than any other environmental science researcher in Sri Lanka. She is a Highly Cited Researcher and publishes widely in the field of Environmental Science. Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad, PhD is Emeritus Professor at the School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India. He has decades of experience teaching and publishing on environmental science subjects, and his awards include the 2007 Pitamber Pant National Environment Fellowship by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India.

Summary

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.

Product details

• Authors: Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad, M Vithanage, Meththika Vithanage, Meththika (University of Sri Jayewarden Vithanage
• Assisted by: Narasimha Vara Prasad (Editor), Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad (Editor), Meththika Vithanage (Editor), Vithanage Meththika (Editor)
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.04.2023
• EAN: 9781119879503
• ISBN: 978-1-119-87950-3
• No. of pages: 528
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Chemistry > Organic chemistry; Chemie, Umweltforschung, Biosphäre, Umweltchemie, Mikroplastik, Environmental Studies, chemistry, ÖKOTOXIKOLOGIE, Polymerwissenschaft, Environmental Chemistry, Polymer Science & Technology, Polymerwissenschaft u. -technologie, Allg. Polymerwissenschaft u. -technologie, Ökotoxikologie, Umweltverschmutzung, Ecotoxicology & Pollution Science