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This edited volume covers cutting-edge research on different facets of microplastic pollution at the global level. The book describes different types of microplastics, their sources, transportation, extraction, identification, deleterious effects (on flora and fauna) and various mitigation measures. This book discusses recent advances in microplastic pollution and suggests future research directions to mitigate microplastic at the global level. It constitutes six important sections to report different facets of microplastic pollution. Section 1 deals with microplastic types, sources, uses and transport from land to aquatic environment; Section 2 reports detection, collections, extraction and identification of different types of microplastic from various polluting sites; Section 3 suggests cleaning drives for the removal of microplastic from the polluting sites; Section 4 highlights the impact of microplastic waste on flora and fauna in both terrestrial and aquatic environments; Section 5 enlists various microplastic degradation approaches to mitigate microplastic; and Section 6 discusses recent regulations/policies to minimize microplastic generation, followed by future research directions to mitigate microplastic pollution at global level. This book is of interest and useful to professionals working on microplastic mitigation, environment protection and waste management, NGOs and policymakers.

Microplastics: Transport, Impacts, Monitoring and Mitigation provides a critical analysis of our current understanding of microplastic science, the methods by which microplastic are observed in the environment, and our options for mitigation and remediation. Associated concern for the environment has resulted in substantial interest in the management and mitigation of these persistent and pervasive pollutants. Nevertheless, our progress towards reliable monitoring and successful management has been limited. The book is intended for those studying or working in the fields of environmental science and waste management (as well as associated areas), and provides the holistic context needed to evaluate and interpret the outputs associated with the interlinked problems of plastic and microplastics. In this manner, the reader will be invited to explore the ongoing challenges which have thus far prevented the development of a thorough understanding of the risk posed by plastic and microplastic pollution, to discuss the implications of ongoing uncertainty to effective plastic management, evaluate the current strategies to control the ongoing proliferation of plastic pollution. - Models the issue of microplastic pollution with historic case studies of alternative pollutants - Demonstrates the differing requirements of microplastic monitoring and management - Contains idealized workflows specific to key practitioner groups, the content of which will reflect recent debates and divergences in the field - Emphasizes critical comparison between emerging management measures not apparent in current edited texts which tend to consider individual approaches separately - Places management and remediation methods in the context of the observed scale and impact of associated microplastics in the environment to indicate the potential benefits of each approach

This book presents comprehensive knowledge regarding the spatial and temporal distributions, influential factors, interactions with coexisting contaminants, migration behavior, and environmental risk posed by microplastics (MPs) in urban waterways. It provides a novel theoretical approach for the combined risks from MPs and coexisting contaminants, and advanced three-dimensional modeling techniques for different MPs'dispersal and transport behaviors in urban waterways. Additionally, this book presents a scientifically robust investigation on the correlations between various influential factors and heterogeneity in relation to MP presence in river systems. The new knowledge presented would be of particular interest to readers such as urban water management professionals, urban plastic waste regulators, decision-makers, urban planners, and water environment quality model developers, as it provides practical solutions and recommendations for plastic-polluted river quality improvement from a risk management perspective.

This contributed volume gives a state-of-the-art overview of microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs) in soils and their relationship with growing plants. Through chapters contributed by a wide variety of researchers, the book offers readers an understanding of MP and NP adsorption, uptake, and effects, as well as implications for trophic transmission, food safety, and security. Cutting-edge topics such as trophic transfer and remediation of MPs and NPs in soil samples are also addressed. The book begins with a primer on terrestrial MPs and NPs, their effects on terrestrial plants, and how these contaminants affect human populations. From there, the volume is split into four sections which address both problems caused by MPs and NPs in soil and potential remediation solutions. The first section deals with the mechanics of how MPs and NPs pollute soils and how toxic chemicals affect the soil profile and its flora, fauna and microbes. The second section of the book discusses trophic transfer of MPs and NPs from roots to shoot, shoot to leaves, and then to fruits. The third section details the threats to humans that are present as a result of MPs and NPs in soils. The fourth and last section gives covers bioremediation techniques that can be employed in order to reclaim polluted soils.

Will we suffocate in our own plastic waste in the coming years? Or will we manage to turn the corner in time? The constantly growing amount of plastic waste is problematic for the environment and for people who consume the plastic waste in the form of microplastics. The author Andreas Fath explains in a scientifically well-founded but generally understandable way what microplastics are, where they come from and what dangers they pose.The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the serviceDeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

This second edition of Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments: An Emerging Matter of Environmental Urgency presents 14 chapters, through which a team of global, expert contributors cover a full range of microplastic research. The first chapter describes the general patterns for sources, occurrence, and transport of microplastics to lead off the book. The next batch of chapters covers sampling analytical methods for quantifying microplastics in the environment, followed by chapters addressing the association of chemicals with microplastics. A large cluster of chapters focus on the fate and transport of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, freshwater systems, marine environment, terrestrial settings, and riverine runoff that connects terrestrial and marine systems. The next few chapters examine biotransport and effects of microplastics in organisms. The last two chapters are dedicated to two emerging research areas: nanoplastics in the environment and management strategies for global plastic pollution. Outlooks for future research to better understand the situation and further improvements of microplastic research are also covered. In the 6 years since the previous edition published, this fast-moving area has evolved, and the contents of this revision reflect that. There are numerous brand-new chapters, chapters that have been revised, and chapters that have been completely refocused. This book provides an overview of microplastics research. It is a guide for researchers to better understand the occurrence of microplastics. Ideally, this book provides basic background knowledge of microplastics for oceanographers, ecologists, and climatologists. - Provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for sampling, identification, and enumeration of microplastics - Contains contributions from world experts with a diverse range of backgrounds, all brought together by a well-known, experienced editor - Presents information on microplastics in a unified place, with easy access for the reader

This volume discusses the growing issue of global environmental microplastic pollution resulting from the industrial manufacturing of everyday products. The book focuses on the emergence of microplastic pollution, types, sources, fate, dynamic trends in the environment, occurrence in different environmental settings, toxicity, risk assessment, and prevention strategies. The authors provide a detailed explanation and provision of the techniques used for the detection, separation, and identification of microplastics for use by industry workers and scientists, along with policy recommendations for legislative bodies to reduce the spread and impact of harmful microplastics. The book will be of use to students, teachers, researchers, policy makers, and environmental organizations.

This book presents information on the origin and distribution of microplastics, evaluates the methods of their detection, documents their interactions with natural systems, and analyzes the current understanding of their management. Owing to the size, varied compositions, pathways of transport, accumulation and myriad processes of interactions with ecosystems, the microplastics pose severe threats to ecosystem services and natural environmental systems. Therefore, the environmental challenges that microplastics present and the strategies to mitigate their harmful impacts are of great importance to the scientific community, and only a few publications exist that collate this information in a single resource. The book aims to be a comprehensive resource for students, professionals and practitioners of environmental studies on microplastics and how to better understand the threats they pose and the practices to manage them.

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.

Werden wir in den kommenden Jahren in unserem eigenen Plastikmüll ersticken? Oder schaffen wir es, noch rechtzeitig die Kurve zu kriegen? Die stetig wachsende Plastikmüllmenge ist problematisch für die Umwelt und den Mensch, der den Plastikmüll in Form von Mikroplastik aufnimmt. Der Autor Andreas Fath erklärt wissenschaftlich fundiert, aber allgemein verständlich, was Mikroplastik ist, wo es herkommt und welche Gefahren damit verbunden sind.

Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments: An Emerging Matter of Environmental Urgency comprehensively illustrates the traditional and advanced technologies on sampling, identification and quantification of microplastic from different environmental media. Contributors summarize and discuss recent research on microplastic and examine studies on nano-sized plastic particles. Chapters cover a full range of microplastic research, including global distribution, detection, environmental fate, biological effects and political legislation. Users will find the book to be a comprehensive overview of microplastic research that is ideal for research and understanding on the occurrence of microplastic in aquatic environments. - Provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for sampling, identification and enumeration of microplastics - Contains contributions from world experts with a diverse range of backgrounds, all brought together by a well-known, experienced editor - Presents information on microplastics in a unified place, with easy access for the reader

Fate and Impact of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems: From the Coastline to the Open Sea brings together highlights from the conference proceedings for MICRO 2016: Fate and Impact of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems: From the Coastline to the Open Sea. While the presence of microplastics in ecosystems has been reported in the scientific literature since the 1970's, many pressing questions regarding their impacts remain unresolved. This short format title draws from the shared scientific and technical material and summarizes the current research and future outlook. - Includes a range of topics, from macro- to microplastics - Presents data from source to sink, including occurrence and distribution of microplastics in freshwater bodies, coastal zones, and the open ocean - Presents the impacts of microplastics on marine life as well as microplastics as vectors of biological and chemical contaminants - Provides important analysis on solutions and next steps