Top Research Papers on Microplastics

This research agenda for microplastics has been produced as part of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s roadmap for the sustainable use of plastics. It begins by describing the knowledge needs at an overarching level

The disposal of munitions in marine coastal areas after World Wars I and II has raised significant concerns about environmental contamination and human health risks. This study investigates the acute cytotoxicity of munition-related chemicals commonly detected near marine dumpsites, focusing on degradation products of explosives and related compounds (E&RC) and degradation products of chemical warfare agents and related compounds (CWA&RC). The research examines three CWA&RC (1,4-oxathiane, 1,4-dithiane, thiodiglycol) and four E&RC (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, tetryl, 1,3-dinitrobenzene, picric acid...

Microplastics are plastics with smaller than 5mm particle size and they originate from sequential degradation of larger plastic molecules or are manufactured, and they have found use in many realms of life. Their gradual degradability and ingestion by aquatic organisms have become an environmental concern. Microplastics are regarded as a “tiny problem” requiring massive attention. Occurrences of microplastics have been detected in almost all environment matrices. Although several committees have taken steps towards handling the menace, most of the regulations' guidelines refer to “all wastes” ...

This document summarizes current capabilities, research and operational priorities, and plans for further studies that were established at the 2015 USGS workshop on quantitative hazard assessments of earthquake-triggered landsliding and liquefaction in the Central American region.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic debris less than 5 mm in diameter. They have accumulated in the environment as a consequence of: the direct release of small particles, such as those used in cosmetics; or as a consequence of wear, for example fibres released from textiles. The main source of microplastic is considered to be the fragmentation of larger items of plastics in the environment. Microplastics are widely distributed in freshwater and marine environments including remote locations such as the arctic and deep sea. A wide range of organisms are known to ingest microplastics and ...

Los microplásticos (MPs) se han convertido en un desafío importante para las ciencias ambientales, química analítica y toxicología ambiental en los últimos años. Estos han atraído la atención mundial en su categoría de contaminantes emergentes debido a sus interacciones y persistencia en el medioambiente, además de su origen a partir de una deficiente gestión en el tratamiento de los residuos de centros urbanos, además de malas prácticas industriales y su uso indiscriminado. Los MPs actualmente están dispersos por todas partes del planeta, desde los océanos hasta los ríos, sedimentos, suelo, a...

Abstract Thick coatings (5 -15um) of a new dual image, aqueous developable photoresist can be exposed using a light attenuating photomask consisting of clear, opaque and grey areas and then processed to yield thermally stable 3dimensional structures which are potentially useful as mechanical and optical components of devices. In the positive mode, relief and intaglio images are produced by processing similar to positive novolak based resists with 12um resolution and with the added feature that the images can be made thermally stable to temperatures >300° C. Negative mode processing of coated w...

It is demonstrated that microplastic in rivers are a distinct microbial habitat and may be a novel vector for the downstream transport of unique bacterial assemblages, and suggested that urban rivers are an overlooked and potentially significant component of the global microplastics life cycle.

---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract - Every period of human civilization has been named by archaeologists based on the substance that inhabitants of that period used in abundance, often helping in raising the living standards of their respective eras, so it is comprehensible that the current era is known as the era of the “Plastic” Age, ever since the advent of synthetic polymers in the 1950’s. Ever since then, plastics have become extremely integral in a wide spectrum of fields be...

Synthetic polymer (or plastic) materials have become an inherent part of our everyday lives. Being lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant, they offer remarkable technological and medical benefits. On the other hand, due to their high resistance to degradation, plastic materials accumulate in the environment. Plastic bottles, for instance, are expected to remain in the marine water for about 450 years. Therefore, it is not surprising that contamination with plastic materials and, especially, microplastics has been increasingly reported for marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Mi...

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a major issue in aquatic environments. Wastewater treatment plants are significant point sources of MPs, which may also be carriers of organic pollutants. We analyzed MP number, shape, color, and polymer type distribution in sewage wastewater treatment plants. The potential of MPs to act as carriers for typical organic pollutants in sewage, such as bisphenol A (BPA), was also assessed. The predominant MPs in the influent were fibers, primarily transparent and black in color, and composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. During wastewater treatme...

This book introduces about microplastics and how microplastic effects the authors' health and how to reduceplastics pollution.

Microplastics are likely the most numerically abundant items of plastic debris in the ocean today, and quantities will inevitably increase, in part because large, single plastic items ultimately degrade into millions of microplastic pieces.

Plastic is broadly used for various human interests (technological devices, food packaging, medical products, etc.) and there is an increasing concern about the risks for our surrounding environment and health. In particular, microplastics (MPs), both primary and secondary, occur in all environmental pockets and constitute a potential warning, since they easily enter into the food chain. Moreover, microplastics have the ability to absorb diverse pollutants, which thereby get accumulated inside human body via processes of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. A systematic review was conducted t...

Abstract Microplastic (MP) is currently a subject of discussion in all parts of the world because it has increasingly over the years become the dominant source of pollution in marine ecosystem. Huge number of these Mps emanate from waste management, decommissioning of ships and oil rigs, plastic products in aquaculture and fishery, sewage treatment, consumer products, agricultural production, transportation, offshore oil and gas production and city dust and wears. Microplastic are characteristically non- biodegradable or durable, exhibits buoyancy, travel long distances, complex with toxic che...

Microplastics ( MPs ) pollution has become a global persistent pollution problem and endangers human health, so it has received widespread attention from the public. Therefore, it is of great significance to find accurate and efficient microplastic pollution detection methods in the field of environmental protection. In this paper, the common processing and detection methods of microplastics are described, which provides a reference for future research on microplastics.

This report focuses on the occurrence of microplastics in drinking-water and the potential risks to human health that may be associated with such exposure. The target audience includes drinking-water regulators, policy makers and water suppliers. The purpose of this report is to increase understanding on the issue of microplastics in drinking-water and to summarize how current knowledge might influence policy and management actions as well as research needs. Given the broad interest in plastic and microplastic pollution, this document may also be of interest to researchers, the public and civi...

The ubiquity of microplastics in the global biosphere raises increasing concerns about their implications for human health, but whether these contaminants pose a substantial risk to human health is far from understood.

Although the study represents preliminary work that largely focuses on establishing a robust method for stool sampling and microplastics identification, the findings suggest a wide range of microplastic particle numbers in individual stool samples, ranging from 8 to 416 (median, 20) per 10 g of stool.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are an environmental stressor for cardiac function in living organisms, and a risk assessment of their influence on the cardiovascular system certainly merits further analysis.