Assessing The Effects Of Emerging Plastics On The Environment And Public Health

"With plastic pollution concerns growing globally, especially the production, consumption, and disposal of face masks, medical gloves, personal protective equipment and plastic dishes, this book is about assessing harmful effects of plastics on the environment and public health"--

Plastic pollution has been a growing concern globally, especially under the COVID-19 pandemic due to the use of personal protective equipment. While many engineers and environmental scientists have been addressing global plastic pollution, special attention must also be paid to smaller plastics such as micro- and nano-plastics. These smaller plastics pollute and affect the health of the public, environment, and marine life. Risk assessment of plastics is required to evaluate currently available treatment technologies and identify the significance of plastic pollution. Assessing the Effects of Emerging Plastics on the Environment and Public Health assesses the harmful effects of plastics on the environment and public health. It evaluates the potential risks of micro- and nano-plastics and reviews applications of modeling tools and prevention approaches using technologies to minimize plastic pollution through the development of biodegradable plastics or recycling and reusing plastics in environmentally friendly ways. Covering topics such as agroecosystems, preventive measures, and bioplastics, this book is an indispensable resource for environmentalists, environmental engineers, government officials, libraries, business leaders, students and educators of higher education, academicians, and researchers.

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.

"This book examines the negative impacts of plastic and explores different biotechnological interventions to plastic pollution. It also generates an awareness of the use of plastics and its impact on the environment, human health, and other ecosystems"--

"This book examines the negative impacts of plastic and explores different biotechnological interventions to plastic pollution. It also generates an awareness of the use of plastics and its impact on the environment, human health, and ecosystems and explores biotechnological approaches to solve plastic pollution.

Water Security: Big Data-Driven Risk Identification, Assessment and Control of Emerging Contaminants contains the latest information on big data–driven risk detection and analysis, risk assessment and environmental health effect, intelligent risk control technologies, and global control strategy of emerging contaminants. First, this book highlights advances and challenges throughout the detection of emerging chemical contaminants (e.g., antimicrobials, microplastics) by sensors or mass spectrometry, as well as emerging biological contaminant (e.g., ARGs, pathogens) by a combination of next- and third-generation sequencing technologies in aquatic environment. Second, it discusses in depth the ecological risk assessment and environmental health effects of emerging contaminants. Lastly, it presents the most up-to-date intelligent risk management technologies. This book shares instrumental global strategy and policy analysis on how to control emerging contaminants. Offering interdisciplinary and global perspectives from experts in environmental sciences and engineering, environmental microbiology and microbiome, environmental informatics and bioinformatics, intelligent systems, and knowledge engineering, this book provides an accessible and flexible resource for researchers and upper level students working in these fields. Covers the detection, high-throughput analyses, and environmental behavior of the typical emerging chemical and biological contaminants Focuses on chemical and biological big data driven aquatic ecological risk assessment models and techniques Highlights the intelligent management and control technologies and policies for emerging contaminants in water environments

Microplastics have received increased attention in the research world over the last ten years. A number of significant publications by the World Health Organisation, European Union, SAPEA, and GESAMP have highlighted this growing environmental and health emergency. This book provides an accessible introduction to the microplastic problem and details its potential impact both on nature and human health. Filled with the latest developments in the field, it attempts to address the gaps in our knowledge of microplastics and also proposes additional areas of research and impact to be considered to resolve this crisis. It will be of interest to researchers and academics working in the areas of microplastic pollution, microplastic detection, and the impact of microplastics on environmental and human health. It will also be of use to undergraduate students of environmental programmes, analytical programmes, and public health programmes. Key Features: Chapters describe the impact of our reliance on plastics in certain sectors and how they relate to microplastic pollution Investigates emerging solutions to the microplastic pollution Presents a multi-disciplinary perspective, covering topics such as analytical techniques, quantitative techniques, environmental monitoring, and human health monitoring

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This volume focuses on microscopic plastic debris, also referred to as microplastics, which have been detected in aquatic environments around the globe and have accordingly raised serious concerns. The book explores whether microplastics represent emerging contaminants in freshwater systems, an area that remains underrepresented to date. Given the complexity of the issue, the book covers the current state-of-research on microplastics in rivers and lakes, including analytical aspects, environmental concentrations and sources, modelling approaches, interactions with biota, and ecological implications. To provide a broader perspective, the book also discusses lessons learned from nanomaterials and the implications of plastic debris for regulation, politics, economy, and society. In a research field that is rapidly evolving, it offers a solid overview for environmental chemists, engineers, and toxicologists, as well as water managers and policy-makers.