Your search found 4 records
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049319)
(1.53 MB)
The study investigates the content of microplastic particles in freshwater and drinking water. Specifically, three water treatment plants (WTPs) supplied by different kinds of water bodies were selected and their raw and treated water was analysed for microplastics (MPs). Microplastics were found in all water samples and their average abundance ranged from 1473 ± 34 to 3605 ± 497 particles L-1 in raw water and from 338 ± 76 to 628 ± 28 particles L-1 in treated water, depending on the WTP. This study is one of very few that determine microplastics down to the size of 1 µm, while MPs smaller than 10 µm were the most plentiful in both raw and treated water samples, accounting for up to 95%. Further, MPs were divided into three categories according to their shape. Fragments clearly prevailed at two of the WTPs and fibres together with fragments predominated at one case. Despite 12 different materials forming the microplastics being identified, the majority of the MPs (>70%) comprised of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene). This study contributes to fill the knowledge gap in the field of emerging microplastic pollution of drinking water and water sources, which is of concern due to the potential exposure of microplastics to humans.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051191)
(1.77 MB) (1.77 MB)
Marine plastic waste pollution is one of the most urgent global marine environmental problems worldwide. It has attracted worldwide attention from governments, the public, the scientific community, media and non-governmental organizations and has become a hot issue in current marine ecology and environmental research. This research aimed to conduct a traditional review of the current state of the art regarding microplastics (MPs) definition and characterisation, including an assessment of MPs detected in marine and food systems. The review revealed that plastic waste is not biodegraded and can only be broken down, predominantly by physical processes, into small particles of micron to nanometre size. Particles (<150 µm) can be ingested by living organisms, migrate through the intestinal wall and reach lymph nodes and other body organs. The primary pathway of human exposure to MPs has been identified as gastrointestinal ingestion (mainly seafood for the general population), pulmonary inhalation, and dermal infiltration. MPs may pollute drinking water, accumulate in the food chain, and release toxic chemicals that may cause disease, including certain cancers. Micro/nano-plastics may pose acute toxicity, (sub) chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. In addition, nanoplastics (NPs) may pose chronic toxicity (cardiovascular toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity). The toxicity of MPs/NPs primarily depends on the particle size distribution and monomeric composition/characteristics of polymers. Polyurethane (PUR), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Epoxy resin, and Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) are categorised as the most toxic polymers based on monomer toxicity. MP detection methods include combinations of spectroscopic analysis (RS and FTIR) and chromatography (TED-GC/MS). MP/NP toxicological properties and general quantitative and qualitative analysis methods used in MPs Risk Assessment (RA) are summarised. A robust dose-response model for MPs/NPs requires further investigation. This study lays the foundation for the evaluation of MP/NP risk assessment in the marine ecosystem and potential implications for human health.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052112)
(7.69 MB) (7.69 MB)
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous and intractable in urban waters. Compared with MPs, the smaller NPs have shown distinct physicochemical features, such as Brownian motion, higher specific surface area, and stronger interaction with other pollutants. Therefore, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of NPs is more challenging than that of MPs. Moreover, these characteristics endow NPs with significantly different environmental fate, interactions with pollutants, and eco-impacts from those of MPs in urban waters. Herein, we critically analyze the current advances in the difference between MPs and NPs in urban waters. Analytical challenges, fate, interactions with surrounding pollutants, and eco-impacts of MPs and NPs are comparably discussed., The characterizations and fate studies of NPs are more challenging compared to MPs. Furthermore, NPs in most cases exhibit stronger interactions with other pollutants and more adverse eco-impacts on living things than MPs. Subsequently, perspective in this field is proposed to stimulate further size-dependent studies on MPs and NPs. This review would benefit the understanding of the role of NPs in the urban water ecosystem and guide future studies on plastic pollution management.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052618)
(5.95 MB) (5.95 MB)
Microplastics (MPs) composed of different polymers with various shapes, within a vast granulometric distribution (1 µm - 5 mm) and with a wide variety of physicochemical surface and bulk characteristics spiral around the globe, with different atmospheric, oceanic, cryospheric, and terrestrial residence times, while interacting with other pollutants and biota. The challenges of microplastic pollution are related to the complex relationships between the microplastic generation mechanisms (physical, chemical, and biological), their physicochemical properties, their interactions with other pollutants and microorganisms, the changes in their properties with aging, and their small sizes that facilitate their diffusion and transportation between the air, water, land, and biota, thereby promoting their ubiquity. Early career researchers (ERCs) constitute an essential part of the scientific community committed to overcoming the challenges of microplastic pollution with their new ideas and innovative scientific perspectives for the development of remediation technologies. However, because of the enormous amount of scientific information available, it may be difficult for ERCs to determine the complexity of this environmental issue. This mini-review aims to provide a quick and updated overview of the essential insights of microplastic pollution to ERCs to help them acquire the background needed to develop highly innovative physical, chemical, and biological remediation technologies, as well as valorization proposals and environmental education and awareness campaigns. Moreover, the recommendations for the development of holistic microplastic pollution remediation strategies presented here can help ERCs propose technologies considering the environmental, social, and practical dimensions of microplastic pollution while fulfilling the current government policies to manage this plastic waste.
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