This book offers a comprehensive review of how plastic pollution is affecting fresh and marine waters, and what the current challenges in plastic waste assessment and management in the aquatic environment are. Plastic waste comprises particles with heterogeneous physicochemical properties such as large size-range, different shapes and polymer types with various additives determining their environmental fate and risk. This complexity raises several open research questions which are explored in this book. Examples are the plastic uptake by aquatic organisms, degradation processes as well as sources and sinks in the environment. Readers will discover real case studies of plastic pollution detection and management in different parts of the world, including Asia, America and Europe, which provide an integrated overview of the global scope of this issue. This book and the companion volume Plastics in the Aquatic Environment - Part II: Stakeholders' Role Against Pollution are valuable resources to students, researchers, policymakers and environmental managers interested in plastic pollution and working towards its reduction.

Micro(nano)plastics in the Aquatic Environment: Fate, Toxicology, and Management, Volume Eleven explores a wide breadth of chapters, reflecting the experiences of groups of researchers from different countries on essential aspects of the context of plastic pollution. The book provides insights in chapters Plastic pollution in the aquatic ecosystem: an emerging threat and its mechanisms, Behavior of micro(nano)plastics in the aquatic environment and influencing factors, Analysis and distribution characteristics of micro(nano)plastics in the water environment, Interactions between microplastics and primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, Release of micro(nano)plastics from face masks into the marine environment: measurements and ecotoxicity, and more. Other chapters cover The ecology of microbial communities on microplastics, Metals on microplastics and their environmental consequences in freshwater ecosystems, Effect of biofilm attachment on the fate of microplastics in the aquatic environment, Micro(nano)plastic pollution in the global mangrove ecosystem: a comprehensive review on the sources, fates, and effects, Effects of microplastics on amphibian performance and survival: current knowledge and research gaps, Microplastics in fishes: Occurrence, impacts, and future perspectives, and much more. - Covers a wide breadth of evidence about the fate, ecotoxicology, and management of micro(nano)plastics - Includes contributions from an international board of authors - Provides a comprehensive set of reviews

Enables readers to understand the true occurrence and fate of microplastics in drinking water, wastewater and sludge, and receiving water Microplastics in Urban Water Management focuses on the occurrence, fate, effect, and removal of microplastics in the urban water management systems, summarizing relevant methods for enhancing microplastics removal and degradation, providing comprehensive data from source to sink (including occurrence and fate of microplastics in urban water management), and covering practical applications, which are expected to provide some theoretical guidance for controlling or mitigating microplastics pollution and its environmental risks. The work also includes detailed multidisciplinary information on the way in which microplastics behave in urban water management, plus recent advances of nanoplastics, i.e., nano-sized microplastics, in the aquatic environment. In Microplastics in Urban Water Management, readers can expect to find detailed information on sample topics such as: Techniques for microplastics detection, including sample collection, purification, identification, and quantitation, plus the definition, emergence, occurrence, and removal of microplastics Elements of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants; for instance, the ecotoxicological effect on the biological treatment of wastewater and sludge Why the discharge of microplastics from wastewater treatment plants is the important source of microplastics in the receiving waters Potential environmental risks of microplastic contamination in receiving water systems and evidence that microplastics can absorb, collect and transport environmental contaminants as vectors For practicing toxicologists, biologists, environmental and chemical engineers, and ecology professionals, as well as researchers and graduate students in these disciplines, Microplastics in Urban Water Management is an essential all-in-one guide to understanding the current state of microplastics in our world and potential solutions for the future.

In recent years, the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment has emerged as a pressing global concern. As we grapple with the complexities of this issue, it becomes increasingly evident that a comprehensive understanding of microplastics' sources, risks, analytical challenges, and remediation strategies is essential for effective mitigation and safeguarding of our ecosystems and human health. Microplastics in Environment comprehensively explores the growing concern surrounding microplastic pollution. From their emergence as a significant environmental pollutant to their potential risks and various remediation strategies, this book delves into every aspect of microplastics' impact on ecosystems and human health. With chapters authored by experts in the field, readers gain insights into the sources, classification, properties, and dynamics of microplastics in different environmental compartments, including marine environments, soils, and indoor settings. Analytical challenges related to the identification, quantification, and characterization of microplastics are thoroughly discussed, along with emerging computational approaches to unravel the microplastic mystery. The book highlights recent trends in using bioindicators to monitor microplastic pollution and its adverse impacts on animal health. Additionally, the book explores trends, challenges, and opportunities in plastic recycling and future directions for addressing microplastics. Microplastics in Environment compiles current knowledge and identifies gaps, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working towards a cleaner, healthier planet. It aims to support those dedicated to safeguarding our planet for future generations. FEATURES Focuses on microplastic pollution in the environment and highlights the emergent need to reduce and eliminate microplastic pollution. Includes special chapters on microplastic classifications, estimation tools, and the role of computational modeling in microplastic. Discusses microplastic occurrence in marine, soil, air, and prevention strategies in different environmental settings. Furthermore, it explores different remediation strategies, current trends, challenges, and opportunities in plastic recycling.

Circularity in Action: Solid Waste Management for Resource-Efficient Systems promotes innovation and shares best practices based on the principles of circular economy and resource conservation on different aspects of sustainable solid waste management. It also explains sources, impacts and recycling potential of emerging wastes. This book presents management strategies including emerging green infrastructure and digitalization for recycling and gainful application of waste. In addition, it highlights various environmental and health hazards while providing different management strategies based on the principle of resource recovery and circular economy that can help to minimize the environmental impacts. Provides insights for effective management practices with solid waste using case studies on sustainable waste management Covers not only the scientific and technical aspects but also environmental, legal and policy aspects of solid waste management with a particular focus on recycling potential for various gainful applications Contributes a platform for scientists and environmental researchers and planners to discuss environmental degradation and methodological approaches to sustainable management of recycled products

Nano/micro-Plastics Toxicity on Food Quality and Food Safety, Volume 103 in the Advances in Food and Nutrition Research series, provides in-depth reviews on recent developments in nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality and food safety research. Topics covered in this volume include the sources and occurrence of nano/microplastics in terrestrial/marine environments, release mechanisms of microplastics from packaging into foods, influencing factors of microplastic on food products, their translocation and accumulations potential, microplastic as a critical vector for pollutant transfer, toxicology impact, cycling in the marine environment and seafood safety, and more. Moreover, microplastic migration by enhancing public awareness as well as improving waste management, complications and toxicity associated with the presence of nano/microplastics and quantification methods are highlighted. Finally, existing regulations and requirements of a robust framework of nano/microplastics are provided. Presents precise reviews from selected specialists on the topic of nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality and food safety Provides valuable visual material, making it easier for readers Covers the latest insights and future research recommendations on nano/micro-plastics toxicity on food quality Includes standardization methods for the collection, characterization and analysis of nano/micro-plastics toxicity for food safety and human health

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 and Nanoplastics: Occurrence, Environmental Impacts and Treatment Processes comprehensively illustrates the microplastics and nanoplastics pollution in different waters, wastewaters and terrestrial environment, and the possibilities of their removal/degradation. It provides a through and exhaustive discussion of the ongoing research and future perspectives of micro/nanoplastics, their interaction with other chemicals, the advanced degradation technologies and their impacts on the ecosystem. Micro- and nano-plastic pollution is an important topic in academia and industry and is gaining considerable attention in the society due to the concerns related to plastics. In addition to presenting the current issues and trends, this book also addresses some concrete solutions to mitigate this emerging environmental threat. This book is written at an advanced level to address the needs of researchers, students as well as people outside the field of environment technology including, industries, government sectors, business establishments and public interest groups. Reviews extensively the sources, occurrence and distribution of plastics in various environments, worldwide Provides advanced testing techniques and characterization methods for their qualitative and quantitative analysis Focusses on the fate of microplastics and nanoplastics in various treatment plants along with their physical, chemical, and biological degradation in wastewater Discusses multidisciplinary information on environmental impacts and health hazards of micro/nanoplastics Summarizes the priority areas and future aspects to protect the environment through advanced environmental technologies and policymaking legislations