Microplastics in the Ecosphere Air, Water, Soil, and Food

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.

Meththika Vithanage, PhD is a Professor and founding Director of the Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. She holds adjunct professor positions in the UWA, Australia, UPES, India and NIFS, Sri Lanka. She has published more widely than any other environmental science researcher in Sri Lanka. She is a Highly Cited Researcher and publishes widely in the field of Environmental Science.

Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad, PhD is Emeritus Professor at the School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India. He has decades of experience teaching and publishing on environmental science subjects, and his awards include the 2007 Pitamber Pant National Environment Fellowship by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and

Climate Change, Government of India.

Section 1 Single use plastics

1 Scientometric Analysis of Microplastics across the Globe

2 MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION IN THE POLAR OCEANS – A REVIEW

3 Microplastics – Global Scenario

4 The Single-use Plastic Pandemics in the COVID-19 era

Section 2 Microplastics in the aerosphere

5 Atmospheric Microplastic Transport

6 Microplastics in the atmosphere and their human & eco risk

7 Sampling and detection of microplastics in the atmosphere

8 Sources and circulation of microplastics in the aerosphere / Atmospheric transport of microplastics

Section 3 Microplastics in the aquatic environment

9 Interaction of chemical contaminants with microplastics

10 Microplastics in freshwater environments

11 Microplastics in landfill leachate: flow and transport

12 Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment - Effects on Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Sustenance of Marine Life

Section 4 Microplastics in soil systems

13 Entry of microplastics in the agroecosystems: A serious threat to food security and human health

14 Migration of microplastic-bound contaminants to soil and their effects

15 Plastic mulch derived microplastics in agricultural soil systems

16 CRITICAL REVIEW ON MICROPLASTICS IN SOIL

17 What do we know about microplastics effects in soil?

18 Microbial degradation of plastics

19 Microplastics and soil nutrient cycling                                                                                                   

Section 5 Microplastics in food systems

20 Microplastics in the food chain

21 Microplastics in Salt and Drinking Water

22 Microplastics in commercial seafood (Invertebrates) and Seaweeds

23 Microplastics toxicity to human 

Section 6 Treatment technologies and management

24 Management of microplastics from source to human

25 Single use ordinary plastics Vs bioplastics

Section 7 Case studies

26 Plastic nurdles in marine environments by accidental spillage

27 Compost-hosted microplastics – Municipal Solid Waste compost

28 Single use ordinary plastics and  bioplastics - A case study in Brasil

29 Microplastics remediation: possible perspective for saline environment mitigation

30 The Management of Waste Tyres: a case study in Brazil

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