Microplastics in the Environment: From Formation to Remediation

Authoritative reference addressing the characteristics, technologies, and solutions surrounding the most concerning environmental pollutant Microplastics in the Environment delivers a systematic and in-depth overview of microplastics generation mechanisms, risk prevention, and control solutions. Written by a highly qualified academic with significant research experience in microplastic pollution treatment, green polymer material functionalization, and recycling of solid waste, Microplastics in the Environment explores sample topics including: Characteristics of microplastics, such as their large specific surface area and small size, resulting in the formation of composite contamination New microplastics blocking approaches and technologies, and the mechanism of microplastics generation under the coupling effect of multiple environmental factors Transport and migration of microplastics, as well as their ecotoxicity to organisms in various environments, especially the complex estuarine environment The current state of plastic production, with insight on how society can find solutions to the expanding plastics industry Microplastics in the Environment is an essential reference on the subject for polymer chemists, materials scientists, environmental chemists, plastics technologists, and ecotoxicologists, as well as all professionals in the plastics industry, especially those focused on sustainability.

Table of Contents:
Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii 1 Microplastics Formation 1 Xinxing Zhang, Qinke Cui, and Zhuo Huang 1.1 Definition of Microplastics 1 1.2 Types of Microplastics 2 1.2.1 Polyethylene 3 1.2.2 Polypropylene 3 1.2.3 Polystyrene 4 1.2.4 Polyvinyl Chloride 4 1.2.5 Polyester 5 1.3 Generation of Microplastics 5 1.3.1 Primary Microplastics 6 1.3.1.1 Industrial 7 1.3.1.2 Consumer 9 1.3.2 Secondary Microplastics 15 1.3.2.1 Plastics-Derived Microplastics 19 1.3.2.2 Rubbers-Derived Microplastics 37 1.3.2.3 Fibers-Derived Microplastics 56 1.3.2.4 Foam-Derived Microplastics 60 References 71 2 Migration and Transformation of Microplastics 85 Xue Yu, Xiaorong Luo, Yuhang Ye, Mengke Zhang, Mengyao Xu, Chenglong Han, and Xueqiang Lu 2.1 Migration and Transformation of Microplastics in Water 85 2.1.1 Microplastics in the Freshwater Environment 85 2.1.1.1 Distribution of Microplastics in the Freshwater Environment 85 2.1.1.2 Migration and Transformation Processes of Microplastics in the Freshwater Environment 86 2.1.2 Microplastics in the Marine Environment 88 2.1.2.1 Distribution of Microplastics in the Marine Environment 88 2.1.2.2 Migration and Transformation Processes of Microplastics in the Marine Environment 88 2.1.3 Influencing Factors of Migration and Transformation of Microplastics in the Water Environment 96 2.1.3.1 Shape of Microplastics 96 2.1.3.2 Size of Microplastics 97 2.1.3.3 Salinity Gradient 97 2.1.3.4 Water Quality and Hydrodynamic Characteristics 98 2.1.3.5 Windage 98 2.1.3.6 Interaction Between Biofilms and Microplastics 99 2.2 Migration and Transformation of Microplastics in Soil 100 2.2.1 Source and Distribution of Microplastics in Soil 100 2.2.1.1 Source of Microplastics in Soil 100 2.2.1.2 Distribution of Microplastics in Soil 102 2.2.2 Migration Pathways of Microplastics in Soil 104 2.2.3 Influencing Factors of Microplastic Migration in Soil 105 2.2.3.1 Characteristics of Microplastics 105 2.2.3.2 Characteristics of Soil 106 2.2.3.3 Bioturbation and Mechanical Disturbance in Soil 107 2.2.3.4 External Environment 108 2.2.4 Transformation of Microplastics in Soil 109 2.2.4.1 Physical Transformation 110 2.2.4.2 Chemical Transformation 110 2.2.4.3 Biodegradation 111 2.2.5 Transfer of Microplastics in the Terrestrial Food Chain 112 2.3 Migration and Transformation of Microplastics in Atmosphere 112 2.3.1 Sources 112 2.3.1.1 Daily Life use Process 113 2.3.1.2 Industrial and Agricultural Production Processes 113 2.3.1.3 Sea- or Soil-mediated Inputs 113 2.3.1.4 Other Sources 114 2.3.2 Flux and Abundance 114 2.3.2.1 Calculation Method of Settling Flux and Influencing Factors 114 2.3.3 Migration Pathways of Microplastics in the Atmosphere 115 2.3.4 Influencing Factors on the Transport of Microplastics in the Atmosphere 115 2.3.4.1 Physicochemical Characteristics of Microplastics 115 2.3.4.2 Meteorological Factors 116 2.3.4.3 Human Factors 117 2.3.4.4 Geographical Location 117 2.3.5 Human Health and Ecological Risks of Atmospheric Microplastics 118 2.3.5.1 Adsorption of Contaminants 118 2.3.5.2 Human Health Risk 119 2.3.5.3 Ecological Risk 120 2.3.6 Atmospheric Microplastic Transport Simulation 120 References 121 3 Toxicity and Health Effects of Microplastics 137 Hanyun Zheng, Quanwei Li, Xiongjie Gu, Yaru Qian, Yunxu Shang, Hong Yu, Lihui An, and Feifei Wang 3.1 Estuarine and Marine Organisms 137 3.1.1 Plankton 137 3.1.1.1 Enrichment of Microplastics in Plankton 137 3.1.1.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Plankton 138 3.1.2 Benthic Fauna 140 3.1.2.1 Enrichment of Microplastics in Benthic Fauna 140 3.1.2.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Benthic Fauna 141 3.1.3 Marine Fishes 144 3.1.3.1 Enrichment of Microplastics in Marine Fishes 144 3.1.3.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Marine Fishes 144 3.1.4 Marine Mammals 149 3.1.4.1 Enrichment of Microplastics in Marine Mammals 149 3.1.4.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Marine Mammals 150 3.1.5 Seabirds 151 3.1.5.1 Enrichment of Microplastics in Seabirds 151 3.1.5.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Seabirds 152 3.2 Freshwater Organisms 153 3.2.1 Plankton 153 3.2.1.1 Phytoplankton 153 3.2.1.2 Zooplankton 157 3.2.2 Freshwater Fishes 161 3.2.2.1 Occurrence of Microplastics in Freshwater Fish 161 3.2.2.2 Ingestion and Excretion of Microplastics 164 3.2.2.3 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Fish 165 3.2.3 Benthic Organisms 168 3.2.3.1 Occurrence of Microplastics in Benthic Organisms 168 3.2.3.2 Toxic Effects of Microplastics on Benthic Organisms 170 3.3 Soil Organisms 172 3.3.1 Effect of Microplastics on Soil Microorganisms 172 3.3.2 Effects of Microplastics on Soil Fauna 174 3.3.3 Effect of Microplastics on Plants 177 3.4 Human Health 182 3.4.1 Detection of Microplastics in Human Tissues 182 3.4.1.1 The Detection of Microplastics in Digestive System 182 3.4.1.2 The Detection of Microplastics in Respiratory System 185 3.4.1.3 The Detection of Microplastics in Circulatory System 186 3.4.1.4 The Detection of Microplastics in Reproductive System 186 3.4.2 Health Effects and Toxicity Mechanisms Due to Gastrointestinal Exposures 187 3.4.2.1 The Main Sources of Microplastics Exposure to the Digestive Tract 187 3.4.2.2 Gastrointestinal Exposures and Human Health 191 3.4.2.3 Toxic Mechanisms of Health Damage Caused by Microplastic Gastrointestinal Exposure 192 3.4.3 Health Effects and Toxicity Mechanisms Due to Respiratory Exposures 204 3.4.3.1 Microplastics Accumulation in the Respiratory System 204 3.4.3.2 Respiratory Exposure and Human Health 209 3.4.3.3 Toxic Mechanisms of Health Damage Caused by Microplastic Respiratory Exposure 211 3.4.4 Health Effects and Toxicity in Other Tissues and Cells 219 3.4.4.1 Cell Uptake and Phagocytosis of Microplastics 219 3.4.4.2 Neurotoxicity 221 3.4.4.3 Cytotoxicity and Immune Response 221 3.4.4.4 Germ Cell Toxicity 222 3.4.4.5 Cytotoxicity of Other Tissues 223 3.4.5 Combined Toxicity of Microplastics and Other Pollutants 223 References 225 4 Solutions to Microplastics Pollution 245 Li Li, Xuan Wang, Nan Wang, Wu Guo, Quanquan Guo, and Xinkai Li 4.1 Reduction 246 4.1.1 Legislation and Public Policy 246 4.1.1.1 Restricting Certain Types of Single-use Plastics 247 4.1.1.2 Extending the Producer Responsibility 252 4.1.1.3 Active Use of Post-consumer Recycled Plastic 254 4.1.2 Design 257 4.1.2.1 Design for Reduction 257 4.1.2.2 Design for Reuse 258 4.1.2.3 Design for Recycle 259 4.1.3 Technical Support 260 4.1.3.1 Technologies for High Performance 260 4.1.3.2 Technologies for Optimizing the Apparent Structure 263 4.1.4 Brief Summary 265 4.2 Substitution 265 4.2.1 Biobased Plastics 266 4.2.1.1 Biobased Plastics Derived from Natural Polymers 267 4.2.1.2 Biobased Plastics Polymerized from Natural Monomers 275 4.2.1.3 Plastics Derived from Biosynthesis 278 4.2.1.4 Market Prospects for Biobased Plastics 282 4.2.2 Biodegradable Plastics 282 4.2.2.1 Degradation Mechanisms of Basic Polymers 283 4.2.2.2 Biobased Biodegradable Plastics 284 4.2.2.3 Petrochemical Biodegradable Plastics 287 4.2.2.4 State-of-the-art in Improving Biodegradability of Polymers 291 4.2.2.5 Research Progress in Production of MPs from Biodegradable Plastics 292 4.2.3 Recyclable and Long-life Plastics 292 4.2.3.1 Long-life Polymers 293 4.2.3.2 Closed-loop Recyclable Polymers 296 4.2.4 Brief Summary 297 4.3 Recycling 299 4.3.1 Recyclability Improvement of Plastics 299 4.3.1.1 Strengthening Policy Control 300 4.3.1.2 Design for Recycling 302 4.3.2 Recycling Technologies 304 4.3.2.1 Mechanical Recycling 307 4.3.2.2 Chemical Recycling 321 4.3.2.3 Biocatalytic Recycling 332 4.3.2.4 Energy Recycling 333 4.3.3 Brief Summary 335 4.4 Control in the Environment 336 4.4.1 Strategies and Technologies for Microplastics Remediation 337 4.4.1.1 Physical Methods 337 4.4.1.2 Chemical Methods 347 4.4.1.3 Biological Methods 362 4.4.1.4 Combined Methods 370 4.4.2 Brief Summary 371 4.5 Conclusion 372 References 373 Index 405

About the Author :
Xinxing Zhang is a Doctor of Engineering, Doctoral Supervisor, and Professor at Sichuan University. He was a Chief Expert of the China National Key R&D Program during the 13th Five-year Plan and recipient of the Sichuan Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars. He is currently the director of the Sichuan Tire Rubber Powder Functionalization and Modification Engineering Laboratory and the guest editor of Materials and other journals.