Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollutants such as microplastics and nanoplastics are becoming the most serious global environmental issue, and have been a concern of scientists, governments, and the public. They originate from plastic products and lead to dramatic environmental contamination in freshwater, ocean, land, and air.

In recent years, many researchers have determined the origins, fate, risk assessment, and management methods of microplastic pollution. However, a good deal of knowledge gaps remain. Therefore, it is urgent to launch "Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies" to address the serious and widespread impact of microplastic pollution in the environment.

This topic welcomes original research, reviews, short communications, comments, perspectives, and methods papers on the basis of (macro-, micro-, and nano-) plastic pollution and waste in all fields.

Submissions to the Topic will be subject to peer review before final publication. Papers must not be submitted to any other publication at the same time. The final decision regarding paper publication will be made based on peer-review reports and Topic Editors, or the Editor-in-Chief in cases of a conflict of interest. Published full-text papers will be available online on the Topic website. We sincerely hope that you will contribute your outstanding research.

Dr. Carlos Gravato
Prof. Dr. Nsikak U. Benson
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Environments environments	3.5	5.7	2014	22.8 Days	CHF 1800
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	7.3	2004	25.8 Days	CHF 2500
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering jmse	2.7	4.4	2013	16.4 Days	CHF 2600
Toxics toxics	3.9	4.5	2013	18.3 Days	CHF 2600
Water water	3.0	5.8	2009	17.5 Days	CHF 2600

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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21 pages, 3103 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Technological Advances in Mechanical Recycling Innovations and Corresponding Impacts on the Circular Economy of Plastics

by Kunle Babaremu, Adedapo Adediji, Nmesoma Olumba, Silifat Okoya, Esther Akinlabi and Muyiwa Oyinlola

Environments 2024, 11(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030038 - 21 Feb 2024

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 11960

Abstract

The impact of plastic pollution on the world and its inhabitants is yet to be fully measured. Significant quantities of microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human organs, and many diseases have been traced to their presence. Even human placentas have been [...] Read more.

The impact of plastic pollution on the world and its inhabitants is yet to be fully measured. Significant quantities of microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in human organs, and many diseases have been traced to their presence. Even human placentas have been found to contain microplastics. This study examines the recycling landscape, advanced reprocessing techniques, and technical challenges in this industry. It points out the top recyclable types of plastics (such as high-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and thermoplastic elastomers) by analyzing their different recycling capacities globally. It highlights the most advisable recycling techniques by identifying those most successful, least environmentally damaging, and easiest. Mechanical recycling is arguably the easiest and most common recycling technique. This study examines mechanical reprocessing technologies for construction materials, composite boards, additive manufacturing, and other applications. It also points out prevailing setbacks of these approaches and analyzes different solutions. Promising recycling processes are suggested for further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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12 pages, 4732 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Migration of Artificial Turf Fibers from Artificial Turf Sports Field and Their Ingestion by Goldfish

by Kanoko Takahashi, Ryosuke Fujinuma, Tomoyasu Yoshitomi, Yasuo Shimizu and Makito Kobayashi

Environments 2023, 10(12), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10120222 - 13 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2873

Abstract

Various artificial materials and facilities are sources of microplastics, including artificial turf sports fields. In artificial turf fields, polyethylene fibers are attached to a basal cloth with adhesives. In the present study, we investigated whether the fibers in the field were detached from [...] Read more.

Various artificial materials and facilities are sources of microplastics, including artificial turf sports fields. In artificial turf fields, polyethylene fibers are attached to a basal cloth with adhesives. In the present study, we investigated whether the fibers in the field were detached from the basal cloth or torn in the field, and whether they moved to the surrounding ditches that were connected to sewage pipes. In the field, we collected fibers shorter in length compared to the original and these were free from basal cloth, indicating the tearing of the fibers due to players’ activities. We also collected fibers from the ditches, which indicated a migration of the fibers from the field into the ditches. These results suggest that the fibers in ditches could enter sewage treatment plants and be released into the aquatic environment as microplastics. We also examined whether goldfish, Carassius auratus, ingested these fibers, and observed that the fish ingested them with feed while the fish did not without feed. These results indicate that the fiber ingestion by the fish occurred unintentionally when they swallowed their feed. The present study demonstrated that artificial turf fibers in sports fields could turn into microplastics that can be ingested by wild fishes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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25 pages, 3030 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Plastic Mulch Films in Agriculture: Their Use, Environmental Problems, Recycling and Alternatives

by Kotaiba Salama and Martin Geyer

Environments 2023, 10(10), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100179 - 11 Oct 2023

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 11014

Abstract

Agricultural plastic mulching is an important horticultural process for increasing crop yields because it preserves soil moisture, soil temperature, and nutrients, and avoids the need for weed herbicides. However, there are risks to using plastic mulch, since residual macroplastic (MaP), microplastic (MP), and [...] Read more.

Agricultural plastic mulching is an important horticultural process for increasing crop yields because it preserves soil moisture, soil temperature, and nutrients, and avoids the need for weed herbicides. However, there are risks to using plastic mulch, since residual macroplastic (MaP), microplastic (MP), and nanoplastic (NP) in fields have a significant negative impact on the environment, causing damage to soil properties, harming microorganisms in the soil, and entering the human body via the food chain. Plastic mulch is often disposed of in landfills or used in techniques like the thermal process to gain energy or recycling to generate plastic granules for the plastic industry. Pretreatments are occasionally required before recycling, such as cleaning the mulch from the soil to fit the recycling process. This review provides an overview of the quantities and negative impacts of plastic, especially plastic mulch films after use, as well as their decomposition products, on the environment, soil, and human health, and presents alternatives. The possibilities and problems of collecting and recycling films are discussed in addition to the alternatives, for example, the use of biodegradable films. Overall, agricultural advancements to reduce plastic waste in the environment by using thicker films, collection after use, and recycling in developed countries are on a good path. However, NP poses a risk, as it is still completely unclear how it affects human health. Alternatives to plastic mulch have found little acceptance so far due to the significantly higher material costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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15 pages, 2290 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Small-Scale Model Experiments on Plastic Fragment Removal from Water Flows Using Multiple Filters in a Floating Body

by Reyana Islam and Yoshiki Nishi

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(5), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11050991 - 6 May 2023

Viewed by 1751

Abstract

Increasing plastic fragments (PFs) in the environment have attracted considerable social and academic attention. Several methods have been proposed to mitigate plastic pollution, such as filtration and degradation. This study focuses on the removal of plastic fragments from a water flow. A field [...] Read more.

Increasing plastic fragments (PFs) in the environment have attracted considerable social and academic attention. Several methods have been proposed to mitigate plastic pollution, such as filtration and degradation. This study focuses on the removal of plastic fragments from a water flow. A field collection survey of beached PFs was conducted at Kurihama Beach (Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan) to identify their polymer types and quantify different PFs. An anchored-buoy-type filter was designed to capture surface and submerged PFs from the water flow. A small-scale experimental apparatus was developed with the incorporation of these filters. Four types of filters (steel wire frame, plankton net, reverse osmosis filter, and carbon-block filter) were used as PF removers based on their size. The PF capture experiment was conducted at various PF concentrations, water densities, and flow speeds. The number of captured PFs was calculated using particle counting and mass measurement. The average efficiency of the designed filter was 81.53%, with the efficiency reaching 94.5%. The designed filter was reported to work well in both seawater and freshwater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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15 pages, 3447 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Performance of Carbonate-Modified Nonionic Surfactants in Microplastic Flotation

by Daniel Brüggemann, Tahereh Shojamejer, Michelle Tupinamba Lima, Dzenna Zukova, Rahel Marschall and Reinhard Schomäcker

Water 2023, 15(5), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15051000 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2476

Abstract

For a group of nonionic surfactants with polar head groups synthesized by the copolymerization of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide, the potential for their application in the foam flotation of microplastic particles was investigated. Their performance was compared to conventional that of nonionic [...] Read more.

For a group of nonionic surfactants with polar head groups synthesized by the copolymerization of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide, the potential for their application in the foam flotation of microplastic particles was investigated. Their performance was compared to conventional that of nonionic surfactants and correlated with their adsorption behavior at the water–air surface through the maximum-bubble-pressure technique. The carbonate content of the surfactant head groups increased the biodegradability of the surfactants and affected their foaming properties and their performance in the flotation process. Since the inserted carbonate units increased the hydrophilicity of the whole surfactant but decreased the polarity of their headgroups, the number of carbonate units can be considered as an independent tuning parameter for adjusting these surfactants to a particular application. With this feature, the countercurrent trends of the two most important performance indicators, namely the removal rate and enrichment factor, can be resolved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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15 pages, 4770 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Tire and Road Wear Particle-Containing Sediments with High Organic Content Impact Behavior and Survival of Chironomid Larvae (Chironomus riparius)

by Tatjana Tull, Stefanie Krais, Katharina Peschke, Steffen Weyrauch, Rita Triebskorn and Heinz-R. Köhler

Environments 2023, 10(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10020023 - 29 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3850

Abstract

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP), which contribute significantly to microplastic emission, are receiving more attention, but details about particle composition, translocation from source to sink, and particularly the possible effects on ecosystems are largely unknown. We examined the influence of native TRWP-containing [...] Read more.

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP), which contribute significantly to microplastic emission, are receiving more attention, but details about particle composition, translocation from source to sink, and particularly the possible effects on ecosystems are largely unknown. We examined the influence of native TRWP-containing sediments from two settling ponds on the mortality and behavior of the aquatic larvae of Chironomus riparius. Both sediments, whether pure or mixed with different proportions of quartz sand and suspended in water, led to increased mortalities with increasing concentrations and were shown to be oxygen consuming. Artificial aeration significantly reduced larval mortality in both sediments. Chironomid larvae show high tolerance to anoxic and polluted environments due to physiological and behavioral adaptations, such as the construction of vertical sediment tubes (chimneys), in which they create oxic compartments. A significant correlation was found between the proportion of contaminated sediment and the number of chimneys: the more contaminated sediment, the fewer chimneys were constructed. The number of chimneys per surviving larva decreased with an increased proportion of contaminated sediment in parallel to increased larval mortality. We hypothesize that contents of these sediments negatively impact the larvae’s ability to survive at low oxygen concentrations due to impairments of essential behavioral and physiological processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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18 pages, 1603 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Microplastic Contamination and Ecological Status of Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study in Two Northern Portuguese Rivers

by Andreia Ribeiro, Carlos Gravato, João Cardoso, Carlos Alexandre Ribeiro, Maria Natividade Vieira and Carolina Rodrigues

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15956; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315956 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3588

Abstract

Background: Most European rivers have not yet achieved “good” ecological status. In addition, the presence and abundance of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater is a matter of great concern to the scientific community. Methodology: This study assesses the ecological status of four sampling sites [...] Read more.

Background: Most European rivers have not yet achieved “good” ecological status. In addition, the presence and abundance of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater is a matter of great concern to the scientific community. Methodology: This study assesses the ecological status of four sampling sites of Selho (S1–S4) and Costa-Couros (C1–C4) rivers (Guimarães, Portugal), and the abundance of MPs in sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates (Oligochaeta) from those sites. Results: All sites of both rivers under higher pressure did not reach a “good” ecological status (S2–S3, C2–C4) based on the macroinvertebrate community. High levels of nutrients were observed at all sites in both rivers (except C2), especially phosphorus. In the Oligochaeta’s gut of Costa-Couros river, the high number of MPs seems to be associated with their weight (95.25 ± 25.61 to 1069.00 ± 385.30 MPs g/fresh weight), suggesting the existence of malnutrition and digestive disorders, whereas the highest number of MPs in gut (134.00 ± 30.36 to 558.6 ± 100.70 MPs g/fresh weight) were found for the heaviest organisms of Selho. Conclusions: Thus, sites with higher ecological status do not necessarily have lower abundance of MPs. In the sediments, urbanization seems to be the main driver for MP contamination. MP contamination is pervasive across the sediments and Oligochaeta’s gut in both rivers. Since MPs have the potential to cause harm to environmental and human health, it is essential to monitor not only the ecological status of freshwaters, but also emerging pollutants such as MPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Migration, Contamination, and Sustainable Management Strategies)

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