Atmospheric microplastics: A review on current status and perspectives

Environmental source, fate, and toxicity of microplastics.

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms. Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills. In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills. The leakage of plastic wastes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The management of plastic waste is a challenging problem for researchers, policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize the current understanding and concerns of plastics pollution (microplastics or nanoplastics) on natural ecosystems. The overall goal of this review is to provide background assessment on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on natural ecosystems; interlink the management of plastic pollution with sustainable development goals; address the policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainability; identify the knowledge gaps; and provide current policy recommendations. Plastic waste management through community involvement and socio-economic inputs in different countries are presented and discussed. Plastic ban policies and public awareness are likely the major mitigation interventions. The need for life cycle assessment and circularity to assess the potential environmental impacts and resources used throughout a plastic product’s life span is emphasized. Innovations are needed to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover plastics and find eco-friendly replacements for plastics. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced. Plastic pollution is a global concern that must be addressed collectively with the utmost priority.

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

The COVID-19 pandemic face mask waste: A blooming threat to the marine environment.

Abundance, interaction, ingestion, ecological concerns, and mitigation policies of microplastic pollution in riverine ecosystem: A review

Plastics are synthetic polymer compound mostly made from petrochemical sources, such compound has high molecular mass and plasticity and certain chemicals are added to increase the performance and efficiency of the products. Plastics size less than 5 mm are categorized as Microplastics and it is one of the greatest potential threat to marine environment for the whole world. There are two types of micro-plastics i.e. primary micro-plastics and secondary micro-plastics. Primary microplastics are the by-products of particulate emissions released from industrial production, the release of plastics dust from plastics products. Secondary microplastics are larger plastic particulate material. These micro-plastics eventually end up in water bodies travelling all the way from rivers to seas or oceans. Microplastic can also act as a pollutant transport medium for other toxic elements such as DDT and hexachlorobenzene and eventually end up within the body of a living organism who consume it. The Government Agencies and Non-government organization of different nations have adopted many policies and laws to curb the harmful effects of plastics and microplastics. A concrete and comprehensive plan should be adopted for zero tolerance against plastics waste and peoples participation is a must to achieve the full success.

Plastics and microplastics: A threat to environment

In the present study sodium carbonate modified Bambusa tulda was utilised for the removal of crystal violet dye from aqueous solution. The functional group characterization and the surface morphology was done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). It confirms the hydroxyl groups and carboxyl group present on the surface of modified Bambusa tulda. The optimum condition for the removal of crystal violet was taken place at pH 7, 200 rpm, dose at 10gm/l, initial concentration 50 mg/l, at equilibrium time 60 minutes and 298 K temperature with maximum adsorption capacity of 20.84 mg/gm. The adsorption of crystal violet by modified Bambusa tulda best fits in Langmuir isotherm model with R2 value 0.924 and Pseudo 2nd order rate equation model with R2 value of 0.999. Other parameters like isosteric heat analysis, thermodynamics profile and activation energy were investigated. Thus, modified Bambusa tulda can be an efficient and economically used as an alternative for activated carbon for the removal of crystal violet from waste water.

Adsorption of crystal violet from wastewater by modified Bambusa tulda

SEM, FTIR and EDAX Studies for the Removal of Safranin Dye from Water Bodies using Modified Biomaterial - Bambusa Tulda

Spring water quality and assessment of associated health risks around the urban Tuirial landfill site in Aizawl, Mizoram, India

The review study focuses on dye contamination of wastewater and adsorption approaches to achieve the lowest dye waste in wastewater discharge. The dyes require extensive use in several applications suited for commercial consumption, but the dyes are serious pollutants when dumped directly into water bodies without sufficient treatment. The review study briefly discusses the current methodologies carried out for the adsorption mechanism, the relevance of adsorption, and adsorption factors for the examined system. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and a pseudosecond order kinetic model were found to properly represent dye uptake. To fully appreciate the molecular interactions between the adsorbent and adsorbate, additional study into theoretical dye adsorption modeling is necessary. As a low-cost adsorbent for dye treatment and the manufacturing of activated carbon, agricultural waste material in both its natural and modified forms is explored in this review article for its dye adsorption capabilities. The adsorption behavior and mechanism may be better understood by employing operational parameters, kinetics, and isotherm models, as described in this article. The initial concentration, pH, and temperature all play a function in the adsorption process and are discussed in depth. 

Nirban Laskar

Papers

Plastics and microplastics: A threat to environment

Adsorption of crystal violet from wastewater by modified Bambusa tulda

SEM, FTIR and EDAX Studies for the Removal of Safranin Dye from Water Bodies using Modified Biomaterial - Bambusa Tulda

Spring water quality and assessment of associated health risks around the urban Tuirial landfill site in Aizawl, Mizoram, India

Application of low‐cost, eco‐friendly adsorbents for the removal of dye contaminants from wastewater: Current developments and adsorption technology