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Micro- and Nano-Scale Plastic Contamination and Environmental Remediation

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 11810

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shams Forruque Ahmed

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Guest Editor

Science and Math Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram 4000, Bangladesh
Interests: energy and environment; fluid dynamics

Dr. Md Mofijur Rahman

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Guest Editor

Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: renewable energy; alternative fuel; IC engine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Dai-Viet N. Vo

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 755414, Vietnam
Interests: energy and environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plastics are very desirable materials due to their durability, but their resistance to degradation frequently makes their disposal difficult. In recent years, the nature of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) and their negative effects have received considerable attention for environmental protection. Both MPs and NPs can have major environmental effects. NPs can be distributed inside animal bodies and translocated across organs more efficiently than MPs. In addition, they are more effective adsorbents and can lead to the transport of pollutants, posing hazards to human and animal health. Although some MP and NP wastes are recycled, the majority end up degrading and decomposing in place for hundreds of years. The enormous volume of waste and its resistance to degradation thus make MPs/NPs a major global environmental concern. Given their environmental permanence and global abundance, it is inevitable that humans and marine species will be exposed to MPs and NPs. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of the fragmentation, distribution, colonization, degradation, destiny, and impacts of MPs and NPs on the environment is still required, while identification of the type of plastic is essential for spatiotemporal understanding of the pollutant source. Additional effort is required to establish and standardize monitoring strategies for MPs and NPs for environmental remediation.

We cordially invite you to submit your work to a Special Issue of Sustainability on “Micro- and Nano-Scale Plastic Contamination and Environmental Remediation”. All aspects of MP and NP contamination and the management strategies for environmental remediation will be covered in this Special Issue, including but not limited to the following:

MP and NP detection methods;
Adsorption, uptake, and toxicity of MPs and NPs;
MP- and NP-induced cellular toxicity in mammals;
MPs and NPs in aquatic environments;
MPs and NPs in water treatment plants;
MP and NP contamination in the food chain;
Fragmentation, distribution, degradation, and impacts of MPs and NPs on the environment;
Human and environmental health risks of MP and NP pollution;
Transport of MPs and NPs on soil.

Dr. Shams Forruque Ahmed
Dr. Md Mofijur Rahman
Dr. Dai-Viet N. Vo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

microplastics
nanoplastics
ecotoxicology
microplastic detection
nanoplastic detection
microplastic contamination
nanoplastic contamination
plastic pollution assessment
transport of microplastics
transport of nanoplastics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 7137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Release Potential of Microplastics from Face Masks into the Aquatic Environment

by Suna Ozden Celik

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14293; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914293 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 805

Abstract

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a huge number of face masks have been used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on a global scale. Unfortunately, several studies have reported the presence of used face masks in marine litter in different countries around the world. Face masks produced from synthetic polymers can increase the environmental burden and contradict sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to natural environmental conditions following improper disposal. New and naturally aged surgical and FFP2 masks were exposed to deionized water (DI) and sea water conditions to understand the environmental behavior of face masks when exposed to different environmental conditions. Following natural aging and DI and sea water exposure, face masks were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compared with new masks. According to the results, the middle layers of both mask types were exposed to more severe degradation. Aging resulted in higher microplastic (MP) release than new masks in DI and seawater for both types of face masks. Compared to new ones, aging and seawater exposure caused 11 to 13 and 14 to 22 times higher MP release from surgical and FFP2 face masks, respectively. Following seawater exposure, aged FFP2 mask released higher amounts of MP (4.36–6.20 × 10⁶) than aged surgical masks (4.03–5.45 × 10⁶). According to the results, a significant portion of the released MPs were <10 µm for both types of masks. However, when aged FFP2 masks were exposed to seawater, a remarkable increase was found in the fraction of 10–50 µm and 50–100 µm, suggesting that aged FFP2 masks also became fragmented in seawater conditions. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed the transformation in the structure and chemical composition of the materials. A significant change was observed in chemical and physical structure of the masks after being exposed to weathering conditions in a relatively short period of time (one month). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro- and Nano-Scale Plastic Contamination and Environmental Remediation)

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Review

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29 pages, 3460 KiB

Open AccessReview

Importance of Blue Carbon in Mitigating Climate Change and Plastic/Microplastic Pollution and Promoting Circular Economy

by Suhaib A. Bandh, Fayaz A. Malla, Irteza Qayoom, Haika Mohi-Ud-Din, Aqsa Khursheed Butt, Aashia Altaf, Shahid A. Wani, Richard Betts, Thanh Hai Truong, Nguyen Dang Khoa Pham, Dao Nam Cao and Shams Forruque Ahmed

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2682; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032682 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7897

Abstract

Blue carbon has made significant contributions to climate change adaptation and mitigation while assisting in achieving co-benefits such as aquaculture development and coastal restoration, winning international recognition. Climate change mitigation and co-benefits from blue carbon ecosystems are highlighted in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Its diverse nature has resulted in unprecedented collaboration across disciplines, with conservationists, academics, and politicians working together to achieve common goals such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, which need proper policy regulations, funding, and multi-prong and multi-dimensional strategies to deal with. An overview of blue carbon habitats such as seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and salt marshes, the critical role of blue carbon ecosystems in mitigating plastic/micro-plastic pollution, as well as the utilization of the above-mentioned blue carbon resources for biofuel production, are critically presented in this research. It also highlights the concerns about blue carbon habitats. Identifying and addressing these issues might help preserve and enhance the ocean’s ability to store carbon and combat climate change and mitigate plastic/micro-plastic pollution. Checking out their role in carbon sequestration and how they act as the major carbon sinks of the world are integral parts of this study. In light of the global frameworks for blue carbon and the inclusion of microalgae in blue carbon, blue carbon ecosystems must be protected and restored as part of carbon stock conservation efforts and the mitigation of plastic/micro-plastic pollution. When compared to the ecosystem services offered by terrestrial ecosystems, the ecosystem services provided by coastal ecosystems, such as the sequestration of carbon, the production of biofuels, and the remediation of pollution, among other things, are enormous. The primary purpose of this research is to bring awareness to the extensive range of beneficial effects that can be traced back to ecosystems found in coastal environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro- and Nano-Scale Plastic Contamination and Environmental Remediation)

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26 pages, 6164 KiB

Open AccessReview

Microplastics’ and Nanoplastics’ Interactions with Microorganisms: A Bibliometric Study

by Carlos David Grande-Tovar, Domingo Cesar Carrascal-Hernández, Jorge Trilleras, Katelediana Mora and Victoria A. Arana

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14761; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214761 - 9 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2470

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are plastic particles of concern worldwide as they negatively affect the environment and human health. The interactions of microorganisms with microplastics and nanoplastics are different. On one hand, microorganisms might biodegrade MPs/NPs through enzymes, but on the other hand, they serve as vehicles to spread diseases or negatively affect their viability. As a result, several studies have reported disturbances in soil balance and negative impacts on geochemical cycles. With an increasing number of investigations into microorganisms and their interactions with MPs and NPs, this study demonstrates a growing interest in biodegradable alternatives. A bibliometric analysis of 719 documents published from 2010 to December 2021 presents the research landscape on the interaction of microplastics and nanoplastics with microorganisms. The study shows that China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany lead the scientific production on this topic. However, in situ studies of large-scale pilot applications in the environment are scarce. More research funding from governments in the form of national action that stimulates national and international cooperation through universities, institutes, and industries is required. There is an urgent need for studies focusing on the degradation mechanisms of various microorganisms through the characterization of enzymes involved in the chemical modification of these emerging contaminants (MPs/NPs) with transparent standard methodologies. Moreover, there is no standardization for MP/NP extraction or characterization methodologies for different environments, especially in atmosphere. The patent need for alternative pathways for MP/NP degradation is evident, using microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, microalgae, and a consortium (peripheral biofilms) to mitigate the negative impact of the constantly increasing anthropogenic MP/NP pollutants in the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro- and Nano-Scale Plastic Contamination and Environmental Remediation)

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