Occurrence and Source of Microplastic in the Environment

• Main Authors: Kaur, Sarabjeet, Dhiman, Monita
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS 2023
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/9789815165104123010005

Microplastics are ubiquitous on the earth, even in the purest environments like arctic snow, inaccessible mountains, via. Microplastics may be disseminated via air fallout near metropolitan areas, however, the great bulk of data points to water as the primary distribution channel. Researchers have discovered that surface and groundwater are also polluted by microplastics, despite maximum research focusing on marine pollution. The international community visualizes a decline in the concentration of floating plastic waste as an essential step toward the long-term sustainability of the seas. However, there is presently no universally acknowledged indicator of floating plastics trash density. Ultimately, a significant portion of the present microplastic proliferation has been attributed to wastewater, which is frequently not efficiently treated to eliminate such tiny, hydrophobic pollutants. Previously treated wastewater is discharged into water bodies, which in turn feed natural water reserves. Microplastics are also dispersed into the soil and terrestrial ecosystems by certain communities that irrigate their crops with wastewater. A further problem is that micro plastic-rich sludge from wastewater facilities is used as a fertilizer for food crops. It is crucial to keep an eye out for new developments in bioplastics and biodegradable polymers that avoid the build-up of microplastics in the food and agriculture industries.