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2 TypesandShapes ofMicroplastics:AFocusonFibers
inUrbanAreas?
MPsobservedinfreshwaternotonlycoverseveralordersofmagnitudeinsize, they
alsocoverawidespectrumofshapes.This includesfibers (length diameter)and
fragments (diameter thickness) composed of different irregular shapes and
spheres. These can be considered as either primary or secondaryMPs depending
on their origin.
Primary MPs are already manufactured in a size smaller than 5 mm. Two
different forms of primary MPs exist: preproduction pellets and microbeads.
Preproduction pellets are used in plastic industry. These virgin resins aremelted
and then formed intoconsumerproducts [8].Microbeadswerefirst present inhand
cleaners that are used on rare occasion by the average consumer [9].Microbeads
have also come to replace natural exfoliatingmaterials in facial cleansers, which
areoftenusedonadailyorat leastweeklybasis[10].SecondaryMPsstemfromthe
degradation and fragmentation of large debris. Thermal, mechanical, and photo-
degradation are important factors during the fragmentation process [11, 12].
Weconsider textilefibers to represent a special case.Theycanbeconsideredas
secondaryMPs as they come from the breakdown of large items (clothes). This
breakdown does not primarily occur in the environment but in the washing
machinesduringthelaundry[13].Asaconsequence,fibersarefoundinthedisposal
of washing machines and, like primaryMPs, enter the environment in a micro-
scopic size.The samestudyshowed thepresenceoffibers at thedisposal ofwaste-
water treatment plants (WWTPs). As a consequence, we would expect a
predominance of fibers in urban areaswith largeWWTPs. In addition, because of
the complexity of studying fibers, they are often overlooked. It is here decided as
consequence togive a specific attention tofibers.
Fibers are often not included on the key figures concerning plastic materials
[14]. However, a great proportion of the produced fibers are derived from petro-
chemical polymers. The international organization for standardization (ISO/TR
11827:2012 Textiles – Composition testing – Identification of fibers) proposed a
classification of thefibers according to their nature andorigin.
Fibers thatareusedandcommercializedcanbeeithernaturalorman-made.The
natural fibers are categorized according to their origin into animal, vegetal, or
mineral fibers. For instance, cotton is a vegetal natural fiber and is very widely
used.Man-madefibersareobtainedbyamanufacturingprocess.Theartificialones
aremade by the transformation of natural polymers. For example, rayon is artifi-
ciallymanufacturedbut ismade fromcellulose,which isanaturalpolymer.On the
other side, synthetic fibers are made from polymers that were chemically
synthetized. In this latter category, we can find plastic polymers (polypropylene,
PP;polyamide,PA;polyethersulfone,PES;etc.).The latteraremostoften theonly
fibers that are included in the microplastics definition in the different studies.
Bicomponent fibers also exist and are composed of two fibers forming polymer
components,which are chemically and/or physically different.
Sources andFate ofMicroplastics inUrbanAreas:AFocusonParisMegacity 71
Freshwater Microplastics
Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Title
- Freshwater Microplastics
- Subtitle
- Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Authors
- Martin Wagner
- Scott Lambert
- Publisher
- Springer Open
- Date
- 2018
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-319-61615-5
- Size
- 15.5 x 24.1 cm
- Pages
- 316
- Categories
- Naturwissenschaften Chemie