Seite - 86 - in Freshwater Microplastics - Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
Bild der Seite - 86 -
Text der Seite - 86 -
1 Introduction
Plastics are the most versatile materials invented by man. The use of plastic
materials has brought great convenience to our daily lives but notwithout down-
sides [1]. Inappropriatedisposalofwastedplasticshascausedseriousenvironmen-
tal problems. The presence of plastic debris in the environment not only affects
the aesthetical and recreational values of ecosystems but may also present a
persistent pollution problem that will continue to accumulate into future genera-
tions [2–4].Onceentering the environment, plastics are subject tophysical, chem-
ical, andbiologicalweatheringprocesses,whichact toslowlybreak largepiecesof
plastic into smaller fragments. Plastics less than 5 mm are considered as
“microplastics” [5]. However, no universally accepted definition in terms of the
size rangeformicroplastics iscurrentlyavailable [6].Microplasticscanbeingested
byaquaticorganisms,whichmight causepotential adverseeffects andarouse food
safety concerns [7–10].As a result,microplastic pollution has become an issue of
emerging concern and is drawing increasing attention from both the public and
scientific community.
Microplastic pollution in the marine environment has received widespread
attention.Microplasticsarefoundubiquitouslyinbenthicandpelagicenvironments
in theoceans [11, 12]. In oceans, the high abundanceofmicroplastics observed in
the large-scale subtropical convergence zones is attributed to the circulation of
ocean currents [13–15].Accumulation ofmicroplastics in shoreline sediments has
also been observed worldwide [16–19]. Themajority of plastic debris in oceans
originates from land, althoughdischarges fromoceanvessels,military operations,
and general shipping activities cannot be discounted [20]. It was estimated that
275millionmetric tonsofplasticwastesweregenerated in192coastalcountries in
2010, and about 4.8–12.7millionmetric tons are estimated to endup in the ocean
[20]. Based on this estimation, over 95% of the plastic wastes will remain on
continents to be either recycled, disposed of in landfills, go for incineration (with
orwithoutenergy recovery),orotherwisebediscardedandstayoncontinents [21].
Only a few studies have addressed the issue ofmicroplastic pollution in terres-
trial environments and inlandwaters in contrast to the vast amount of research in
marine environments. These studies suggest inland waters are facing similar
microplastic accumulation problems as found in the oceans [22, 23].Many inland
watersarehabitats foraquatic species thathave importantecologicalandeconomic
value and provide services for recreation, aquatic products, and water resources.
Therefore, it is important to understand the occurrence, fate, and effects of
microplastics in inlandwaters [24–26].
Asia is the largest and themost populous continent in the world. Asia covers
about 30% of Earth’s total land area and supports about 60% of the world’s
population. There are about a 1,000 ethnic groups with diverse languages and
cultures. Nearly all countries in Asia are developing countries, which are under
rapiddevelopmentwhile facinggrowingenvironmentalproblemsat thesametime.
In this chapter, we reviewed the available literature onmicroplastic pollution in
inlandwaterswith a specific focus onAsia.Aconsiderable lackof data for inland
86 C.Wuet al.
Freshwater Microplastics
Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Titel
- Freshwater Microplastics
- Untertitel
- Emerging Environmental Contaminants?
- Autoren
- Martin Wagner
- Scott Lambert
- Verlag
- Springer Open
- Datum
- 2018
- Sprache
- englisch
- Lizenz
- CC BY 4.0
- ISBN
- 978-3-319-61615-5
- Abmessungen
- 15.5 x 24.1 cm
- Seiten
- 316
- Kategorien
- Naturwissenschaften Chemie