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Jariyapunya N, Hathaiwaseewong S, Roungpaisan N, Venkataraman M. Development of a Color-Changing Face Mask for Fever Detection Applications. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2025; 18:2042. [PMID: 40363543 PMCID: PMC12072593 DOI: 10.3390/ma18092042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2025] [Revised: 04/24/2025] [Accepted: 04/28/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025]
Abstract
This study focused on developing a color-changing fabric face mask for fever detection. Reversible Thermochromic Leuco dye (RTL) was applied as an indicator to alert wearers of elevated body temperatures, with the color change occurring at 37.5 °C. Five fabric types Polyethylene (PE), cotton (CO), a cotton-polyester blend (TC), polyester (PL), and Polyamide (PA) were coated with blue RTL to evaluate their color change responsiveness. The results showed that fabrics with higher thermal conductivity (λ), thermal absorptivity (b), and heat flow (q) exhibited faster color transitions. RTL-coated PE fabric demonstrated the best performance, with a thermal absorptivity of 312.8 Ws0.5m-2K-1 and a heat flow of 2.11 Wm-2, leading to a rapid color-change time of approximately 4.20 s. Although PE fabric had a lower thermal conductivity (57.6 × 10-3 Wm-1K-1) compared to PA fabric 84.56 (10-3 Wm-1K-1), the highest thickness 0.65 mm of PA fabric slowed its color-change reaction to 11.8 s. When selecting fabrics for optimal heat transfer, relying solely on fiber type or thermal conductivity (λ) is insufficient. The fabric's structural properties, particularly thickness, significantly impact thermal resistance (γ). Experimental results suggest that thermal absorptivity and heat flow are more effective criteria for fabric selection, as they directly correlate with color-change performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nareerut Jariyapunya
- Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand;
| | - Sunee Hathaiwaseewong
- Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand;
| | - Nanjaporn Roungpaisan
- Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani 12110, Thailand;
| | - Mohanapriya Venkataraman
- Department of Material Engineering, Faculty of Textile Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic;
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Khan H, Usama M, Khan MI, Wahab F, Ahmad I, Hamid A, Hussain S, Maqbool A. From pollutant to purifier: Leveraging plastic waste-derived activated carbon for sustainable water remediation solutions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2025; 375:124202. [PMID: 39884200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2024] [Revised: 12/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 02/01/2025]
Abstract
The ubiquitous presence of plastic waste presents a significant environmental challenge, characterized by its persistence and detrimental impacts on ecosystems. The valorization of plastic waste through conversion into high-value carbon materials offers a promising circular economy approach. This review critically examines the potential of plastic waste-derived activated carbon (PAC) as a sustainable and effective adsorbent for water remediation. The manuscript commences with a concise overview of the multifaceted nature of plastic pollution, highlighting its classification, environmental implications, and the limitations of existing waste management frameworks. Subsequently, it delves into the intricacies of PAC production, critically analyzing various preparation methods and their associated challenges. A comprehensive exploration of modification strategies, including chemical activation and surface functionalization, is undertaken to elucidate their role in enhancing PAC's adsorption selectivity and capacity for diverse pollutants. The effectiveness of PAC in removing a diverse array of pollutants, including emerging contaminants and recalcitrant organic compounds, is thoroughly examined. While acknowledging the influence of key factors such as pollutant characteristics and solution chemistry on adsorption efficiency, the review also identifies critical challenges, including the high production costs associated with PAC synthesis, variability of plastic waste composition, the potential for leaching of residual monomers, and the complexities of multi-pollutant adsorption. Future research directions are outlined, emphasizing the need for advanced characterization techniques, computational modeling to optimize adsorbent design, and rigorous life cycle assessments to evaluate the environmental sustainability of PAC production. By addressing these challenges, PAC offers a promising pathway towards a circular economy, mitigating plastic pollution while providing a sustainable and effective solution for water remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammad Khan
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Usama
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Ilyas Khan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 62521, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fazal Wahab
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
| | - Izhar Ahmad
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
| | - Ali Hamid
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Hussain
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
| | - Arslan Maqbool
- Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi 23640, Pakistan
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Rosa GP, da Silva da Costa M, de Moura Monteiro S. Export of macro plastics over a tidal cycle by through small urban rivers in the amazon. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 363:125279. [PMID: 39532250 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/07/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in rivers has increased over the years and contributes to the pollution of the oceans. But knowledge of macroplastic flows in small, tidal-influenced urban rivers in the Amazon is still unclear, mainly due to a lack of understanding of the processes that control transport in rivers. Here, we provide the first estimate of the floating macroplastic flows in two tidally influenced urban rivers, based on continuous observations over a 12-h period. This period includes a tidal cycle (high and low tide), and the observation took place from a fixed bridge located on both rivers. A total of 8682 items of solid waste were observed in urban rivers, of which 80% were plastic. We found a bidirectional transport of waste throughout the tidal cycle, with maximum amounts of -198.5 items.hour-1 during high tide and 498.6 items.hour-1 during low tide. The largest quantities (1046.89) of items occurred during the ebb tide. These rivers in an Amazonian metropolis can contribute around 25.84 kg of macroplastic items per day. The results demonstrate the importance of tidal dynamics in the transport of waste in Amazonian rivers and indicate that urban rivers act as plastic exporters in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Pompeu Rosa
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Monitoramento Ambiental Marinho LAPMAR, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa s/n, Guamá, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil.
| | - Mauricio da Silva da Costa
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Monitoramento Ambiental Marinho LAPMAR, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa s/n, Guamá, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Sury de Moura Monteiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Monitoramento Ambiental Marinho LAPMAR, Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Augusto Corrêa s/n, Guamá, Belém, PA, 66075-110, Brazil
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Li H, Yang Z, Liu Y, Sun P, Wu B, Chen L. Combined effects of polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene microplastics with cadmium on the intestine of zebrafish at environmentally relevant concentrations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176289. [PMID: 39288879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a common additive in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) plastics. Aquatic organisms were inevitably co-exposed to PVC/PP microplastics (MPs) and Cd, but their combined toxicity is still unknown. In this study, adult zebrafish were exposed to 200 μg/L MPs (PVC or PP) and 10 μg/L Cd alone or in combination for 28 days to investigate their toxicity and mechanisms. Results showed that combined exposure with PVC/PP enhanced the Cd accumulation in the zebrafish intestine. Subsequently, toxicology analyses showed that both PVC and PP possessed synergistic toxicity with Cd, manifested by the exfoliation and necrosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and increased levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). PP exhibited a stronger synergistic effect than PVC. Integration of non-targeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that combined exposure to PVC and Cd induced intestine toxicity mainly through bile acid (BA) biosynthesis, fructose (Fru) and mannose (Man) metabolism, and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). The combined exposure of PP and Cd induced toxicity through the arginine (Arg) and glutathione (GSH) metabolisms. Meanwhile, combined exposure of PVC/PP and Cd increased the abundance of intestinal Proteobacteria and pathogen Vibrio, and decreased the abundance of Gemmobacter. These changes indrectly promoted the synergistic toxicity of PVC/PP and Cd through metabolites, such as indole-3-pyruvate (IPyA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and cholic acid (CA). These findings highlighted that more attention should be paid to the toxicity of chemicals at environmentally relevant concentrations, particularly those co-existing with MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Zhongchao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Peipei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
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Yu JT, Diamond ML, Maguire B, Miller FA. Bioplastics: No solution to healthcare's plastic pollution problem. Healthc Manage Forum 2024; 37:401-405. [PMID: 38881533 PMCID: PMC11348639 DOI: 10.1177/08404704241259652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
As Canadian policy-makers recognize the urgency for concerted actions to reduce plastics (e.g., Canada's involvement in the international plastics treaty negotiations, zero plastic waste strategy, and single-use plastics regulations), the healthcare sector must also consider a more sustainable plastics system. In this context, the potential for novel bioplastics to mitigate healthcare's substantial plastic waste problem must be carefully interrogated. Our analysis examines the complexities of bioplastics, highlighting the technical challenges of identifying legitimate sustainable alternatives, and the practical barriers for implementing bioplastics as substitutes for consumable plastics in healthcare. We focus on the Canadian healthcare sector and regulatory landscape with the insights gained being applicable to other sectors and countries. Given the limitations identified, the focus on reducing consumption should remain the priority.
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Huang Y, Zhu Z, Li T, Li M, Cai Z, Wang X, Gong H, Yan M. Mangrove plants are promising bioindicator of coastal atmospheric microplastics pollution. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133473. [PMID: 38219586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are commonly used by society and their break down into millimeter-sized bits known as microplastics (MPs). Due to the possibility of exposure, reports of them in atmospheric deposition, indoor, and outdoor air have sparked worry for public health. In tropical and subtropical regions all throughout the world, mangroves constitute a distinctive and significant type of coastal wetlands. Mangrove plants are considered to have the effect of accumulating sediment MPs, but the sedimentation of atmospheric MPs has not been reported. In this study, we illustrated the characteristics, abundance and spatial distribution of MPs in different species of mangrove leaves along the Seagull Island in Guangzhou. MPs samples from leaves in five species showed various shapes, colors, compositions, sizes and abundance. Acanthus ilicifolius had an average fallout rate of 1223 items/m2/day which has the highest abundance of MPs in all samples. Four shapes of MPs were found in all leaves surfaces including fiber, fragment, pellet, and film, with fiber is the most. The dominant types of MPs in all leaves were cellulose and rayon. Most of the total MPs size were smaller than 2 mm. Clearly, the microstructures of each species leaf surfaces had an impact on its ability to retain MPs. The plants rough blade surfaces and big folds or gullies caused more particles to accumulate and had a higher MPs retention capacity. Overall, our study contributes to a better knowledge of the condition of MPs pollution in atmosphere and the connection between leaves structure and the retention of MPs, which indicates that mangrove plants are promising bioindicator of coastal atmospheric MPs pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyin Huang
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziying Zhu
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianmu Li
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minqian Li
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeming Cai
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaocui Wang
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han Gong
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Muting Yan
- Joint laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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Bernabé I, Amarilla E, de la Orden MU, Martínez Urreaga J, Beltrán FR. Effect of oligomeric lactic acid plasticizer on the mechanical recycling of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-023-31758-0. [PMID: 38214860 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31758-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Bioplastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) emerge as an interesting alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based plastics and as part of the solution their associated environmental issues. Nevertheless, end-of-life scenarios are still a major concern, especially within a circular economy framework. When feasible, mechanical recycling appears as the best alternative, since it saves raw materials and energy. However, the viability of mechanical recycling can be compromised by the degradation of the plastic during its use and during the recycling process and by the presence of certain additives. Consequently, the main objective of this work is to study the effect of accelerated ageing and mechanical recycling on the structure and properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)-based formulations. The obtained results suggest that accelerated ageing and mechanical recycling led only to a slight degradation of the pure PHBV material, along with small variations in the thermal and mechanical properties. However, the plasticized PHBV formulations showed a more severe degradation and increased thermal stability and stiffness, which could be result of the elimination of the plasticizer during the recycling. Overall, mechanical recycling seems to be an interesting valorization strategy for PHBV wastes, although especial attention should be paid to the additives present in the materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Bernabé
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y Medio Ambiente, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain
- Research Group: "Polímeros, Caracterización y Aplicaciones (POLCA)", 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Erika Amarilla
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y Medio Ambiente, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ulagares de la Orden
- Research Group: "Polímeros, Caracterización y Aplicaciones (POLCA)", 28006, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Óptica y Optometría, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28037, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Martínez Urreaga
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y Medio Ambiente, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain
- Research Group: "Polímeros, Caracterización y Aplicaciones (POLCA)", 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Freddys R Beltrán
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y Medio Ambiente, ETSI Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
- Research Group: "Polímeros, Caracterización y Aplicaciones (POLCA)", 28006, Madrid, Spain.
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Dey S, Samanta P, Dutta D, Kundu D, Ghosh AR, Kumar S. Face masks: a COVID-19 protector or environmental contaminant? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:93363-93387. [PMID: 37548785 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29063-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Face masks, a prime component of personal protective equipment (PPE) items, have become an integral part of human beings to survive under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. The global population requires an estimated 130 billion face masks and 64 billion gloves/month, while the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the daily disposal of approximately 3.5 billion single-use face masks, resulting in a staggering 14,245,230.63 kg of face mask waste. The improper disposal of face mask wastes followed by its mismanagement is a challenge to the scientists as the wastes create pollution leading to environmental degradation, especially plastic pollution (macro/meso/micro/nano). Each year, an estimated 0.15-0.39 million tons of COVID-19 face mask waste, along with 173,000 microfibers released daily from discarded surgical masks, could enter the marine environment, while used masks have a significantly higher microplastic release capacity (1246.62 ± 403.50 particles/piece) compared to new masks (183.00 ± 78.42 particles/piece). Surgical face masks emit around 59 g CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions per single use, cloth face masks emit approximately 60 g CO2-eq/single mask, and inhaling or ingesting microplastics (MPs) caused adverse health problems including chronic inflammation, granulomas or fibrosis, DNA damage, cellular damage, oxidative stress, and cytokine secretion. The present review critically addresses the role of face masks in reducing COVID-19 infections, their distribution pattern in diverse environments, the volume of waste produced, degradation in the natural environment, and adverse impacts on different environmental segments, and proposes sustainable remediation options to tackle environmental challenges posed by disposable COVID-19 face masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhendu Dey
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, West Bengal, India
| | - Palas Samanta
- Department of Environmental Science, Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, University of North Bengal, Dhupguri, 735 210, West Bengal, India
| | - Deblina Dutta
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, 522 240, India
| | - Debajyoti Kundu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Sciences, SRM University-AP, Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, 522 240, India
| | - Apurba Ratan Ghosh
- Department of Environmental Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, 713 104, West Bengal, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India.
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Kapustin NO, Grushevenko DA. Analysis of the "circular plastics economy" phenomena and its long-term implications for demand for petroleum market. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:85889-85902. [PMID: 37394564 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28441-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the issues of polymer pollution and carbon footprints have stirred up an active debate around the future of petrochemical industry, which over the past 50 years has been a significant driver of global oil demand. It is assumed that the transition to a "circular plastic economy" should resolve environmental issues for the industry, simultaneously eliminating its dependence on petroleum feedstock. In this work, the authors attempted to untangle the concept of "circular plastics" and assess its potential impact on the market of liquid hydrocarbons. Even in the Moderate scenario, the "circular plastics economy" does become an important factor in demand for hydrocarbons in petrochemical industry, reducing it by 5-10% of the business-as-usual case by 2050 and greatly slowing down demand growth rates after 2045, and the more drastic scenario even sees hydrocarbon demand peak by 2040. These findings indicate the importance of taking into account "plastics circularity" when making long-term forecasts of global oil market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita O Kapustin
- The Department of research of energy complex of Russia and the World, The Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117186, Nagornaya st., 31, k.2, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Dmitry A Grushevenko
- The Department of research of energy complex of Russia and the World, The Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117186, Nagornaya st., 31, k.2, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Pooja N, Chakraborty I, Rahman MH, Mazumder N. An insight on sources and biodegradation of bioplastics: a review. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:220. [PMID: 37265543 PMCID: PMC10230146 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Durability and affordability are two main reasons for the widespread consumption of plastic in the world. However, the inability of these materials to undergo degradation has become a significant threat to the environment and human health To address this issue, bioplastics have emerged as a promising alternative. Bioplastics are obtained from renewable and sustainable biomass and have a lower carbon footprint and emit fewer greenhouse gases than petroleum-based plastics. The use of these bioplastics sourced from renewable biomass can also reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, which are limited in availability. This review provides an elaborate comparison of biodegradation rates of potential bioplastics in soil from various sources such as biomass, microorganisms, and monomers. These bioplastics show great potential as a replacement for conventional plastics due to their biodegradable and diverse properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nag Pooja
- Department of Biophysics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Ishita Chakraborty
- Department of Biophysics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Md. Hafizur Rahman
- Department of Quality Control and Safety Management, Faculty of Food Sciences and Safety, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Nirmal Mazumder
- Department of Biophysics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
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Wei W, Yang Q, Xiang D, Chen X, Wen Z, Wang X, Xu X, Peng C, Yang L, Luo M, Xu J. Combined impacts of microplastics and cadmium on the liver function, immune response, and intestinal microbiota of crucian carp (Carassius carassius). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 261:115104. [PMID: 37295303 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) have attracted global attention for their toxicological interactions in aquatic organisms. The purpose of this investigation was evaluating the effect of MPs (1 mg L-1) and Cd (5 mg L-1) on the liver function, immune response of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) after 96 h exposure, and intestinal microbiota after 21 days, respectively. Co-exposure to MPs and Cd significantly enhanced MP accumulation in the liver of the crucian carp compared to the accumulation with exposure to MPs alone. Co-exposure to MPs and Cd triggered notable histopathological alterations accompanied by increased hepatic cell necrosis and inflammation, and was associated with higher aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activity levels, but higher malondialdehyde content and total antioxidant capacity in the liver. Moreover, the combined treatment of MPs and Cd led to the up-regulated transcription of genes related to immune response, such as interleukin 8 (il-8), il-10, il-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and heat shock protein 70, both in the liver and spleen. Co-exposure to MPs and Cd reduced the variety and abundance of the intestinal microbiota in the crucian carp. Our research indicates that the combined exposure to MPs and Cd may exert synergistic toxic effects on crucian carp, which could impede the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry and pose potential risks to food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Qiufeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; Engineering Research Centre of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Dan Xiang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; Engineering Research Centre of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Zhengrong Wen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; Engineering Research Centre of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Xiaofu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Mingzhong Luo
- Engineering Research Centre of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterlogging Disaster and Agricultural Use of Wetland, College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.
| | - Junfeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.
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12
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Wang W, Su F, Wang S, Lei Y, Gao L, Yin X, Yu H. Bio-straw or not? Determinants of consumption intention under the plastic straw ban. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27696-6. [PMID: 37208510 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27696-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A new plastic ban has banned the use of single-use non-degradable plastic drinking straws in China's food and beverage industry by the end of 2020. However, this has caused widespread discussion and complaints on social media. What are consumers' reactions and what factors influence consumers to choose bio-straws (substitutes for plastic straws) are unclear. Therefore, this research collected 4367 effective comments (177,832 words in total) on "bio-straws" from social media and extracted keywords based on grounded theory to generate questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the consumption intention and influencing factors of 348 consumers regarding the ban. The results indicate the following: (1) consumer opinion on straws can be summarized into five main categories, namely, consumers' user experience, consumer subjectivity, policy awareness, policy acceptance, and consumption intention; (2) consumer subjectivity, policy awareness, and policy acceptance directly affect consumption intention significantly, while user experience affects consumption intention indirectly; and (3) user experience and consumer subjectivity play significant roles in mediating these relationships. From the perspective of consumers, this study provides an important basis for policymakers to formulate single-use plastic alternative policies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhuan Wang
- Fudan Tyndall Center, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Fan Su
- School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Sichen Wang
- School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Yu Lei
- School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Lele Gao
- School of Public Administration of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Xinran Yin
- School of Management of Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
| | - Huajun Yu
- Fudan Tyndall Center, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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13
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Fang C, Luo Y, Chuah C, Naidu R. Identification of microplastic fibres released from COVID-19 test swabs with Raman imaging. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 2023; 35:34. [PMID: 37193314 PMCID: PMC10162899 DOI: 10.1186/s12302-023-00737-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, and it has been generating lots of plastic wastes that become a big concern. To catch the virus, for example, no matter via antigen or PCR test, swab is generally used for sampling. Unfortunately, the swab tip is commonly made of plastics, and thus it can be a potential source of microplastics. This study aims to propose and optimise several Raman imaging to identify the microplastic fibres released from different COVID-19 test swabs. Results The results show that Raman imaging can effectively identify and visualise the microplastic fibres released from the swabs. In the meantime, on the surface of the fibres, additives such as titanium oxide particles are also captured for some brands of swabs. To increase the result certainty, scanning electron microscope (SEM) is first employed to get the morphology of the released microplastic fibres, along with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to confirm the presence of titanium element. Then, Raman imaging is advanced to identify and visualise the microplastics and titanium oxide particles, from different characteristic peaks in the scanning spectrum matrix. To further increase the imaging certainty, these images can be merged and cross-checked using algorithms, or the raw data from the scanning spectrum matrix can be analysed and decoded via chemometrics, such as principal component analysis (PCA). Beyond the advantages, the disadvantages of the confocal Raman imaging (affected by focal height) and algorithms (non-supervised calculation) are also discussed and intentionally corrected. In brief, the imaging analysis (particularly the combined SEM with Raman) is recommended to avoid the possible result bias that might be generated from the single spectrum analysis at a selective but random position. Conclusions Overall, the results indicate that Raman imaging can be a useful tool to detect microplastics. The results also send us a strong warning that, if we worry about the potential microplastics contamination, we should be cautious to select the suitable COVID-19 testing kits. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12302-023-00737-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Fang
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Yunlong Luo
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Clarence Chuah
- Flinders Institute for NanoScale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5042 Australia
| | - Ravi Naidu
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Newcastle, Australia
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14
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Rejeb A, Rejeb K, Appolloni A, Treiblmaier H, Iranmanesh M. Circular Economy Research in the COVID-19 Era: a Review and the Road Ahead. CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABILITY 2023:1-31. [PMID: 37360377 PMCID: PMC10042431 DOI: 10.1007/s43615-023-00265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a major crisis that has severely impacted numerous economic, environmental, and social aspects of human life. During the pandemic, the potential of the circular economy (CE) has gained increasing attention as a prospective remedy for numerous sustainability problems. This systematic literature review charts CE research in the COVID-19 era. To this end, 160 journal articles were selected from the Scopus database. The performance indicators of the literature were determined and described through a bibliometric analysis. Moreover, the conceptual structure of CE research was identified via a keyword co-occurrence network. Based on bibliographic coupling, the focus of CE research in the COVID-19 era revolves mainly around five thematic areas, including: (1) waste management; (2) digitalization and sustainable supply chain management; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on food systems; (4) sustainable development goals, smart cities, and bioeconomy; and (5) closed-loop supply chains. Overall, this review contributes to enriching the literature by determining the main thematic areas and future research directions that can help to advance the transition to the CE and reduce the impact of COVID-19 and similar disasters in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abderahman Rejeb
- Department of Management and Law, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Columbia, 2, Rome, 00133 Italy
| | - Karim Rejeb
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Zarzouna, Bizerte 7021 Tunisia
| | - Andrea Appolloni
- Department of Management and Law, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Columbia, 2, Rome, 00133 Italy
- School of Management, Cranfield University, MK43 0AL Cranfield, Bedford, UK
| | - Horst Treiblmaier
- School of International Management, Modul University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Mohana AA, Islam MM, Rahman M, Pramanik SK, Haque N, Gao L, Pramanik BK. Generation and consequence of nano/microplastics from medical waste and household plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:137014. [PMID: 36328315 PMCID: PMC9619086 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Since the end of 2019, the world has faced a major crisis because of the outbreak of COVID-19 disease which has created a severe threat to humanity. To control this pandemic, the World Health Organization gave some guidelines like wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) (e.g., face masks, overshoes, gloves), social distancing, hand hygiene and shutting down all modes of public transport services. During this pandemic, plastic products (e.g., household plastics, PPE and sanitizer bottles) have substantially prevented the spread of this virus. Since the outbreak, approximately 1.6 million tons of plastic waste have been generated daily. However, single-use PPE like face masks (N95), surgical masks and hand gloves contain many non-biodegradable plastics materials. These abandoned products have created a huge number of plastic debris which ended up as microplastics (MPs) followed by nanoplastics (NPs) in nature that are hazardous to the eco-system. These MPs and NPs also act as vectors for the various pathogenic contaminants. The goal of this review is to offer an extensive discussion on the formation of NPs and MPs from all of these abandoned plastics and their long-term impact on the environment as well as human health. This review paper also attempts to assess the present global scenario and the main challenge of waste management to reduce the potential NP/MPs pollution to improve the eco-systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Amir Mohana
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Md Monjurul Islam
- Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, South Korea
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Sagor Kumar Pramanik
- Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nawshad Haque
- CSIRO Mineral Resources, Clayton South, Melbourne, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Li Gao
- South East Water, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia
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16
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Bhattacharya R. A review on production and application of activated carbon from discarded plastics in the context of 'waste treats waste'. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 325:116613. [PMID: 36327607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the post-COVID scenario, the annual increase in plastic waste has taken an upsurge due to the disposal of plastic masks, gloves and other protective equipment. To reduce the plastic load ending up in landfills and oceans or dumped at roadsides, the potential of using plastic polymers in different sectors has been investigated over the years leading to their potential application in pavement laying, concrete industry, fuel generation and production of carbon-based compounds among which activated carbons (AC) is a prime example. As one of the most recommended adsorbents for removing contaminants from water and adsorbing greenhouse gases, AC creates a potential sector for using discarded plastic to further treat pollutants and approach closer to a circular economy for plastics. This paper analyses the production process, the effect of production parameters on AC characteristics and properties that aid in adsorption. The interdependence of these factors determines the surface area, porosity, relative micropore and mesopore volume, thereby defining the utility for removing contaminant molecules of a particular size. Furthermore, this work discusses the application of AC along with a summary of the earlier works leading to the existing gaps in the research area. Production costs, formation of by-products including toxic substances and adsorbate selectivity are the major issues that have restricted the commercial application of this process towards its practical use. Research aimed at valorization of plastic waste into ACs would minimize the solid waste burden, along with treating other pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roumi Bhattacharya
- Research Scholar, Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology, Shibpur, India.
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17
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Liu Z, Li Y, Wang J, Wu L, Liu Z, Wei H, Zhang J. Unraveling consequences of the co-exposure of polyethylene microplastics and acid rain on plant-microbe-soil system. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135941. [PMID: 35940419 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Emerging microplastics (MPs) pollution and continuing acid rain (AR) co-exist in terrestrial ecosystems, and are considered as threats to ecosystems health. However, few data are available on MPs-AR interactions in plant-microbe-soil systems. Here, a microcosm experiment was manipulated to elucidate the co-exposure of polyethylene MPs (PE MPs; 1%, 5% and 10%) and AR (pH 4.0) on soil-lettuce system, in which the properties of soil and lettuce, and their links were explored. We found that 10% PE MPs increased soil CO2 emission and its temperature sensitivity (Q10) in combination with AR, while 1% PE MPs reduced soil CO2 emission irrespective of AR. PE MPs addition did not influence lettuce production (total biomass) though its photosynthesis was affected. PE MPs exerted negative impact on soil water availability. PE MPs treatments increased NH4+-N content of soil without AR, and dissolved organic carbon content of soil sprayed with AR. 10% PE MPs combined with AR reduced soil microbial biomass, while soil microbial community diversity was not affected by PE MPs or AR. Interestingly, 10% PE MPs addition altered soil microbial community structure, and promoted the complexity and connectivity of soil microbial networks. 5% and 10% PE MPs addition decreased soil urease activity under AR, but this was not the case without AR. These findings highlight the critical role of AR in regulating PE MPs impacts on plant-microbe-soil ecosystems, and the necessity to incorporate other environmental factors when evaluating the actual impacts or risks of MPs pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Liu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yazheng Li
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Lizhu Wu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zhenxiu Liu
- Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Hui Wei
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Jiaen Zhang
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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18
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Liu Z, Liu Z, Wu L, Li Y, Wang J, Wei H, Zhang J. Effect of polyethylene microplastics and acid rain on the agricultural soil ecosystem in Southern China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119094. [PMID: 35245624 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The increasing microplastics (MPs) pollution and continuous acid rain coincide in many areas of the world. However, how MPs interact with acid rain is still unclear. Herein, we conducted a microcosm experiment to decipher the combined effect of polyethylene (PE) MPs (1%, 5%, and 10%) and acid rain (pH 4.0) on the agricultural soil ecosystem of Southern China, in which edaphic property, microbial community, enzymatic activity and CO2 emission were investigated. The results showed that PE MPs significantly decreased soil water retention and nitrate nitrogen content regardless of acid rain. Soil total nitrogen significantly decreased under the co-exposure of 10% PE MPs and acid rain. However, PE MPs did not alter soil microbial biomass, i.e., the content of microbial biomass carbon, total phospholipid fatty acids, with or without acid rain. 10% PE MPs and acid rain treatment significantly increased the activity of catalase and soil CO2 emission. PE MPs addition did not affect the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil CO2 emission regardless of acid rain. These findings suggest that MPs may interact with acid rain to affect soil ecosystems, thus underscoring the necessity to consider the interaction between MPs and ambient environmental factors when exploring the impact of MPs on the soil biodiversity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zhenxiu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Lizhu Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yazheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Hui Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jiaen Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Eco-circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Department of Ecology, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Centre of Modern Eco-agriculture and Circular Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment in the Tropics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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19
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Tsagkaris C, Papazoglou AS, Moysidis DV, Loudovikou A, Papakosta V. Comments on "Plastic accumulation during COVID-19: call for another pandemic; bioplastic a step towards this challenge?" by Neeraj K. Aggarwal ( 10.1007/s11356-021-17792-w). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:46373-46374. [PMID: 35567687 PMCID: PMC9107215 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20809-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christos Tsagkaris
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW, Australia.
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Andreas S Papazoglou
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Athens Naval Hospital, Athens, Attiki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios V Moysidis
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Hippokration General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Αristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna Loudovikou
- European Student Think Tank, Public Health and Policy Working Group, 1058, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Faculty of Philosophy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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20
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Melchor-Martínez EM, Macías-Garbett R, Alvarado-Ramírez L, Araújo RG, Sosa-Hernández JE, Ramírez-Gamboa D, Parra-Arroyo L, Alvarez AG, Monteverde RPB, Cazares KAS, Reyes-Mayer A, Yáñez Lino M, Iqbal HMN, Parra-Saldívar R. Towards a Circular Economy of Plastics: An Evaluation of the Systematic Transition to a New Generation of Bioplastics. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:1203. [PMID: 35335534 PMCID: PMC8955033 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastics have become an essential part of the modern world thanks to their appealing physical and chemical properties as well as their low production cost. The most common type of polymers used for plastic account for 90% of the total production and are made from petroleum-based nonrenewable resources. Concerns over the sustainability of the current production model and the environmental implications of traditional plastics have fueled the demand for greener formulations and alternatives. In the last decade, new plastics manufactured from renewable sources and biological processes have emerged from research and have been established as a commercially viable solution with less adverse effects. Nevertheless, economic and legislative challenges for biobased plastics hinder their widespread implementation. This review summarizes the history of plastics over the last century, including the most relevant bioplastics and production methods, the environmental impact and mitigation of the adverse effects of conventional and emerging plastics, and the regulatory landscape that renewable and recyclable bioplastics face to reach a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elda M. Melchor-Martínez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Rodrigo Macías-Garbett
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Lynette Alvarado-Ramírez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Rafael G. Araújo
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Juan Eduardo Sosa-Hernández
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Diana Ramírez-Gamboa
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Lizeth Parra-Arroyo
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Abraham Garza Alvarez
- Cadena Comercial OXXO S.A de C.V., Monterrey 64480, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (A.G.A.); (R.P.B.M.); (K.A.S.C.)
| | | | | | - Adriana Reyes-Mayer
- Centro de Caracterización e Investigación en Materiales S.A. de C.V., Jiutepec 62578, Morelos, Mexico;
| | - Mauricio Yáñez Lino
- Polymer Solutions & Innovation S.A. de C.V., Jiutepec 62578, Morelos, Mexico;
| | - Hafiz M. N. Iqbal
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
| | - Roberto Parra-Saldívar
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; (E.M.M.-M.); (R.M.-G.); (L.A.-R.); (R.G.A.); (J.E.S.-H.); (D.R.-G.); (L.P.-A.)
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Patti A, Acierno D. Towards the Sustainability of the Plastic Industry through Biopolymers: Properties and Potential Applications to the Textiles World. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:692. [PMID: 35215604 PMCID: PMC8878127 DOI: 10.3390/polym14040692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to provide an overview of the latest research studies on the use of biopolymers in various textile processes, from spinning processes to dyeing and finishing treatment, proposed as a possible solution to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. Recently, awareness of various polluting aspects of textile production, based on petroleum derivatives, has grown significantly. Environmental issues resulting from greenhouse gas emissions, and waste accumulation in nature and landfills, have pushed research activities toward more sustainable, low-impact alternatives. Polymers derived from renewable resources and/or with biodegradable characteristics were investigated as follows: (i) as constituent materials in yarn production, in view of their superior ability to be decomposed compared with common synthetic petroleum-derived plastics, positive antibacterial activities, good breathability, and mechanical properties; (ii) in textile finishing to act as biological catalysts; (iii) to impart specific functional properties to treated textiles; (iv) in 3D printing technologies on fabric surfaces to replace traditionally more pollutive dye-based and inkjet printing; and (v) in the implants for the treatment of dye-contaminated water. Finally, current projects led by well-known companies on the development of new materials for the textile market are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Patti
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr), University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Domenico Acierno
- CRdC Nuove Tecnologie per le Attività Produttive Scarl, Via Nuova Agnano 11, 80125 Naples, Italy
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