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Thirumalaivasan N, Mahapatra S, Ramanathan G, Kumar A, Raja T, Muthuramamoorthy M, Pandit B, Pandiaraj S, Prakash S. Exploring antimicrobial and biocompatible applications of eco-friendly fluorescent carbon dots derived from fast-food packaging waste transformation. Environ Res 2024; 244:117888. [PMID: 38097060 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
In the face of escalating environmental concerns, particularly the pervasive issue of non-biodegradable fast-food packaging waste, this study introduces a ground-breaking solution that not only addresses waste management but also advances biomedical technology. Utilizing the underexploited resource of Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, we have innovatively transformed fast-food packaging waste into eco-friendly fluorescent carbon dots (FPCDs). These FPCDs were meticulously characterized through advanced techniques like FT-IR, TEM, and XRD, shedding light on their unique structure, morphology, and composition. A significant discovery of this study is the potent antimicrobial properties of these FPCDs, which demonstrate remarkable effectiveness against specific bacterial and fungal strains. This opens new avenues in the realm of biomedical applications, including imaging, drug delivery, and biosensing. Furthermore, extensive toxicity assessments, including the Brine shrimp lethality assay and Adult Artemia toxicity tests, underscore the safety of these nanoparticles, bolstering their applicability in sensitive medical scenarios. Our research presents a compelling dual approach, ingeniously tackling environmental sustainability issues by repurposing waste while simultaneously creating valuable materials for biomedical use. This dual benefit underscores the transformative potential of our approach, setting a precedent in both waste management and medical innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natesan Thirumalaivasan
- Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sonalismita Mahapatra
- Marine Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Basic Sciences, Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies, OMR Campus, Tamilnadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Vaniyanchavadi, Chennai, 603103, India
| | - Ganesan Ramanathan
- Postgraduate and Research Department of Microbiology, Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, 627412, India
| | - Anuj Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, India
| | - Thandavamoorthy Raja
- Material Science Lab, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, SIMATS, Chennai- 77, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Bidhan Pandit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad 30, 28911, Legnes, Madrid, Spain
| | - Saravanan Pandiaraj
- Department of Self-Development Skills, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Santhiyagu Prakash
- Marine Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Basic Sciences, Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies, OMR Campus, Tamilnadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Vaniyanchavadi, Chennai, 603103, India.
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Ilechukwu I, Das RR, Jamodiong EA, Borghi S, Manzano GG, Hakim AA, Reimer JD. Abundance and distribution of marine litter on the beaches of Okinawa Island, Japan. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 200:116036. [PMID: 38237260 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
This study evaluated the distribution and abundance of marine litter on 30 beaches around Okinawa Island, Japan. Beach quality indices and multivariate statistical analyses were used to assess the quality of the beaches and their pollution patterns. A total of 11,626 items weighing 513.49 kg with an average density of 0.13 ± 0.10 items/m2 were collected. Litter was dominated by plastics (81.72 %), broken glass (8.38 %), and cigarette butts (7.44 %), and 74.05 % of total litter was from land-based sources. Single-use plastics (SUPs) were present in all surveyed beaches and made up 30.54 % of the total litter. The clean coast index (CCI), plastic abundance index (PAI), and hazardous index (HI) were between 0.1 and 7.6, 0.1-4.0 and 0.01-1.42, respectively, indicating low to moderate levels of pollution of Okinawan beaches. This study should aid in the formation of strategies to deal with marine litter in Okinawa, other areas of Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifenna Ilechukwu
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan.
| | - Rocktim Ramen Das
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan
| | - Emmeline A Jamodiong
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan
| | - Stefano Borghi
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan
| | - Geminne G Manzano
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan
| | - Agus Alim Hakim
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan; Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, JI. Agatis, Kampus IPB Dramaga Bogor, 16680, West Java, Indonesia
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0123, Japan
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Ortega-Borchardt JÁ, Barba-Acuña ID, De-la-Torre GE, Ramírez-Álvarez N, García-Hernández J. Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on beaches in the eastern region of the Gulf of California, Mexico. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167539. [PMID: 37797773 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in plastic pollution, including improper disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE). This study focuses on examining the presence and distribution of discarded PPE in three locations in Sonora, Mexico, located within the Gulf of California. Transects were conducted in 2021 and 2022, during which PPE items were visually identified, photographed, and classified. Face masks were found to be the most prevalent PPE type (96% of the total), with polymer-based masks being the most commonly observed (97% of the total). The density of PPE was higher on recreational beaches compared to non-recreational ones. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (W = 217.5, p = 0.014) in the PPE density between the sampled recreational beaches in 2021 and 2022, with a higher density recorded in the first year. Improper disposal of PPE poses environmental risks and potential threats to marine organisms. The documented discarded COVID-19-related PPE in this study provides important baseline information for future research and monitoring. This information is valuable to better understand the ecotoxicological effects of PPE and develop effective waste management strategies in the Gulf of California.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ángel Ortega-Borchardt
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera al Varadero Nacional Km. 6.6. Col. Las Playitas, Guaymas, Sonora C.P. 85480, Mexico.
| | - Isai David Barba-Acuña
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera al Varadero Nacional Km. 6.6. Col. Las Playitas, Guaymas, Sonora C.P. 85480, Mexico
| | - Gabriel E De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Nancy Ramírez-Álvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas-UABC, Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada 3917, Col. Playitas, Ensenada, B.C. C.P. 22860, Mexico
| | - Jaqueline García-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. Carretera al Varadero Nacional Km. 6.6. Col. Las Playitas, Guaymas, Sonora C.P. 85480, Mexico
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Antalfy A, Berman K, Everitt C, Alten R, Latymer M, Godfrey CM. The Adherence and Outcomes Benefits of Using a Connected, Reusable Auto-Injector for Self-Injecting Biologics: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther 2023; 40:4758-4776. [PMID: 37733212 PMCID: PMC10567963 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-023-02671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Many biologics are now self-administered by patients at home. A variety of self-injection devices are available, including vials and syringes, prefilled syringes, and spring-driven prefilled pens or auto-injectors. Each has advantages and drawbacks, and different devices suit different patients. For example, some patients have difficulty achieving consistent and successful self-injection due to poor manual dexterity, or experience anxiety at the prospect of self-injection or injection-site pain. These factors can reduce patients' medication adherence and overall experience. Furthermore, while self-injection brings patients many benefits, the proliferation of single-use injection devices has implications for environmental sustainability, including the reliance on single-use plastics, repeated freighting requirements, and need for incineration as hazardous waste. Recently developed, innovative electromechanical auto-injector devices offer technological enhancements over existing devices to overcome some of these issues. Features include customisable injection speeds or durations, consistent rate of injection, electronic injection logs and reminders, and step-by-step, real-time instructions. Indeed, a growing body of evidence points to higher adherence rates among patients using electromechanical devices compared with other devices. Further, with time, the reusability of electromechanical devices may prove to lighten the environmental impact compared with disposable devices, especially as research continues to optimise their sustainability, driven by increased consumer demands for environmental responsibility. This narrative review discusses the differences between prefilled syringes, spring-driven prefilled pens, and electromechanical devices. It also explores how these features may help reduce injection-associated pain and anxiety, improve patient experience, connectivity and adherence, and drive sustainability of biologic drugs in future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark Latymer
- Inflammation and Immunology Global Medical Affairs, Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9NJ, UK.
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Tan Y, Wen Z, Hu Y, Zeng X, Kosajan V, Yin G, Zhang T. Single-use plastic bag alternatives result in higher environmental impacts: Multi-regional analysis in country with uneven waste management. Waste Manag 2023; 171:281-291. [PMID: 37690403 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Single-use plastics (SUPs) have been the focus of plastic pollution control, and limiting their use while shifting to other alternatives have been widely promoted in various countries. This study tries to verify the life cycle environmental performances of single-use plastic bag and its alternatives under different scenarios in real world. China is chosen as case study, where provincial variability is prominent in waste disposal, and strictest plastics ban has issued lately in this worldwide biggest market. The study found that HDPE plastic bags have relatively lowest environmental footprints regarding to Acidification Potential, Global Warming Potential, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Eutrophication Potential, Fossil Fuel Depletion Potential and Water Use. Sticking to current waste treatment, large-scale promotion of degradable products will increase environmental impacts by 1.4-22.6 times nationwide. Xinjiang has highest impact of using plastic bag at household level, due to its long-distance transport and high landfill ratio. Henan and Hebei will trigger the most significant changes in Global Warming Potential of 4.6 and 4.4 times if single-use plastic bags are all replaced with other alternatives. Uncertainty and sensitivity test further prove the robustness of results, and extends geographical implications of the findings. These suggest that introduction of new alternatives requires systematic deployment with full life cycle thinking, and SUPs pollution control should be a holistic transformation. Reducing bag weight while ensuring carrying capacity, purchasing local products to shorten transportation distances and shifting towards cleaner energy sources are synergetic ways to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqi Tan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Zongguo Wen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yupeng Hu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xianlai Zeng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Vorada Kosajan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Ge Yin
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London, London, UK.
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Tiwari BR, Lecka J, Pulicharla R, Brar SK. Microplastic pollution and associated health hazards: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Curr Opin Environ Sci Health 2023; 34:100480. [PMID: 37304153 PMCID: PMC10183351 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2023.100480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in plastic used for medical purposes such as personal protective equipment and packaging materials. A very low share of plastics is recycled while the majority is sent to landfills. This plastic may degrade over time to form microplastics which may pollute land, air, and water sources. An increase in microplastics can increase the disease risk in human well-being's. The ultimate fate of microplastic is accumulation inside the human body posing the risk of different health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and allergic reactions. Hence, proper detection and disposal methods should be devised to deal with the rise in microplastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash Ranjan Tiwari
- Institut National de La Recherche Scientifique - Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Université Du Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Joanna Lecka
- Institut National de La Recherche Scientifique - Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Université Du Québec, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Rama Pulicharla
- Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, North York, Toronto, Canada
| | - Satinder Kaur Brar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, North York, Toronto, Canada
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Kiessling T, Hinzmann M, Mederake L, Dittmann S, Brennecke D, Böhm-Beck M, Knickmeier K, Thiel M. What potential does the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive have for reducing plastic pollution at coastlines and riversides? An evaluation based on citizen science data. Waste Manag 2023; 164:106-118. [PMID: 37044029 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
To address environmental pollution by plastic litter, the European Union adopted EU Directive 2019/904, the so called "Single-Use Plastics Directive" (SUPD), which bans several single-use plastic products and addresses additional items with measures such as extended producer responsibility and obligatory requirements for product redesign. This study assessed the potential of the SUPD to reduce litter pollution in the environment with three scenarios. The "best case" scenario assumed that all measures of the SUPD completely prevent targeted items from getting into the environment. Another scenario assumed that no measures besides bans were effective. An intermediate scenario assumed partial effectiveness of measures. Data of almost 5,000 sampling events from citizen science protocols (Plastic Pirates, International Coastal Cleanup, Marine Litter Watch) and the OSPAR protocol were used to analyse litter at riversides and coastlines in Germany and the European Union. 44 to 68% of litter items in citizen science protocols consisted of single-use plastics (cigarette butts were the most prominent items). At coastlines sampled by the OSPAR protocol, fishing gear and undefined plastics prevailed. The scenario analysis revealed that substantial litter reductions could be achieved in the "best case" scenario (upwards of 40%), while the intermediate scenario resulted in litter reductions of 13 to 25%. The marginal effect of the "only bans" scenario achieved a reduction of 2-6% in Germany and the European Union, respectively. Thus, depending on implementation and enforcement, the current SUPD can be an important first step, yet further legislative actions are needed to effectively prevent plastic waste pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Kiessling
- Kiel Science Factory, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 16i, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Mandy Hinzmann
- Ecologic Institute. Pfalzburger Strasse 43/44, 10717 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Linda Mederake
- Ecologic Institute. Pfalzburger Strasse 43/44, 10717 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sinja Dittmann
- Kiel Science Factory, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 16i, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Dennis Brennecke
- Kiel Science Factory, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 16i, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Marianne Böhm-Beck
- Kiel Science Factory, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 16i, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Katrin Knickmeier
- Kiel Science Factory, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 16i, 24118 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Martin Thiel
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile.
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Ayala F, Zeta-Flores M, Ramos-Baldárrago S, Tume-Ruiz J, Rangel-Vega A, Reyes E, Quinde E, De-la-Torre GE, Lajo-Salazar L, Cárdenas-Alayza S. Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:57759-57770. [PMID: 36971935 PMCID: PMC10040927 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26617-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Plastics have brought many benefits to society, but their mismanagement has turned them into a serious environmental problem. Today, the effects of plastic waste on wildlife are becoming increasingly evident. Since studies on plastic pollution have focused on species in marine ecosystems, here we review current knowledge on interactions between terrestrial mammals and plastic waste in the countries of the Americas, which is a global hotspot of mammalian biodiversity and in turn has, among its member countries, nations with high per capita generations of plastic waste globally. We identified 46 scientific articles documenting plastic ingestion in 37 species and four species that used plastic waste for nest or burrow construction. Of the 46 investigations, seven focused on plastic contamination, while the others reported on the presence of plastics in wildlife, even though this was not the primary focus of the research. However, these publications lack analytical methods commonly used in plastic studies, and only one study applied a standardized methodology for plastic detection. Therefore, in general, plastic pollution research on terrestrial mammals is limited. We extend several recommendations such as designing methodologies that are adapted to terrestrial mammals for the identification of plastics in fecal matter or gastrointestinal contents, carrying out species-specific analyzes on the impacts of plastics in nests or burrows, and giving further attention to this understudied issue and taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Ayala
- Centro para la Sostenibilidad Ambiental, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
- Subgerencia de Salud y Medio Ambiente, Municipalidad Provincial de Sechura, Piura, Peru.
| | - Martín Zeta-Flores
- Facultad de Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | | | - Juan Tume-Ruiz
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Antia Rangel-Vega
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Eddy Reyes
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Edgardo Quinde
- Facultad de Ingeniería Pesquera, Universidad Nacional de Piura, Piura, Peru
| | - Gabriel Enrique De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Leticia Lajo-Salazar
- División de Mastozoología, Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), Lima, Peru
| | - Susana Cárdenas-Alayza
- Centro para la Sostenibilidad Ambiental, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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Green DS, Almroth BC, Altman R, Bergmann M, Gündoğdu S, Warrier AK, Boots B, Walker TR, Krieger A, Syberg K. Time to kick the butt of the most common litter item in the world: Ban cigarette filters. Sci Total Environ 2023; 865:161256. [PMID: 36587695 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette filters offer no public health benefits, are single-use plastics (cellulose acetate) and are routinely littered. Filters account for a significant proportion of plastic litter worldwide, requiring considerable public funds to remove, and are a source of microplastics. Used cigarette filters can leech toxic chemicals and pose an ecological risk to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Bottom-up measures, such as focusing on consumer behaviour, are ineffective and we need to impose top-down solutions (i.e., bans) if we are to reduce the prevalence of this number one litter item. Banning filters offers numerous ecological, socioeconomic, and public health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannielle S Green
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Bethanie Carney Almroth
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Altman
- Independent Scholar, Providence, RI, United States of America
| | - Melanie Bergmann
- HGF-MPG Group for Deep-Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Sedat Gündoğdu
- Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, 01330 Adana, Turkey
| | - Anish Kumar Warrier
- Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Bas Boots
- Applied Ecology Research Group, School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Kristian Syberg
- Dept. of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
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Northen SL, Nieminen LK, Cunsolo S, Iorfa SK, Roberts KP, Fletcher S. From shops to bins: a case study of consumer attitudes and behaviours towards plastics in a UK coastal city. Sustain Sci 2023; 18:1379-1395. [PMID: 36743454 PMCID: PMC9884600 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-022-01261-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Understanding the use behaviours of plastic items within households is important to enable informed policy development, particularly with the emerging and developing global plastic treaty. A survey of 400 permanent residents in Portsmouth aimed to identify the general trends in single-use plastic product (SUPP) use and disposal, and their personal motivations and barriers to reducing and recycling plastic. This included identifying common influencers of attitudes such as environmental values, situational characteristics, psychological factors and the individual demographic characteristics of residents. Key factors in consumer behaviour were found to be product availability, affordability and convenience. Often, less conveniently recycled plastics more frequently end up in landfill such as films, shopping bags and personal care items. The age of respondents was found to be the most significantly associated demographic with SUPP consumption, reuse and recycling behaviours. Other demographic variables such as a resident's location within the city, income and vehicle ownership were potential drivers influencing individual attitudes and their incentives towards reducing and recycling their plastic waste. The findings from this study brought to light the importance of effective local plastic governance. This study also identified consumer perceptions and behaviours that could contribute to future holistic plastic policy recommendations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-022-01261-5.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Serena Cunsolo
- Global Plastics Policy Centre, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Steven Kator Iorfa
- Global Plastics Policy Centre, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
- Portsmouth Business School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Keiron Philip Roberts
- Global Plastics Policy Centre, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
- School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Stephen Fletcher
- Global Plastics Policy Centre, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
- School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
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Mishra P, Kaviarasan T, Sambandam M, Dhineka K, Murthy MVR, Iyengar G, Singh J, Ravichandran M. Assessment of national beach litter composition, sources, and management along the Indian coast - a citizen science approach. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 186:114405. [PMID: 36493514 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluates the Pan-India beach litter density (items/m2), weight (kg/m2), composition (%), and probable sources based on the citizen science approach. A total of 33 beaches in 2019 and 30 beaches in 2021 were studied. Based on density, the national beach litter average was 0.475± 0.51 and 0.3 ± 0.4 items/m2 in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Plastic was the dominant litter type (65 % in 2019; 74 % in 2021) and Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) were predominant. Based on Clean-Coast Index, six beaches in 2019 and three beaches in 2021 are classified as "extremely dirty". The principal (∼60 %) sources of litter were tourism and public littering. Improving solid waste management, stringent implementation of environmental legislation, leveraging the polluter pays principle, monitoring the effectiveness of SUPs ban, generating awareness, and beach clean-up at regular intervals by engaging the public, educational, and non-governmental organizations will improve and sustain the cleanliness of beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravakar Mishra
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India.
| | - Thanamegam Kaviarasan
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India
| | - Murugan Sambandam
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India
| | - Kuppuswamy Dhineka
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India
| | - M V Ramana Murthy
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, India
| | - Gopal Iyengar
- Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 110003, India
| | - Jagvir Singh
- Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 110003, India
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12
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Jayasinghe RR, Abeyrathna WP, Lythgoe D, Hendawitharana MP, Liyanage C, Williams K, Halwatura RU. Analysis of the community behavioural patterns in management of household plastic waste due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Case Stud Chem Environ Eng 2022; 6:100246. [PMID: 37520918 PMCID: PMC9385346 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2022.100246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected human lifestyle in numerous ways and one such key affected social element is the management of household plastic waste. Due to its effective barrier properties against the COVID-19 virus, usage and consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other single-use plastic (SUP) products have increased exponentially to meet the accelerated demand. Therefore, this paper analyses the changes in community behavioural patterns of household plastic waste management with the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation in Sri Lanka. The comparative analysis of majorly consumed plastic waste types, plastic disposal methods, and perceptions of existing policies before and after the pandemic are broadly discussed. A comprehensive questionnaire was conducted in a stratified randomly sampled community and analysed using SPSS. Disposable face masks (39.9%) and hand sanitiser products (33.0%) were popular plastic products during the pandemic. The frequency of handing over the waste to collectors and recycling centres decreased slightly, from 32.1% to 31.4% and 24.2%-19.8%, respectively. Conversely, respondents' preference for burning plastic waste increased from 23.4% to 27.0% after the pandemic. The plastic disposal methods from before and after the pandemic are significantly associated with income level (p = 0.00) and employment status (p = 0.00). No significant association was observed between the disposal method before the pandemic and the education level of respondents (p = 0.185). However, a significant association was evident between the disposal method after the pandemic and the education level of respondents (p = 0.025).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Daniel Lythgoe
- School of Engineering, University of Central Lancashire, Fylde Rd, Preston, United Kingdom
| | | | - Champika Liyanage
- School of Engineering, University of Central Lancashire, Fylde Rd, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Karl Williams
- School of Engineering, University of Central Lancashire, Fylde Rd, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - Rangika Umesh Halwatura
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Bandaranayake Mawatha, Katubedda, Sri Lanka
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13
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S A, Luckins N, Menon R, Robert S, Kumbalaparambi TS. Micro-plastics in the Vicinity of an Urban Solid Waste Management Facility in India: Assessment and Policy Implications. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2022; 109:956-961. [PMID: 35932326 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03588-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The study focuses on analyzing the presence and quantity of microplastics near an unscientific solid waste dumping site located at Kochi city in India and thereby assessing the contribution of massive open dumping towards microplastic pollution in the river. Two sets of sampling with three sediment samples from nearby Kadambrayar river and five topsoil samples from various parts of the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard were carried out during January - February 2019. The samples were analyzed as per the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US NOAA) protocol. ATR-FTIR and DSC analysis based characterization indicated that polyethylene dominated the micro plastics followed by polypropylene and polystyrene. The size distribution of particles showed that comparatively larger particles of size range between 2.36 - 4.75 mm were present in the topsoil than that in river sediments which had more number of particles in size range below 2.36 mm. The study confirmed the presence of an average of 100 microplastic pieces per 100 gram of sediments of Kadambrayar river bordering the waste dumping yard at Brahmapuram. The topsoil of Brahmapuram waste dumping yard was found to contain 178 pieces of microplastics per 100 gm of soil. Microplastics are found to be high in the river stretch near the open dumping site which has a significant role in the pollution, causing a major threat to the entire ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupama S
- SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
| | - Nisha Luckins
- SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam, Kerala, India.
| | - Ratish Menon
- SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
| | - Sruthy Robert
- SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Karukutty, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
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14
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Chau C, Paulillo A, Ho J, Bowen R, La Porta A, Lettieri P. The environmental impacts of different mask options for healthcare settings in the UK. Sustain Prod Consum 2022; 33:271-282. [PMID: 35847564 PMCID: PMC9270962 DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, different strategies emerged to combat shortages of certified face masks used in the healthcare sector. These strategies included increasing production from the original manufacturing sites, commissioning new production facilities locally, exploring and allowing the reuse of single-use face masks via various decontamination methods, and developing reusable mask alternatives that meet the health and safety requirements set out in European Standards. In this article, we quantify and evaluate the life-cycle environmental impacts of selected mask options available for use by healthcare workers in the UK, with the objective of supporting decision- and policy-making. We investigate alternatives to traditional single-use face masks like surgical masks and respirators (or FFP3 masks), including cloth masks decontaminated in washing machines; FFP3 masks decontaminated via vapour hydrogen peroxide, and rigid half masks cleaned with antibacterial wipes. Our analysis demonstrates that: (1) the reuse options analysed are environmentally preferential to the traditional "use then dispose" of masks; (2) the environmental benefits increase with the number of reuses; and (3) the manufacturing location and the material composition of the masks have great influence over the life-cycle environmental impacts of each mask use option, in particular for single-use options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charnett Chau
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCL, London WC1E7JE, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Paulillo
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCL, London WC1E7JE, United Kingdom
| | - Jasmine Ho
- MedSupplyDriveUK, PPE Medical Charity (Charity number: 1190337), United Kingdom
| | - Robert Bowen
- IChemE/ISPE (UK Affiliate) Covid-19 Initiative Working Group, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian La Porta
- IChemE/ISPE (UK Affiliate) Covid-19 Initiative Working Group, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Lettieri
- Life Cycle Assessment Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCL, London WC1E7JE, United Kingdom
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15
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Klein JR, Beaman J, Kirkbride KP, Patten C, Burke da Silva K. Microplastics in intertidal water of South Australia and the mussel Mytilus spp.; the contrasting effect of population on concentration. Sci Total Environ 2022; 831:154875. [PMID: 35364164 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics, plastic particles <5 mm in size, are of global concern as human-caused pollutants in marine and fresh waters, and yet little is known of their distribution, behaviour and ecological impact in the intertidal environment of South Australia. This study confirms for the first time, the presence of microplastic in the South Australian intertidal ecosystem by quantifying the abundance of particles in intertidal water and in the keystone species, the blue mussel, Mytilus spp., an important fisheries species, at ten and six locations respectively, along the South Australian coastline. For a remote region known for its pristine environment, microplastic concentration in intertidal water was found to be low to moderate (mean = 8.21 particles l-1 ± 4.91) relative to global levels and microplastic abundance in mussels (mean = 3.58 ± 8.18 particles individual-1) was within the range also reported globally. Microplastic particles were ubiquitous across sites and bioavailable by size in water (mean = 906.36 μm) and in mussel (mean = 983.29 μm) raising concerns for the health of South Australia's unique coastal ecosystems and for the human food chain. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between human coastal population size and microplastic concentration in intertidal water, irrespective of influences from industry - tourism, fishing and shipping ports. FTIR analysis determined plastic type to include polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), acrylic resin, polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and cellulose, suggesting synthetic and semi-synthetic particles from single-use, short-life cycle products, fabrics, ropes and cordage. Our findings shed light on the urgent need to establish the local sources of microplastic pollution in order to assist the community, industry and government to reduce the impact of microplastic on the fragile marine systems within South Australian intertidal waters and on the organisms associated with the human food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet R Klein
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.
| | - Julian Beaman
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.
| | - K Paul Kirkbride
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.
| | - Corey Patten
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Karen Burke da Silva
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia.
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16
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Aragaw TA, De-la-Torre GE, Teshager AA. Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution driven by the COVID-19 pandemic along the shoreline of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Sci Total Environ 2022; 820:153261. [PMID: 35065109 PMCID: PMC8787314 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Personal protective equipment (PPE) pollution has become one of the most pending environmental challenges resulting from the pandemic. While various studies investigated PPE pollution in the marine environment, freshwater bodies have been largely overlooked. In the present study, PPE monitoring was carried out in the vicinity of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. PPE density, types, and chemical composition (FTIR spectroscopy) were reported. A total of 221 PPEs were identified with a density ranging from 1.22 × 10-5 PPE m-2 (control site S1) to 2.88× 10-4 PPE m-2 with a mean density of 1.54 × 10-4 ± 2.58 × 10-5 PPE m-2. Mismanaged PPE waste was found in all the sampling sites, mostly consisting of surgical face masks (93.7%). Statistical analyzes revealed significantly higher PPE densities in sites where several recreational, touristic, and commercial activities take place, thus, revealing the main sources of PPE pollution. Furthermore, polypropylene and polyester fabrics were identified as the main components of surgical and reusable cloth masks, respectively. Given the hazard that PPEs represent to aquatic biota (e.g., entanglement, ingestion) and their ability to release microplastics (MPs), it is necessary to implement sufficient solid waste management plans and infrastructure where lake activities take place. Additionally, local authorities must promote and ensure sustainable tourism in order to maintain the ecosystems in Lake Tana. Prospective research priorities regarding the colonization and degradation of PPE, as well as the release of toxic chemicals, were identified and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadele Assefa Aragaw
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
| | - Gabriel E De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Alebel A Teshager
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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17
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Gao AL, Wan Y. Life cycle assessment of environmental impact of disposable drinking straws: A trade-off analysis with marine litter in the United States. Sci Total Environ 2022; 817:153016. [PMID: 35026269 PMCID: PMC8897272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Sound environmental management to control marine plastic pollution requires a careful assessment of environmental costs and benefits of replacing single-use plastics with their biodegradable counterparts. This research employs the standard life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to assess and compare the environmental impact of plastic straws made from polypropylene (PP), and its biodegradable alternatives made from polylactic acid (PLA) and paper (PA) in the United States. Eight environmental impact categories, not including marine litter, were analyzed and a composite relative environmental impact index (REI) was derived for quantitative comparison. The results show that US daily consumption of disposable drinking straws (500 million straws daily) may carry significant environmental burdens regardless of straw types, with the feedstock manufacture stage of the life cycle creating most of the contribution. The REI index values were 2.4 for PP straws, 6.4 for PLA straws, and 5.1 for PA straws with landfill and 3.2 for PP straws, 6.8 for PLA straws, and 4.9 for PA straws with incineration. A sensitivity analysis did not show much change in REI with increasing marine litter rate, demonstrating that replacing PP straws with PLA or PA straws for controlling marine plastic pollution would come with environmental costs in other categories. The trade-off can be quantitatively represented by the difference in REI between PP straws and PA or PLA straws. Our analysis also indicates close-loop recycling can greatly reduce the environmental impact of PP straws, serving as a technological development to control plastic pollution. While disposable straws were used as a case study in this work, the findings are extensive to other single-use products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela L Gao
- Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
| | - Yongshan Wan
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
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18
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Dehal A, Vaidya AN, Kumar AR. Biomedical waste generation and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India: challenges and possible management strategies. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2022; 29:14830-14845. [PMID: 34622401 PMCID: PMC8496889 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16736-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive generation of biomedical waste (BMW) and plastic waste (PW). This sudden spike in BMW and PW has created challenges to the existing waste management infrastructure, especially in developing countries. Safe disposal of PW and BMW is essential; otherwise, this virus will lead to a waste pandemic. This paper reviews the generation of BMW and PW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the regulatory framework for BMW management, policy interventions for COVID-19-based BMW (C-BMW), the capacity of BMW treatment and disposal facilities to cope with the challenges, possible management strategies, and perspectives in the Indian context. This study indicated that policy intervention helped minimize the general waste treated as C-BMW, especially during the second pandemic. Inadequacy of common BMW treatment facilities' (CBMWTFs) capacity to cope with the BMW daily generation was observed in some states resulting in compromised treatment conditions. Suggestions for better management of BMW and PW include decontamination of used personal protective equipment (PPEs) and recycling, alternate materials for PPEs, segregation strategies, and use of BMW for co-processing in cement kilns. All upcoming CBMWTFs should be equipped with higher capacity and efficient incinerators for the sound management of BMW. Post-pandemic monitoring of environmental compartments is imperative to assess the possible impacts of pandemic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Dehal
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Atul Narayan Vaidya
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India
| | - Asirvatham Ramesh Kumar
- Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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19
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Prata JC, Silva ALP, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T. The road to sustainable use and waste management of plastics in Portugal. Front Environ Sci Eng 2022; 16:5. [PMID: 34697576 PMCID: PMC8527967 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-021-1439-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED As a European Union (EU) member, Portugal must comply with reductions in plastic waste. In Portugal, the 330 items/100 m of beach litter, comprising up to 3.9 million pieces and of which 88% is plastic, is higher than the EU median (149 items/100 m) and must be reduced to 20 items/100 m (94%). Integrative measures are needed to reduce littering and improve plastics' use and disposal under the circular economy. Of this 414 kt of plastic packaging waste, 163 kt were declared plastic packaging, 140 kt subjected to recycling, and 94 kt to energy recovery. The current recycling rate of plastic packaging (34%) should be improved to reach EU recycling averages (42%) and goals and to provide widespread benefits, considering revenues of 167 €/t. As a net importer of waste, Portugal could benefit from the valorization of imported waste. Besides increased recycling, pyrolysis and gasification could provide short-term alternatives for producing value-added substances from plastic waste, such as hydrogen, consistent with the National Plan of Hydrogen and improving ongoing regulations on single-use plastics. This manuscript provides an integrative view of plastics in Portugal, from use to disposal, providing specific recommendations under the circular economy. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s11783-021-1439-x and is accessible for authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana C. Prata
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana L. Patrício Silva
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Armando C. Duarte
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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20
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Neto AM, Gomes TS, Pertel M, Vieira LAVP, Pacheco EBAV. An overview of plastic straw policies in the Americas. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 172:112813. [PMID: 34371344 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although plastic straws account for a small fraction of urban residue, they are also found in marine and coastal waste, raising concerns in the community and resulting in policies to curb or ban improper disposal. These policies are still little documented and discussed in the scientific literature. This review article aims at surveying, categorizing and analyzing existing regulations on the American continent (North, Central and South America and the Caribbean). The regulations were analyzed in terms of straw bans; obligations regarding the type of raw material used in manufacturing; accessibility-related exceptions to bans; and the adoption of environmental education measures. A total of 363 regulations enacted in 62.8% of American countries were examined, 37% of which need technical standards to support their requirements. In Central America and the Caribbean, it is primarily the regulations that provide environmental education. Locations with a strong beach tourism economy have enacted plastic straw regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo Mailes Neto
- Escola Politécnica, Engenharia Ambiental, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, CEP 21941-909 Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thiago Santiago Gomes
- Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano/Programa em Ciência e Tecnologia de Polímeros, Avenida Horácio Macedo 2.030, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco J, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-598, Brazil
| | - Mônica Pertel
- Escola Politécnica, Engenharia Ambiental, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, CEP 21941-909 Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Escola Politécnica/Programa de Engenharia Ambiental, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, CEP 21941-909 Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Louise A V P Vieira
- Faculdade de Direito, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Presidente Pedreira 62, Ingá, Niterói CEP 24210-510 Brazil
| | - Elen B A V Pacheco
- Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano/Programa em Ciência e Tecnologia de Polímeros, Avenida Horácio Macedo 2.030, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco J, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-598, Brazil; Escola Politécnica/Programa de Engenharia Ambiental, Av. Athos da Silveira Ramos 149, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, CEP 21941-909 Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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21
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Walker TR. Plastic industry plan to sue the Canadian federal government for listing plastic as toxic may increase plastic marine pollution. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 169:112583. [PMID: 34146786 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
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22
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Kagel SM, Garcia M, Cummings ME, Gruev V, Brady PC. Comparison of the polarization contrast of gelatinous zooplankton and a transparent single-use plastic bag-Implications for marine animals. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 168:112438. [PMID: 33991983 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution in the ocean is an increasingly detrimental issue for marine organisms. As a form of polarized light pollution, transparent plastic debris may be more visible and pose additional threats to organisms that can detect and interpret polarized light. Plastic can mimic the visual features of common marine prey items, such as transparent gelatinous zooplankton, which may lead to more significant plastic ingestion. We measured, in situ, the polarization and radiance contrast between a transparent plastic bag and gelatinous zooplankton with an underwater video polarimeter. The plastic bag had significantly higher polarization contrast than the gelatinous zooplankton, yet both shared similar radiance contrasts. This higher polarization contrast may contribute to the observed high ingestion rates of transparent plastic by marine organisms. Further study into the connection between polarization-sensitive organisms and plastic ingestion is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Kagel
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Missael Garcia
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Molly E Cummings
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Viktor Gruev
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Parrish C Brady
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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23
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Charitou A, Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou R, Mylona Z, Beck R, McLellan F, Addamo AM. Investigating the knowledge and attitude of the Greek public towards marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 166:112182. [PMID: 33652246 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the knowledge and attitudes of the Greek public towards marine plastic pollution and the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive by interpreting the results of a questionnaire. In Greece, the issue of marine plastic pollution has been highlighted by scientists. Public consultation processes about the implementation of the Directive into the national law have been also carried out. However, the results of our study showed that participants were not informed about the issue of marine plastic pollution nor the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. Nevertheless, they expressed positive attitudes towards it including their willingness to pay and act in order to reduce their plastic waste. Thereby, it is recommended that more initiatives should support the publicity of the Directive so that the Greek public would be able to participating in the decision-making process and support its implementation. In addition, the current study suggests that the topic of microplastics should be integrated into the context of formal education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Charitou
- iSea, Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of the Aquatic Ecosystems, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | | | - Zoi Mylona
- iSea, Environmental Organisation for the Preservation of the Aquatic Ecosystems, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Rahel Beck
- OceanCare, Gerbestrasse 6, 8820 Waedenswil, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna Maria Addamo
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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24
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Benson NU, Bassey DE, Palanisami T. COVID pollution: impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global plastic waste footprint. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06343. [PMID: 33655084 PMCID: PMC7896824 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic products have played significant roles in protecting people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread use of personal protective gear created a massive disruption in the supply chain and waste disposal system. Millions of discarded single-use plastics (masks, gloves, aprons, and bottles of sanitizers) have been added to the terrestrial environment and could cause a surge in plastics washing up the ocean coastlines and littering the seabed. This paper attempts to assess the environmental footprints of the global plastic wastes generated during COVID-19 and analyze the potential impacts associated with plastic pollution. The amount of plastic wastes generated worldwide since the outbreak is estimated at 1.6 million tonnes/day. We estimate that approximately 3.4 billion single-use facemasks/face shields are discarded daily as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, globally. Our comprehensive data analysis does indicate that COVID-19 will reverse the momentum of years-long global battle to reduce plastic waste pollution. As governments are looking to turbo-charge the economy by supporting businesses weather the pandemic, there is an opportunity to rebuild new industries that can innovate new reusable or non-plastic PPEs. The unanticipated occurrence of a pandemic of this scale has resulted in unmanageable levels of biomedical plastic wastes. This expert insight attempts to raise awareness for the adoption of dynamic waste management strategies targeted at reducing environmental contamination by plastics generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nsikak U. Benson
- Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | | | - Thavamani Palanisami
- Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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25
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Chen Y, Awasthi AK, Wei F, Tan Q, Li J. Single-use plastics: Production, usage, disposal, and adverse impacts. Sci Total Environ 2021; 752:141772. [PMID: 32892042 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Single-use plastics (SUPs), invented for the modern "throwaway society," are intended to be used only once. They are being increasingly produced and used globally, most notably as packaging or consumables, such as SUP shopping bags or disposable tableware. We discuss how most SUPs are landfilled or incinerated, which causes pollution, consumes valuable land, and squanders limited natural resources. Only relatively small amounts are currently recycled, a hindrance to the concept of a circular economy. Moreover, SUP litter aggregation in the natural environment is a major concern. This article briefly reviews SUP contamination in various environmental media including soil, rivers, lakes and oceans around the world. In the face of mounting evidence regarding the threat posed to plant growth, soil invertebrates and other land animals, (sea) birds, and marine ecosystems, there is a growing push to minimize SUPs. Regulatory tools and voluntary actions to reduce SUP usage have been put forward, with some suggestions for minimizing SUP waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Chen
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | | | - Fan Wei
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Quanyin Tan
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Basel Convention Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Beijing 100084, China.
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26
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Ammendolia J, Saturno J, Brooks AL, Jacobs S, Jambeck JR. An emerging source of plastic pollution: Environmental presence of plastic personal protective equipment (PPE) debris related to COVID-19 in a metropolitan city. Environ Pollut 2021; 269:116160. [PMID: 33316501 PMCID: PMC7833877 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented surge of production, consumption, and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks, disposable gloves, and disinfectant wipes, which are often made of single use plastic. Widespread public use of these items has imposed pressure on municipalities to properly collect and dispose of potentially infectious PPE. There has been a lack of structured monitoring efforts to quantify the emerging trend of improperly disposed of PPE debris. In this study, we present a baseline monitoring survey to describe the spatial distribution of PPE debris during the COVID-19 pandemic from the metropolitan city of Toronto, Canada. Our objectives were to: (1) quantify PPE debris types among surveyed areas and; (2) identify PPE debris densities and accumulation of surveyed areas. A total of 1306 PPE debris items were documented, with the majority being disposable gloves (44%), followed by face masks (31%), and disinfecting wipes (25%). Of the face masks, 97% were designed for single use while only 3% were reusable. Of the surveyed locations, the highest daily average densities of PPE debris were recorded in the large and medium-sized grocery store parking lots and the hospital district (0.00475 items/m2, 0.00160 items/m2, and 0.00133 items/m2 respectively). The two surveyed residential areas had the following highest PPE densities (0.00029 items/m2 and 0.00027 items/m2), while the recreational trail had the lowest densities (0.00020 items/m2). Assuming a business-as-usual accumulation, an estimated 14,298 PPE items will be leaked as debris in just the surveyed areas annually. To facilitate proper disposal of PPE debris by the public we recommend development of municipal efforts to improve PPE collection methods that are informed by the described PPE waste pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Ammendolia
- Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, Canadian Museum of Nature, 1740 Pink Road Natural Heritage Campus, Gatineau, Quebec, J9J 3N7, Canada.
| | - Jacquelyn Saturno
- School of Fisheries, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, 155 Ridge Road, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C 5R3, Canada
| | - Amy L Brooks
- College of Engineering, New Materials Institute, Center for Circular Materials Management, University of Georgia, Riverbend Research Lab South, 220 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
| | - Shoshanah Jacobs
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jenna R Jambeck
- College of Engineering, New Materials Institute, Center for Circular Materials Management, University of Georgia, Riverbend Research Lab South, 220 Riverbend Road, Athens, GA, 30602, United States
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27
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Fadare OO, Okoffo ED. Covid-19 face masks: A potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment. Sci Total Environ 2020; 737:140279. [PMID: 32563114 PMCID: PMC7297173 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 406] [Impact Index Per Article: 101.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
•Disposable face masks (single use) are used to slow down the transmission rate of Covid-19 from person to person. •Unprecedented rise in the global production of face masks present a new environmental challenge due to Covid-19 pandemic. •Polymer-based face masks waste management issues are increasing. •Covid-19 is playing a key role in microplastic pollution. •Research and community awareness will be successful in making the public mindful of this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluniyi O Fadare
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Elvis D Okoffo
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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28
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Vlachogianni T, Skocir M, Constantin P, Labbe C, Orthodoxou D, Pesmatzoglou I, Scannella D, Spika M, Zissimopoulos V, Scoullos M. Plastic pollution on the Mediterranean coastline: Generating fit-for-purpose data to support decision-making via a participatory-science initiative. Sci Total Environ 2020; 711:135058. [PMID: 32000335 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a global problem and reliable, coherent and comparable data are essential for targeted mitigation strategies. Throughout the years Mediterranean NGOs have significantly contributed to providing data and information on the temporal and spatial distribution of marine litter found stranded on beaches; thus participatory-science campaigns are an essential tool to fill in the marine litter knowledge gaps. The present study reports the findings of beach litter surveys carried out by 7 NGOs in 23 sites along the coastline of the Mediterranean. The average litter density per site varied from 53 items/100 m to 6,660 items/100 m, with a median of 451 items/100 m. The majority of litter items were made of artificial/anthropogenic polymer materials accounting for 90% of all litter collected. Litter from shoreline sources accounted for 38%. Single-use plastics (SUPs) accounted for 38% of all items recorded ranging from 18.6% to 66.9% for the different beaches. 30% of the investigated beaches had more than 50% of SUPs of the total items recorded, thus providing baseline information and supporting evidence for the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomais Vlachogianni
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece.
| | - Miha Skocir
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vassilis Zissimopoulos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Scoullos
- Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, Athens, Greece
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29
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Winton DJ, Anderson LG, Rocliffe S, Loiselle S. Macroplastic pollution in freshwater environments: Focusing public and policy action. Sci Total Environ 2020; 704:135242. [PMID: 31812404 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and managing plastic pollution is an increasingly important environmental priority for policy makers, businesses and scientists. Awareness of the potential damage to the world's oceans has grown but there is less attention given to freshwater ecosystems. Yet, rivers are the dominant source of plastic pollution to the marine environment, as well as a potential sink, accumulating plastic from multiple sources. Actions to reduce the presence of macroplastics in rivers is fundamental to conserving both freshwater and marine environments, but there is limited understanding of potential pollution sources, vectors and storage. Importantly, there are only a handful of studies examining the typologies of freshwater macroplastic pollution, often using different categories and collection methods. This impedes setting priorities for scientific investigation and mitigation measures. The present study identifies the most prevalent macroplastic items in freshwater environments in Europe, with a focus on consumer plastic items, i.e. those that could potentially be reduced by targeted actions by the public, as well as industrial and government intervention. Our analysis addresses the differences between reported macroplastics in freshwater and marine environments as well as those estimated from litter rates. Our results identify a macroplastic "top ten", i.e. those dominant plastic typologies that require a more focused effort to reformulate their use and management, as well as setting a common baseline for a more consistent data gathering and reporting approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie J Winton
- Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Stephen Rocliffe
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Steven Loiselle
- Earthwatch Institute (Europe), Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, UK; Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, University of Siena, CSGI, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
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30
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Civancik-Uslu D, Puig R, Hauschild M, Fullana-I-Palmer P. Life cycle assessment of carrier bags and development of a littering indicator. Sci Total Environ 2019; 685:621-630. [PMID: 31195323 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Increased plastic consumption has resulted in high amounts of plastic waste ending up in the environment. Recently, the European Commission (EC) has identified a list of single-use plastics, including plastic bags, most commonly found in the European beaches. As a response, alternatives for plastic carrier bags have been more of a concern. Many life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been performed to evaluate the environmental profile of different carrier bags; however, without considering the possibility of contribution to the littering problem. Therefore, in this study, an indicator has been introduced, based on an LCA study of carrier bags which was performed in Spain. The indicator is influenced by parameters such as: number of bags to fulfill the functional unit, weight, surface, fee, and biodegradability. In this paper, a comparative LCA of HDPE, LDPE, PP, paper and biodegradable plastic bags is presented. Following that, a littering indicator is introduced to allow a comparison of the risk of littering of the different carrier bags in marine environment. The results given by the Littering Potential indicator rank the bags oppositely to the results given by the LCA as usual. Further research is needed to refine the model and include additional contributing variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didem Civancik-Uslu
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rita Puig
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Computer Science and Industrial Engineering Department, Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Pla de la Massa 8, 08700 Igualada, Spain.
| | - Michael Hauschild
- Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
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31
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Loizidou XI, Loizides MI, Orthodoxou DL. Persistent marine litter: small plastics and cigarette butts remain on beaches after organized beach cleanups. Environ Monit Assess 2018; 190:414. [PMID: 29926242 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6798-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean whose economy is largely dependent on coastal tourism. It boasts some of the cleanest waters in Europe and has the largest number of Blue Flag awarded beaches per capita in the world. These beaches are managed by local authorities and are regularly cleaned, throughout the year, at least once per day. This paper presents findings from cleanups that were organized over the summers of 2016 and 2017 on nine Blue Flag beaches around the island of Cyprus, after the beaches were cleaned by the responsible authorities. The aim was to answer the following questions: 'Are regular beach cleanups by local authorities efficient?' and 'What is left on a "clean" beach?' The results suggest that local authority cleanup efforts are quite successful at collecting larger pieces of marine litter, leaving the beach seemingly clean. However, small pieces of litter, such as cigarette butts and small pieces of plastic items related to recreational activities, remain on the beach. They likely accumulate or are buried over time, with some items becoming a nuisance to beach goers and a potential source of marine litter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia I Loizidou
- ISOTECH Ltd Environmental Research and Consultancy, Office 401, 1 Kalliopis Str., 2102 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Michael I Loizides
- ISOTECH Ltd Environmental Research and Consultancy, Office 401, 1 Kalliopis Str., 2102 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Demetra L Orthodoxou
- ISOTECH Ltd Environmental Research and Consultancy, Office 401, 1 Kalliopis Str., 2102 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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32
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Xanthos D, Walker TR. International policies to reduce plastic marine pollution from single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads): A review. Mar Pollut Bull 2017; 118:17-26. [PMID: 28238328 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 350] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Marine plastic pollution has been a growing concern for decades. Single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads) are a significant source of this pollution. Although research outlining environmental, social, and economic impacts of marine plastic pollution is growing, few studies have examined policy and legislative tools to reduce plastic pollution, particularly single-use plastics (plastic bags and microbeads). This paper reviews current international market-based strategies and policies to reduce plastic bags and microbeads. While policies to reduce microbeads began in 2014, interventions for plastic bags began much earlier in 1991. However, few studies have documented or measured the effectiveness of these reduction strategies. Recommendations to further reduce single-use plastic marine pollution include: (i) research to evaluate effectiveness of bans and levies to ensure policies are having positive impacts on marine environments; and (ii) education and outreach to reduce consumption of plastic bags and microbeads at source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Xanthos
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Tony R Walker
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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