Micro plastic: an imperceptible threat on Agua Dulce Beach, Chorrillos District

The use of plastics in the world is increasing, but their proper final arrangement is limited. Peru made regulatory efforts to reduce its use;however, they are isolated activities that have not represented a significant change in their management. This study allows to identify the presence of microplastic on one of the busiest beaches of the city of Lima Metropolitana, during the emergency period caused by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. To achieve the objectives of the research, it has been sampled in high tide and supra-coastal areas, applying the methodology proposed in the Ministry of the Environment's Soil Sampling Guide. This study shows the presence of microplastics, with an abundance of 43 pieces per m2, and found that the predominance of the type of microplastic found is of secondary origin (polystyrene and polypropylene);however, 20.9% correspond to primary microplastics (pellets) whose source could not be determined. Finally, it is indicated that despite restrictions on the state of emergency the number of microplastics per m2 in Agua Dulce Beach between 2019 (40 pieces) and 2020 (43 pieces) increased by 7.5%.

Microplastic pollution in the polar oceans-A review

Microplastic pollution is a global environmental threat. This problem is now the order of the day in everyone's eyes, leading to environmental and health challenges for the ecosystem. A plastic ban was implemented, but as the COVID-19 pandemic began, multiple needs for plastic materials arose. This resulted in the growth of worldwide plastic pollution, which has even reached remote polar regions. This chapter focuses on microplastic pollution in the polar oceans, such as the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The aim is to describe the microplastics reports underpinning the polar regions, summarize the acquired knowledge, and highlight the need for future perspectives. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The single-use plastic pandemic in the covid-19 era

Single-use plastic (SUP) products are designed to be used only once or for a short time before being discarded. This research focused on personal protective equipment (PPE) made of SUP-based products (face masks, gloves, etc.) and SUP packaging during the COVID-19 era. One of the most obvious effects of the pandemic has been the increase in the use of PPE not only by healthcare professionals but also by the general public. As part of the fight against the pandemic, quarantines were started in many countries;people had to work from home, and shops were closed. Online shopping became more common. The increase in e-commerce also increased the use of SUP packaging. Here, we present an estimation of the number of daily single-use face masks and the amount of medical waste, considering the current COVID-19 cases and population. As a result of our calculations, we show that while the daily amount of medical waste is greatest in the European region, the number of single-use face masks used each day is highest in Asia. These results are associated with the number of COVID-19 cases and population data in the regions. Medical waste and number of patients were directly proportional, as were population and face mask waste. We are faced with plastic pollution that is becoming more difficult to control each day. In the current circumstances, within the scope of combating the possible plastic pandemic, we should prevent the shift of beneficial plastic from a preservative to a pollutant by prioritizing individual, societal, and institutional reforms to minimize plastic pollution. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Sustainable management of drinking plastic straws is required to reduce plastic pollution: Are we using them more during COVID-19?

Nowadays, single-use plastic pollution attracts the attention of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. In addition to personal protective equipment (PPEs) waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, other unpreceded plastic wastes such as packaging from online shopping and food delivery, viruses confirmatory testing, and drinking straws also contributed to pollution and worsened around the globe. This perspective aimed to provide insights into drinking plastic straws as an important source of plastic pollution. Literature searches confirmed that drinking plastic straws, unlike PPEs, have not been researched whether it is an important contributor to pollution or not during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, research on the pollution level of this plastic waste and its association with COVID-19 is required. Drinking straw producers and users require adequate strategies and management of this plastic pollution and more widespread rules and regulations to prevent environmental implications and health risks. This study can usefully give highlights for environmentalists, solid waste management experts, policymakers, and governments by describing the environmental impact and raising health risks of drinking plastic straw pollution.

Face mask structure, degradation, and interaction with marine biota: A review

The COVID-19 pandemic signified an unprecedented driver of plastic pollution, mainly composed of single-use face masks (FMs). Aiming to understand their negative impact (whether aged or not)on the trophic chain, biotic (e.g., bio-incrustation) and abiotic factors (e.g., UV-light, mechanical abrasion) which affect the toxicological profile of FMs or their sub-products (mainly microplastics, MPs, and nanoplastics, PNPs) were studied. In addition to the capacity of FMs to be an immediate source of MPs/PNPs, according to reports in the scientific literature, they are also good substrates since they tend to facilitate the proliferation and transport of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms, pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, contaminating water sources and facilitating the enrichment and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the environment. However, there is limited research on macrofouling and species dispersal. Therefore, the present review aimed to provide an updated and summarized analysis of the environmental and ecotoxicological contribution of this type of waste as well as literature regarding face mask degradation and MPs and/or PNPs release, interaction with biota, colonization in addition to recommendations for future studies.

Did the COVID-19 pandemic play a role in the spatial and temporal variations of microplastics? Evidence from a tropical river in southern India.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) use has increased because of COVID-19, producing more microplastics (MPs). The pandemic's impact on MP pollution in Indian rivers is little understood. In this study, the Netravathi River in Karnataka was investigated for the spatiotemporal distribution of MPs. The MPs abundance, size, and categories varied seasonally, with a higher concentration during the monsoon seasons. The reduction in rainfall during MON20 and the COVID-19 lockdown can be the reasons for the significant decrease in the MP concentration when compared to MON19. Polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abundant polymers, with a shift from polyethylene to the latter (74 %) during post-monsoon season post-lockdown. The situation of MP pollution in Western Ghats can be mitigated with the aid of appropriate waste management of plastic trash and greater public awareness about the disposal of single-use plastics, which has risen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association of microplastics with heavy metals and antibiotic resistance bacteria/genes in natural ecosystems - A perspective through science mapping approach

Micro and nano-plastics (MNPs) have been considered one of the major emerging contaminants that require immediate attention. Their potential impact on the natural ecosystems is yet to be understood, especially their associations with other contaminants like heavy metals and organisms essential for the sustenance of life, i.e., microbes. Microplastics (MPs) also act as sources and carriers of pollutants, similar to macro and mesoplastics, that leach harmful chemicals such as Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals (EDCs), etc. They also behave like super sponge materials which adsorb microbes such as antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARBs), and coronavirus, making their concentration much higher than the ambient environment. Among these microbes, heavy metal-resistance (MRGs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) carry immense significance. The present study provides an in-depth review analysis of the works published related to the association of MPs to heavy metals and ARGs. 1526 articles were investigated after the dataset was subjected to a three-stage screening process. A scientometric analysis revealing details about the most productive and influential journals, co-authorship details, most influential publications, most cited keywords, and most active countries in the research domain was conducted. This provided significant information regarding various aspects of the published works of literature. Subsequently, a qualitative discussion was carried out wherein a detailed discussion with regard to the trends in research on sub-areas in the broad domain was conducted. This resulted in identifying the gaps in the available literature, which paved the way for providing a framework for future research. Through this study, it is expected that the readers will be exposed to a summary of the overall research that has been conducted to date, and the manuscript will act as a guide for future research.

Plastic or plastic-free life: From formation to removal.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have caused global environmental concerns due to their ubiquitous existence in our surrounding environment and the potential threats posed to the ecosystem and human health. This review aims to extend current knowledge on the formation and degradation of MPs and NPs. The paper presents the potential sources of MPs and NPs including plastic containers, textiles, cosmetics, personal care products, COVID-19 wastes, and other plastic products. Once in the natural environment, the fragmentation and degradation of plastic wastes are thought to be initiated by physical, chemical, and biological factors. The corresponding degradation mechanism will be presented in the present review. Given the plastic life and environment, humans are inevitably exposed to MPs and NPs through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The potential risks MPs/NPs pose to humans will be also discussed in our study. Currently, the relevance of MP/NP exposure to human health outcomes is still controversial and not yet fully understood. Deciphering the translocation and degradation of plastics in the human body will be helpful to reveal their potential organotoxicity. In this case, available approaches to alleviate MP/NP pollution and advanced strategies to reduce MP/NP toxicity in humans are recommended to build a plastic-free life.

A novel investigations on medical and non-medical mask performance with influence of marine waste microplastics (polypropylene).

The entire human race is struggling with the spread of COVID-19. Worldwide, the wearing of face masks is indispensable to prevent such spread. Despite numerous studies reporting on the fabrication of face masks and surgical masks to reduce spread and thus human deaths, this novel work is considered the marine waste of microplastics, namely Polypropylene (PP) polymer, used to fabricate non-woven fabric masks through the melt-blown process. This experimental work aims to maximize the mask's quality and minimize its fabrication cost by optimizing the melt-blown process parameters and using microplastics. The melt-blown process was used to make masks. Parameters such as extruder temperature, hot air temperature, melt flow rate, and die-to-collector distance (DCD) were investigated as independent variables. The quality of the mask was investigated in terms of bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE), particle filtration efficiency (PFE), and differential pressure. The Taguchi L16 orthogonal array and Taguchi analysis were employed for experimental design and statistical optimization, respectively. The results reveal that the higher BFE and PFE are recorded at 96.7 % and 98.6 %, respectively. The surface morphological investigation on different layers ensured the fine and uniform porosity of the layers and exhibited minimum breath resistance (a low differential pressure of 0.00152 kPa/cm2). Hence the chemically treated marine waste microplastics improved the masks' performance.

Impact of microfiber pollution on aquatic biota: A critical analysis of effects and preventive measures.

The widespread use of Personal protective equipments (PPEs) by the healthcare professionals and public due to Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a new source for MFs pollution. Mismanaged plastic wastes and random dispose of used surgical face mask end up in large aquatic bodies via small waterways and waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). Microplastics/Microfibres (MPs/MFs) have recently been reported in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including water, deep sea sediments, air and soil. Natural components like UV radiation and temperature play a major role in weathering of surgical masks. High loads of MPs/MFs emitted into the aquatic environment are easily consumed by organism's habitat in such ecosystem by disrupting the food chain and causing chronic health problems in the organisms including humans. The aim of this review article is to shed light on these issues and compile the most recent information available regarding the deterioration of surgical face masks in the environment as well as other contaminants and their presence in various environments, particularly with regard to methods that make use of exposure models, biomarkers of exposure, and their limitations. Along with this, the study focuses on identifying gaps in current understanding and highlighting prospective research directions. The literature on surgical face mask pollution and its effects on the biological and physiological systems of various organisms and ecosystems is critically analysed in this review. It also raises awareness of how to properly dispose of used surgical face masks and other PPEs.

Personal protective equipment-derived pollution during Covid-19 era: A critical review of ecotoxicology impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people used personal protective equipment (PPE) to lessen the spread of the virus. The release of microplastics (MPs) from discarded PPE is a new threat to the long-term health of the environment and poses challenges that are not yet clear. PPE-derived MPs have been found in multi-environmental compartments, e.g., water, sediments, air, and soil across the Bay of Bengal (BoB). As COVID-19 spreads, healthcare facilities use more plastic PPE, polluting aquatic ecosystems. Excessive PPE use releases MPs into the ecosystem, which aquatic organisms ingest, distressing the food chain and possibly causing ongoing health problems in humans. Thus, post-COVID-19 sustainability depends on proper intervention strategies for PPE waste, which have received scholarly interest. Although many studies have investigated PPE-induced MPs pollution in the BoB countries (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar), the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges of PPE-derived waste have largely gone unnoticed. Our study presents a critical literature review covering the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges across the BoB countries (e.g., India (162,034.45 tons), Bangladesh (67,996 tons), Sri Lanka (35,707.95 tons), and Myanmar (22,593.5 tons). The ecotoxicity impacts of PPE-derived MPs on human health and other environmental compartments are critically addressed. The review's findings infer a gap in the 5R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, and Restructure) Strategy's implementation in the BoB coastal regions, hindering the achievement of UN SDG-12. Despite widespread research advancements in the BoB, many questions about PPE-derived MPs pollution from the perspective of the COVID-19 era still need to be answered. In response to the post-COVID-19 environmental remediation concerns, this study highlights the present research gaps and suggests new research directions considering the current MPs' research advancements on COVID-related PPE waste. Finally, the review suggests a framework for proper intervention strategies for reducing and monitoring PPE-derived MPs pollution in the BoB countries.

Microplastic pollution and associated health hazards: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

COVID-19 Waste as Source of Microplastics in the Environment: Implication for Aquatic Species, Human, and Remediation Measures- A Review

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ushered in a new era that led to the adjustments of diverse ecosystems. The pandemic restructured the global socio-economic events which prompted several adaptation measures as a response mechanism to cushion the negative impact of the disease pandemic. Critical health safety actions were impera-tive to curtail the spread of the disease such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPEs), masks, goggles, and using sanitizers for disinfection purposes. The daily de-mands for the products by individuals and medical personnel heightened their pro-duction and consumption, leading to a corresponding increase of COVID-19 wastes in the environment following indiscriminate waste disposal and poor waste management. The persistent occurrence of COVID-19 wastes aggravated microplastics (MPs) con-tamination in the aquatic ecosystem following the breakdown of PPEs-based plastics via oxidation, fragmentation, and photo-degradation actions. These MPs are transport-ed in the aquatic environment via surface runoff and wind action, apart from discrete sources. MPs' presence in the aquatic systems is not without repercussions. Ingestion of MPs by aquatic organisms can cause several diseases (e.g., poor growth, oxidative distress, neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, and organ toxicity). Humans are at high risk of MPs uptake. Apart from aerial and soil contamination sources, consumption of aquatic food products is a critical pathway of MPs into the human body. MP toxicities in humans include liver disorder, respiratory failure, infertility, hormonal imbalance, diarrhea, developmental disorder, and mortal-ity. Measures to alleviate the effect of COVID-19 waste litters include effective waste management plans and the adoption of technologies to extract cum degrade MPs from the aquatic and terrestrial environment.

Optimizing plastics recycling networks

Plastic pollution is a serious sustainability issue facing the global community. Fragments of macroplastics and microplastics pollute terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, while nanoplastics can also degrade air quality. The recent COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated the problem. Large-scale commercial use of plastics recycling technologies is hindered by various socio-economic barriers. In particular, cross-contamination of mixed plastic streams is prevalent due to imperfect waste segregation. The concept of Plastics Recycling Networks is introduced to facilitate planning of reverse supply chains using optimization models. In this work, basic Linear Programming and Mixed-Integer Linear Programming models are developed for matching sources of waste plastic with plastic recycling plants within Plastics Recycling Networks. These models allocate streams while considering the ability of recycling plants to tolerate contaminants. Two illustrative case studies are analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the models, and policy implications for mitigation of plastic pollution are discussed. These models enable planning of networks with some tolerance for contaminants in plastic waste, and can be the basis for developing new variants to handle additional real world aspects.

Sources, analysis, and health implications of atmospheric microplastics

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants pervasive in the environment. Studies have revealed that the majority of airborne MPs are in the form of fiber. Inhaled atmospheric MPs adversely impact human health, causing inflammation and oxidative stress. Atmospheric MPs may also carry hazardous chemical pollutants in addition to heavy metals. Many research studies have been conducted about MPs' presence in the environmental components, however questions about the presence and identification of atmospheric MPs remained unanswered. Based on the mentioned research gaps, this study examined the sources and abundance of MPs in the atmosphere and their generation, accumulation, and fate. The paper further studies and evaluates current methods for identifying and assessing airborne MPs and their impact on human health and the environment. According to the study findings, there are flaws and complexity in MPs assessment and technical procedures, which further challenges data comparability and dependability. In order to ensure data comparability and reliability, the abundance of atmospheric MPs needs to be expressed using a unified and standard methodology. Innovative and well-established identification methods, strategies to minimize the impacts of MPs, and appropriate steps to reduce this global pollution are required for the current state of MPs. It also provides an overview of atmospheric MPs' characteristics, sources, and airborne transmission and deposition mechanisms. Advances in bacterial degradation, sunlight-driven photocatalysts, fuels, and biodegradable plastics could revolutionize future studies on reducing plastic pollution. Future studies should include more research on the various aspects of atmospheric MPs. Despite several research studies conducted on the presence and identification of MPs in various environmental components, many questions regarding MPs in the atmosphere and from the perspectives of COVID-19 and One Health still need to be answered. This study will help the key stakeholders and policymakers in safeguarding public health and environment from the threats posed by airborne MPs.

Impact of Vehicular Traffic on Single Use Surgical Face Masks as a Source of Environmental Micro-fiber Pollution

During the COVID-19 pandemic large numbers of single-use, surgical style face masks were lost or discarded in public spaces, primarily in on public streets and car parking settings. Many of these masks were blown onto the road surfaces where they were subjected to degradation through the tire impact of passing vehicle traffic. As series of field observations as well as experimental simulations show that the three-ply polypropylene mask fabric is subjected to shear forces when compressed between the tire and the road surface. The mechanical action breaks the bonds between the fibers (both spunbonded and meltblown) leading to a continual shedding of microfibers. Wind disperses these into the environment along road sides, while surface water action moves them into stormwater drains and from there into the waterways. As the decay is rapid, municipal agencies only have a short window of time to remove stray face masks from the urban environment if micro-fiber pollution is to be reduced.

Impact of the COVID-19 face mask disposal on environment and perception of people of the Sultanate of Oman

Background: Environmental concerns are increasing in and around us due to improper discharge of personal protective gear or equipment (PPEs) during the current pandemic with SARS-CoV-2. The residents of Salalah, under the Dhofar governorate of Oman, were hastening to take every possible measure to safeguard their health against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scenario, improper discard of facemasks in the environment entails a significant problem for public health and aquatic environments. Objective: This study aims to assess how the SARS-CoV-2 virus disrupted the household waste management chain in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, descriptive survey has also identified people's perception about the existing household waste management system. Methods: Total 200 respondents were personally selected under the purposive sampling category. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The mean, standard deviation, and distribution shape were calculated based on the retrieved data. The variables and frequencies were tabulated for categorical variables. Results show negative impacts on the environment, wildlife, and public health. It was also observed that there was a significant difference when grouped according to residence location since the obtainedalso observed a significant difference when grouped according to residence location since the p-value of 0.007 was less than 0.05 alpha level. This means that the responses differ significantly. It shows from the test conducted that participants from the village experienced and observed a negative impact on the discarded face masks compared to those in the city. Conclusion and recommendation: This study illustrates the real impact of the COVID-19 face masks on the environment, wildlife, and public health. In addition, the new management of the user's face masks for eliminating or reducing the risks to human health and the environment has been suggested.

Quantitative analysis of polystyrene microplastic and styrene monomer released from plastic food containers.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of disposable plastics has rapidly increased along with the amount of plastic waste. During fragmentation, microplastics and other chemical substances contained in plastics are released. These then enter humans through food which could be problematic considering their hazardous potential. Polystyrene (PS), which is widely used in disposable containers, releases large amounts of microplastics (MPs), but no studies have investigated the release mechanisms of PS-MPs and simultaneously exposed contaminants. Therefore, in this study, the effects of pH (3, 5, 7, and 9), temperature (20, 50, 80, and 100 °C), and exposure time (2, 4, 6, and 8 h) on MPs release were systematically examined. A quantitative/qualitative study of MPs and styrene monomers was performed using microscopy-equipped Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The release of PS-MPs (36 items/container) and simultaneously exposed pollutants (SEP), such as ethylene glycol monooleate (EGM), was highest at pH 9, 100 °C, and 6 h, which was proportional to the test temperature and time. Under the same conditions, 2.58 µg/L of styrene monomer migrated to the liquid food simulants. The fragmentation was proceeded by oxidation/hydrolysis and accelerated by increased temperature and exposure time. The strong positive correlation between PS-MPs and SEPs releases at pH and temperature indicates that PS-MPs and SEPs follow the same release process. However, a strongly negative correlation between PS-MPs and styrene monomers at the exposed time shows that styrene migration does not follow the same release process, but does its partition coefficient.

Comparison between discarded facemask and common plastic waste on microbial colonization and physiochemical properties during aging in seawater.

Facemasks are indispensable for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, improper disposal of discarded facemasks has led to their contamination in the marine environment. To understand the environmental risk of this emerging plastic pollution, it's important to clarify the features that distinguish discarded facemasks from common plastic waste during aging. This study compared the microbial colonization, degradation-related enzymes, and physicochemical properties among surgical masks, polystyrene cups, polycarbonate bottles, and polyethylene terephthalate bottles in their aging processes in natural seawater. Compared to the other plastic wastes, surgical masks were colonized by the most diverse microorganisms, reaching 1521 unique prokaryotic OTUs after 21-day exposure in seawater. Moreover, the activity of eukaryotic enzymes associated with plastic degradation was 80-fold higher than that in seawater, indicating that the colonized eukaryotes would be the major microorganisms degrading the surgical masks. Meanwhile, the nano-sized defects (depth between 8 and 61 nm) would evolve into cracks of bigger sizes and result in the breakage of the microfibers and releasing microplastics into the ocean. Overall, our study demonstrated a distinctive plastisphere occurred in surgical masks from both microbial and physiochemical aspects. This work provides new insights for assessing the potential risk of plastic pollution caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Different weathering conditions affect the release of microplastics by masks.

A generation of microplastics caused by improper disposal of disposable masks has become a non-negligible environmental concern. In order to investigate the degradation mechanisms of masks and the release of microplastics under different environmental conditions, the masks are placed in 4 common environments. After 30 days of weathering, the total amount and release kinetics of microplastics released from different layers of the mask were studied. The chemical and mechanical properties of the mask were also discussed. The results showed that the mask released 25141±3543 particles/mask into the soil, which is much more than the sea and river water. The release kinetics of microplastics fit the Elovich model better. All samples correspond to the release rate of microplastics from fast to slow. Experiments show that the middle layer of the mask is released more than the other layers, and the amount of release was highest in the soil. And the tensile capacity of the mask is negatively correlated with its ability to release microplastics in the following order, which are soil > seawater > river > air > new masks. In addition, during the weathering process, the C-C/C-H bond of the mask was broken.