scholarly journals Implications of COVID-19 pandemic on environmental compartments: is plastic pollution a major issue?

2021 ◽  
pp. 100041
Author(s):  
Ana L. Patrício Silva ◽  
Aleksandra Tubić ◽  
Maja Vujić ◽  
Amadeu M.V.M. Soares ◽  
Armando C. Duarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Environmental Compartments

scholarly journals Plastic pollution in Bangladesh: A review on current status emphasizing the impacts on environment and public health

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 200535-0
Author(s):  
Shafiul Hossain ◽  
Md Anisur Rahman ◽  
Myisha Ahmed Chowdhury ◽  
Sajib Kumar Mohonta
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Environment And Public Health ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Modern Life ◽  
Alternative Materials ◽  
The Government ◽  
Environmental Compartments

Invention of the plastics has largely been considered as a boon for the modern life due to their light weight, high strength, and versatile application while being cheaper than other alternative materials. However, with the low biodegradability, over consumption, and widespread mismanagement, plastics have now become ubiquitous in all the environmental compartments and are held responsible for causing enormous pollution to air, soil, and water bodies. Bangladesh is no different from this global scenario, though there has been a little effort to assess the amount of plastic waste and its consequence which is necessary to encounter this mounting threat effectively. Taking this into consideration, current study investigates the impacts of plastic pollution including its most threatening formmicroplastics on environment and human health in Bangladesh. The study is based on critical review of existing literatures from the global perspective. It has been found that a major percentage of the used plastic is mismanaged in Bangladesh, posing a great threat to the environment and human health. This article also put forward some recommendations to tackle this pervasive problem alongside the measures already taken by the government. Overall, this work is aimed at creating an urge among the researchers to study the plastic pollution in Bangladesh comprehensively and raising a concern among the appropriate authorities to develop policies and impose necessary actions against plastic pollution before it is too late.

scholarly journals Plastic Pollution Research in Indonesia: State of Science and Future Research Directions to Reduce Impacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Vriend ◽  
H. Hidayat ◽  
J. van Leeuwen ◽  
M. R. Cordova ◽  
N. P. Purba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Research ◽  
Pollution Research ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Terrestrial Environments ◽  
Environmental Compartments

Several studies have suggested Indonesia to be among the top plastic polluting countries globally. Data on the presence and amounts of plastic pollution are required to help design effective plastic reduction and mitigation strategies. Research quantifying plastic pollution in Indonesia has picked up in recent years. However, a lack of central coordination in this research has led to research output with different goals, methods, and data formats. In this study we present a meta-analysis of studies published on plastic pollution in Indonesia to uncover gaps and biases in current research, and to use these insights to suggest ways to improve future research to fill these gaps. Research gaps and biases identified include a clear preference for marine research, and a bias toward certain environmental compartments within the marine, riverine, and terrestrial systems that have easy to apply methods. Units of measurement used to express results vary greatly between studies, making it difficult to compare data effectively. Nevertheless, we identify polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene variants (PE, HDPE, LDPE) to be among the most frequently found polymers in both macro- and microplastic pollution in Indonesia, though polymer identification is lacking in a large part of the studies. Plastic research is mostly done on Java (59% of the studies). We recommend research methods used to quantify plastic pollution to be harmonized. Moreover, we recommend a shift in focus of research toward the riverine and terrestrial environments and a shift of focus of environmental compartments analyzed within these systems, an increase in spatial coverage of research across Indonesia, and lastly, a larger focus on polymer characterization. With these changes we envision future research which can aid with the design of more effective and targeted reduction and mitigation strategies.

Plastic pollution research in Indonesia: State of science and future research directions.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Vriend ◽  
Hidayat Hidayat ◽  
Reza Cordova ◽  
Noir. P. Purba ◽  
Ansje Lohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Research ◽  
Pollution Research ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Terrestrial Environments ◽  
Environmental Compartments

<p>Observational and modeling studies have suggested that Indonesia among the top plastic polluting countries globally. Data on the presence of plastic pollution are crucial to designing effective plastic reduction and mitigation strategies. Research quantifying plastic pollution in Indonesia has increased in recent years. However, most plastic research to date has been done with different goals, methods, and data formats. In this study, we present a meta-analysis of 85 studies published on plastic pollution in Indonesia to uncover gaps and biases in current research, and to use these insights to suggest ways to improve future research to fill these gaps. Research gaps and biases identified include a clear preference for marine research, and a bias towards certain environmental compartments within the marine, riverine, and terrestrial ecosystems, which are compartments that are easier to quantify such as riverbanks and beaches. Moreover, we identify polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene variants (HDPE, LDPE, PE) to be among the most frequently found polymers in both macro- and microplastic pollution, though polymer identification is lacking in most studies. Plastic research is mostly done on Java (57%). We recommend a shift in ecosystem focus of research towards the riverine and terrestrial environments, and a shift of focus of environmental compartments analyzed within these ecosystems. Moreover, we recommend an increase in spatial coverage across Indonesia of research, a larger focus on polymer characterization, and lastly, the harmonization of methods used to quantify plastic. With these changes, we envision future research that can aid with the design of effective reduction and mitigation strategies.</p>

scholarly journals MICROPLÁSTICOS: OCORRÊNCIA AMBIENTAL E DESAFIOS ANALÍTICOS

Química Nova ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassiana Montagner ◽  
Mariana Dias ◽  
Eduardo Paiva ◽  
Cristiane Vidal
Keyword(s):  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Environmental Issue ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Physicochemical Processes ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Environmental Compartments

MICROPLASTICS: ENVIRONMENTAL OCCURRENCE AND ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES. Plastic pollution is a major societal, economic, and environmental issue. Upon release into the environment, plastics are altered by biological and physicochemical processes that influence their fate and transport within ecosystems. Large plastic debris can fragment into smaller pieces and are called microplastics (MPs) when occurring at sizes between 1 µm and 5 mm, fragmented or produced in this range. These small pieces of plastics are ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants found throughout the world; however, the environmental consequences and effects on biota are not clearly understood. Scientific literature on the environmental implications of MP pollution is expanding rapidly and critical review of this literature is necessary to identify areas of evolving consensus and remaining gaps in knowledge. Herein a comprehensive literature review was performed to assess (i) the sources and distribution of MPs in different environmental compartments, (ii) the analytical methods that have been applied worldwide, and the key analytical challenges that remain in assessing MPs in the environment, and, finally, (iii) to integrate the findings of Brazilian MP research, which showed that since 2004 (80 papers up to 2020) has documented the presence of MPs in aquatic matrices and sediments with focus on marine ecosystems, mainly identified by visual inspection.

Four-year undergraduate course in environmental engineering in Germany

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fettig ◽  
M. Miethe ◽  
K. Rathke
Keyword(s):  
Applied Science ◽  
Environmental Engineering ◽  
Environmental Sciences ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Employment Sector ◽  
Educational Concept ◽  
Basic Studies ◽  
The University ◽  
Engineering Programme ◽  
Environmental Compartments

For ten years, the Division of Applied Science, University of Paderborn, has gained experience with a four-year undergraduate environmental engineering programme. Up to now, more than 400 graduates have successfully entered a professional career, proving that the educational concept is accepted by the employment sector, e.g. consultants, industry and authorities. Important aspects of this concept are the combination of civil engineering - as a core engineering field - with natural environmental sciences in the basic studies, the coverage of all environmental compartments in the main studies before specialisation in one area, and a strong practical component of the curriculum both inside and outside the university.

scholarly journals Poly(lactic Acid): A Versatile Biobased Polymer for the Future with Multifunctional Properties—From Monomer Synthesis, Polymerization Techniques and Molecular Weight Increase to PLA Applications

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Evangelia Balla ◽  
Vasileios Daniilidis ◽  
Georgia Karlioti ◽  
Theocharis Kalamas ◽  
Myrika Stefanidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Chain Extension ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Decomposition Reactions ◽  
Melt Polycondensation ◽  
Polymerization Conditions ◽  
Molecular Weight Increase

Environmental problems, such as global warming and plastic pollution have forced researchers to investigate alternatives for conventional plastics. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA), one of the well-known eco-friendly biodegradables and biobased polyesters, has been studied extensively and is considered to be a promising substitute to petroleum-based polymers. This review gives an inclusive overview of the current research of lactic acid and lactide dimer techniques along with the production of PLA from its monomers. Melt polycondensation as well as ring opening polymerization techniques are discussed, and the effect of various catalysts and polymerization conditions is thoroughly presented. Reaction mechanisms are also reviewed. However, due to the competitive decomposition reactions, in the most cases low or medium molecular weight (MW) of PLA, not exceeding 20,000–50,000 g/mol, are prepared. For this reason, additional procedures such as solid state polycondensation (SSP) and chain extension (CE) reaching MW ranging from 80,000 up to 250,000 g/mol are extensively investigated here. Lastly, numerous practical applications of PLA in various fields of industry, technical challenges and limitations of PLA use as well as its future perspectives are also reported in this review.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document