List of Contributors xii Preface xvi 1 Sources, Occurrence, and Analysis of Microplastics in Freshwater Environments: A Review 1 Anh Tuan Ta and Sandhya Babel 2 Microplastics in Freshwater Environments – With Special Focus on the Indian Scenario 18 Sumi Handique 3 Microplastic Contamination in the Marine Food Web: Its Impact on Human Health 34 Richa Singh 4 Microplastic in the Aquatic Ecosystem and Human Health Implications 49 Ankita Ojha, Ankitendran Mishra, and Dhanesh Tiwary 5 Interactions of Microplastics Toward an Ecological Risk in Soil Diversity: An Appraisal 63 Iqbal Ansari, Marlia Mohd Hanafiah, Maha M. El-Kady, Charu Arora, and Sumbul Jahan 6 Microplastics in the Air and Their Associated Health Impacts 84 Akanksha Rajput, Rakesh Kumar, Antima Gupta, and Shivali Gupta 7 Plastic Marine Litter in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Current Research Trends and Management Strategies 103 Soha Shabaka 8 Advanced Detection Techniques for Microplastics in Different Environmental Media 129 Arely Areanely Cruz-Salas, Sara Ojeda-Benítez, Juan Carlos Álvarez-Zeferino, Carolina Martínez-Salvador, Jocelyn Tapia-Fuentes, Beatriz Pérez-Aragón, and Alethia Vázquez-Morillas 9 Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastics as Alternatives to Conventional Plastics 170 Bhabesh Kumar Choudhury, Rupjyoti Haloi, Kaushik Kumar Bharadwaj, Sanchayita Rajkhowa, and Jyotirmoy Sarma 10 Biodegradable Plastics: New Challenges and Possibilities toward Green Sustainable Development 187 Rabindra Kumar and Sumeer Razdan 11 Current Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Plastic Recycling 205 Yong Chen and Steplinpaulselvin Selvinsimpson 12 Microbial Degradation of Micro-Plastics 222 Pooja Sharma, Sophayo Mahongnao, and Sarita Nanda 13 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Plastics 245 Kailas L. Wasewar, Sushil Kumar, Dharm Pal, and Hasan Uslu 14 Role of Education and Society in Dealing Plastic Pollution in the Future 267 Nalini Singh Chauhan and Abhay Punia Index 282

Thought-provoking discussions of the challenges posed by—and potential solutions to—plastic and microplastic pollution In Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment: Management and Health Risks, a team of distinguished environmental researchers delivers an up-to-date exploration of plastic and microplastic environmental contamination, conventional and advanced plastics management techniques, and the policies adopted across the globe to combat the phenomenon of plastics contamination. Containing a balanced focus on both conventional plastics and microplastics, this book discusses the potential health issues related to plastic and microplastic infiltration in a variety of global environments and environmental media, including freshwater environments, oceanic environments, soil and sediment, and air. Insightful treatments of commercial and social issues, including the roles of corporate social responsibility initiatives and general education in the fight against plastic and microplastic pollution, are provided as well. Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment also includes: A thorough introduction to plastic debris in global environments, including its accumulation and disintegrationComprehensive explorations of policies for strengthening recyclable markets around the worldPractical discussions of the prevalence of microplastics in the marine environment, air, soil, and other environmental mediaIn-depth examinations of wastewater treatment plants as a potential source point of microplastics, as well as conventional and advanced microplastic particle removal technologies Perfect for academics, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates in fields related to environmental science and plastics, Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment: Management and Health Risks will also earn a place in the libraries of professionals working in the plastics industries and environmental policymakers.