abrasion by process of physical, chemical, and biological decay, which results in the
direct transfer of these particles into the marine environments (Wang et al. 2018).
Nanoplastics
Nanoplastics are defined as the particles formed as a result of degradation of plastic
objects within a size range of 1 nm to 1 μm (Frias and Nash 2019). The plastic
breakdown process does not stop at the micro level, instead it will continue to
become smaller in size turning into nano-sized plastic particles. Almost all the
microplastics coming from washing clothes or microbeads present in make-ups
(cosmetics) are further broken down into nanoplastics. Limited research and scientific studies are available on nanoplastics which are currently unclear with respect to
their health risks for aquatic organisms. A number of long-term scientific studies in
oceanic environment have shown that the plastic particles can get ingested by a
number of different marine organisms including fish and tortoises which can pass
from the intestines reaching into the animal’s circulatory system eventually generating an immune response (Barboza et al. 2018; Ivanova et al. 2018).
Bioaccumulation as a result of ingesting these nano size particles is possible. As a
result of bioaccumulation of plastic particles in different organisms inhabiting a wide
range of water bodies the food web can get disturbed. Bioaccumulation usually starts
from simpler microorganisms and reaches higher animals in the food web, for
example, algae to zooplankton and then to fish. It has been studied that these nano
sized plastic particles that are accumulated inside the bodies of different organisms
can get access to the brain and incite behavioral disorders. In nature, however, many
animals throughout their life time are rarely exposed to nanoparticles. Most commonly used plastics are enlisted in Table 3.1 (Rhodes et al. 2018).
Plastics and Marine Debris as Pollutants
Plastic waste is a long-lasting contaminant or pollutant that is resistant to environmental degradation. It can easily adhere with water repellent organic pollutants
which are persistent and are highly associated with fatality in many aquatic animals
(Karbalaei et al. 2018). The huge debris piles around us are evidence of their excess
in modern society. Marine or aquatic debris consists of solid materials that are
released into the aquatic habitat, for example, glass, metallic particles, paper, textile
products, wood, rubber, and plastics. Some of these materials are biodegradable,
whereas the rest are persistent and long-lived in the marine environment. Sunken
wooden vessels and their artifacts made up of ceramic material are non-plastic debris
in water bodies with limited effects (Ahmed et al. 2018). Plastics on the other hand
are different in that they are persistent to biodegradation and readily transportable by
wind and water due to their light weight (Law 2017).
Production of plastics has increased around the globe. The prevalence and risks of
plastics in the sea environment possess serious threats to aquatic life which
3 Remediation of Water Pollution by Plastics
95
direct transfer of these particles into the marine environments (Wang et al. 2018).
Nanoplastics
Nanoplastics are defined as the particles formed as a result of degradation of plastic
objects within a size range of 1 nm to 1 μm (Frias and Nash 2019). The plastic
breakdown process does not stop at the micro level, instead it will continue to
become smaller in size turning into nano-sized plastic particles. Almost all the
microplastics coming from washing clothes or microbeads present in make-ups
(cosmetics) are further broken down into nanoplastics. Limited research and scientific studies are available on nanoplastics which are currently unclear with respect to
their health risks for aquatic organisms. A number of long-term scientific studies in
oceanic environment have shown that the plastic particles can get ingested by a
number of different marine organisms including fish and tortoises which can pass
from the intestines reaching into the animal’s circulatory system eventually generating an immune response (Barboza et al. 2018; Ivanova et al. 2018).
Bioaccumulation as a result of ingesting these nano size particles is possible. As a
result of bioaccumulation of plastic particles in different organisms inhabiting a wide
range of water bodies the food web can get disturbed. Bioaccumulation usually starts
from simpler microorganisms and reaches higher animals in the food web, for
example, algae to zooplankton and then to fish. It has been studied that these nano
sized plastic particles that are accumulated inside the bodies of different organisms
can get access to the brain and incite behavioral disorders. In nature, however, many
animals throughout their life time are rarely exposed to nanoparticles. Most commonly used plastics are enlisted in Table 3.1 (Rhodes et al. 2018).
Plastics and Marine Debris as Pollutants
Plastic waste is a long-lasting contaminant or pollutant that is resistant to environmental degradation. It can easily adhere with water repellent organic pollutants
which are persistent and are highly associated with fatality in many aquatic animals
(Karbalaei et al. 2018). The huge debris piles around us are evidence of their excess
in modern society. Marine or aquatic debris consists of solid materials that are
released into the aquatic habitat, for example, glass, metallic particles, paper, textile
products, wood, rubber, and plastics. Some of these materials are biodegradable,
whereas the rest are persistent and long-lived in the marine environment. Sunken
wooden vessels and their artifacts made up of ceramic material are non-plastic debris
in water bodies with limited effects (Ahmed et al. 2018). Plastics on the other hand
are different in that they are persistent to biodegradation and readily transportable by
wind and water due to their light weight (Law 2017).
Production of plastics has increased around the globe. The prevalence and risks of
plastics in the sea environment possess serious threats to aquatic life which
3 Remediation of Water Pollution by Plastics
95