Chapter 1
Microplastic Pollution in Water
V. Godoy, M. A. Martín-Lara , A. I. Almendros, L. Quesada,
and M. Calero
Contents
1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Sources of Microplastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 5
1.3 Overview of Methods Used for the Sampling, Extraction, Purification, and Identification
of Microplastics in the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3.1 Sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.3.2 Extraction and Purification of Microplastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.3 Quantification and Identification of Microplastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4 Microplastics in Freshwater Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.4.1 Global Microplastic Concentration and Distribution in Different Freshwater
Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 11
1.4.2 Type, Size, and Morphology of Microplastics in Freshwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.5 Microplastics in Marine Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1.5.1 Global Microplastic Concentration and Distribution in Different Marine
Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 20
1.5.2 Type, Size, and Morphology of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
1.6 Interactions Among Microplastics and Other Pollutants Presented in Aquatic
Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
1.6.1 Effects of Microplastics on Freshwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Abstract Microplastics are ubiquitous in almost all environments, including freshwater, seawater, and coastal environments. Recently, researches about microplastics
have increased due to their serious ecological and health impacts. In this chapter,
firstly, the sources of microplastics are summarized. Then, the most important
techniques for sampling, extraction, purification, and identification of microplastics
are discussed. Next, abundance of microplastics in different aquatic ecosystems
around the world is synthesized. According to reviewed publications, the rivers
V. Godoy · M. A. Martín-Lara (*) · A. I. Almendros · L. Quesada · M. Calero
Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, Granada, Spain
e-mail: vgcalero@ugr.es; marianml@ugr.es; lucia9s@ugr.es; mcaleroh@ugr.es
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Inamuddin et al. (eds.), Water Pollution and Remediation: Organic Pollutants,
Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 54,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52395-4_1
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