1.2 Sources of Microplastics
To study microplastic sources, it can be distinguished between two kinds of
microplastics, primary and secondary. According to Cole et al. (2011),
primarymicroplastics are defined as microscopic particles manufactured by humans
with some proposal. Most primary microplastics in the environment are dumped
from products routinely used in households, such as facial or body cleansers,
airblasting media, or drug vectors used in medicine (Li et al. 2016). On the other
hand, secondary microplastics are generated by the disintegration or fragmentation
of macroplastics into particles of smaller size (Ryan et al. 2009). Figure 1.3 shows
the difference between the appearance of primary and secondary microplastics.
Primary microplastics, such as polyethylene beads (with sizes between 10 and
106 μm) pictured (Fig. 1.3a), are typically uniform in shape and composition.
Secondary microplastics are typically much more diverse in size, shape, color, and
composition than primary microplastics, as can be seen in a sample trawled from a
Spanish beach (Fig. 1.3b).
Syberg et al. (2015) reported a complete summary of sources of primary and
secondary microplastic. In personal care products, primary microplastics are usually
composed of thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene
copolymers, or polymethyl methacrylate. They are added to provide the personal
care products some interesting characteristics such as ability to form a film, abrasion,
shine, and viscosity (Napper et al. 2015; UNEP 2015). On the other hand, drilling
fluids often contain reinforced Teflon particles, and in recent decades, they have
become more commercially available. The main sources of emissions to the environment are sludge wastes, which are not always collected and treated in the
appropriate way to eliminate these microparticles (Sundt et al. 2014).
Microplastics are also present in pressure sandblasting for cleaning, in the form of
acrylic polymers, melamine, or polyester to remove rust and paint on machines,
engines, and boat hulls. The problem arises when these products are not used in
Fig. 1.3 (a) Primary microplastics from a cosmetic product; (b) secondary microplastics from a
beach (Source: Original production)
1 Microplastic Pollution in Water
5
To study microplastic sources, it can be distinguished between two kinds of
microplastics, primary and secondary. According to Cole et al. (2011),
primarymicroplastics are defined as microscopic particles manufactured by humans
with some proposal. Most primary microplastics in the environment are dumped
from products routinely used in households, such as facial or body cleansers,
airblasting media, or drug vectors used in medicine (Li et al. 2016). On the other
hand, secondary microplastics are generated by the disintegration or fragmentation
of macroplastics into particles of smaller size (Ryan et al. 2009). Figure 1.3 shows
the difference between the appearance of primary and secondary microplastics.
Primary microplastics, such as polyethylene beads (with sizes between 10 and
106 μm) pictured (Fig. 1.3a), are typically uniform in shape and composition.
Secondary microplastics are typically much more diverse in size, shape, color, and
composition than primary microplastics, as can be seen in a sample trawled from a
Spanish beach (Fig. 1.3b).
Syberg et al. (2015) reported a complete summary of sources of primary and
secondary microplastic. In personal care products, primary microplastics are usually
composed of thermoplastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene
copolymers, or polymethyl methacrylate. They are added to provide the personal
care products some interesting characteristics such as ability to form a film, abrasion,
shine, and viscosity (Napper et al. 2015; UNEP 2015). On the other hand, drilling
fluids often contain reinforced Teflon particles, and in recent decades, they have
become more commercially available. The main sources of emissions to the environment are sludge wastes, which are not always collected and treated in the
appropriate way to eliminate these microparticles (Sundt et al. 2014).
Microplastics are also present in pressure sandblasting for cleaning, in the form of
acrylic polymers, melamine, or polyester to remove rust and paint on machines,
engines, and boat hulls. The problem arises when these products are not used in
Fig. 1.3 (a) Primary microplastics from a cosmetic product; (b) secondary microplastics from a
beach (Source: Original production)
1 Microplastic Pollution in Water
5