polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride.
With the increased production rate of around 7–8% annually worldwide between
1950 and 2012, polyethylene and polypropylene have become the major
microplastics found in the marine ecosystem (Li et al. 2016).
Secondary Microplastics
Secondary microplastics are derived from the large plastics, converted and
fragmented into smaller debris, resulting in the different structures as shown in
Fig. 2.5. The estimated lifetime of plastics ranges from months to many thousands
of years. As conventional plastic has been produced from the past 60 years, the
approximate figure of plastic longevity is unknown (Li et al. 2016). The physical,
chemical, and biological factors in the environment affect and reduce the structure,
strength, and other properties of the plastics (Li et al. 2016).
Nanoplastic Wastes
There is less knowledge about the threats and risks to humans from nanoplastic
wastes ranging from 1 to 100 nm in sizes, as the focus has been those ranging in sizes
below 1 mm. Both have different structural makeup and sizes which will influence
the rate of uptake and deposition in the living organisms. Once entering the systemic
circulation of human body, nanoplastics may be transported to the liver, placenta,
brain, heart, and kidney, upset the central nervous system, and could lead to
physiological and behavioural changes (Waring et al. 2018).
Plastic Toxins
Additives are defined as the chemicals that are added into plastics to promote specific
characteristics and functionalities. These are incorporated during the manufacturing
or processing of plastics. These are mainly plasticizers, stabilizers, or flame retardants. Plasticizers are most probably added in comparatively excessive proportion,
about 10–50%, to secure the functionality of the plastic. Plastic additives are
basically monomers of different polymeric chain but utilized as a stabilizer too.
Brominated flame retardants is the monomeric unit of polycarbonate, added as a
stabilizing agent in various polymers as shown in Table 2.1. These additives are used
mainly to confer stability, antioxidant activity, fire resistance, plastic property, and
pigmentation. These additives could be found in the microplastics, originating from
the compound plastics (Andrady 2017).
Brominated flame retardants and phthalates are added to the plastics to increase
their plasticity and fire-retardant properties. But, these are regarded as endocrine
disruptors, which could bioaccumulate in the human body (Sun et al. 2019).
2 Identification and Remediation of Plastics as Water Contaminant
55
With the increased production rate of around 7–8% annually worldwide between
1950 and 2012, polyethylene and polypropylene have become the major
microplastics found in the marine ecosystem (Li et al. 2016).
Secondary Microplastics
Secondary microplastics are derived from the large plastics, converted and
fragmented into smaller debris, resulting in the different structures as shown in
Fig. 2.5. The estimated lifetime of plastics ranges from months to many thousands
of years. As conventional plastic has been produced from the past 60 years, the
approximate figure of plastic longevity is unknown (Li et al. 2016). The physical,
chemical, and biological factors in the environment affect and reduce the structure,
strength, and other properties of the plastics (Li et al. 2016).
Nanoplastic Wastes
There is less knowledge about the threats and risks to humans from nanoplastic
wastes ranging from 1 to 100 nm in sizes, as the focus has been those ranging in sizes
below 1 mm. Both have different structural makeup and sizes which will influence
the rate of uptake and deposition in the living organisms. Once entering the systemic
circulation of human body, nanoplastics may be transported to the liver, placenta,
brain, heart, and kidney, upset the central nervous system, and could lead to
physiological and behavioural changes (Waring et al. 2018).
Plastic Toxins
Additives are defined as the chemicals that are added into plastics to promote specific
characteristics and functionalities. These are incorporated during the manufacturing
or processing of plastics. These are mainly plasticizers, stabilizers, or flame retardants. Plasticizers are most probably added in comparatively excessive proportion,
about 10–50%, to secure the functionality of the plastic. Plastic additives are
basically monomers of different polymeric chain but utilized as a stabilizer too.
Brominated flame retardants is the monomeric unit of polycarbonate, added as a
stabilizing agent in various polymers as shown in Table 2.1. These additives are used
mainly to confer stability, antioxidant activity, fire resistance, plastic property, and
pigmentation. These additives could be found in the microplastics, originating from
the compound plastics (Andrady 2017).
Brominated flame retardants and phthalates are added to the plastics to increase
their plasticity and fire-retardant properties. But, these are regarded as endocrine
disruptors, which could bioaccumulate in the human body (Sun et al. 2019).
2 Identification and Remediation of Plastics as Water Contaminant
55