Micro (nano) plastics in wastewater: A critical review on toxicity risk assessment, behaviour, environmental impact and challenges

Singh, S and Kumar Naik, TSS and Anil, AG and Dhiman, J and Kumar, V and Dhanjal, DS and Aguilar-Marcelino, L and Singh, J and Ramamurthy, PC (2022) Micro (nano) plastics in wastewater: A critical review on toxicity risk assessment, behaviour, environmental impact and challenges. In: Chemosphere, 290 .

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Abstract

With millions of tonnes of plastic pollution generated every year, small-sized plastic particles, including micro- and nanoplastics, end up in freshwater systems. Due to the very small size and very large specific surface area of nanoplastics, they are known to be persistent and toxic in our environment. These particles are also known to react with other water-borne contaminants and cause acute toxicity in organisms. Nanoplastics are prone to biomagnification and can be transported to humans through various pathways. This study aims to contribute towards understanding the behaviour of nanoplastics in our environment, specifically through identification of various sources, detection techniques, toxicity estimation, health risk in humans, environmental fate, recovery and reuse, and future challenges and limitations. Detailed review on the toxic effects of nanoplastics on various organisms and their degradation rates in soil and water matrices are provided. The suitability of small- and large-scale separation techniques for the removal of nanoplastics in wastewater treatment plants is also discussed. Current challenges and future perspectives in understanding the fate and transport of nanoplastics in the environment are also discussed. Research gaps, including the development of quantification techniques, estimation of degradation mechanisms, transport in marine ecosystems, and development of sensors to examine nanoplastics in the environment, are explored. Finally, we can limit the release of nanoplastics to the environment through reduction, reuse and recycling (3 Rs) of bulk plastic products.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Chemosphere
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Elsevier Ltd.
Keywords:	Ecosystems; Elastomers; Environmental impact; Health risks; Plastic products; Risk assessment; Risk perception; Toxicity; Wastewater reclamation; Wastewater treatment, Critical review; Detection; Micro (nano)plastic; Micro/nano; Microplastics; Nanoplastics; Plastic particle; Plastic pollutions; Reuse; Toxicity risk assessments, Degradation, microplastic; nanoplastic; polycarbonate; polypropylene; polystyrene; polyurethan; polyvinylchloride; fresh water; plastic, concentration (composition); crustal recycling; environmental impact; health risk; iron nanoparticle; nanoparticle; plastic; recycling; risk assessment; toxicity; wastewater, Article; controlled study; degradation; energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; environmental impact; high temperature; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; marine environment; plastic waste; risk assessment; separation technique; surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; ultraviolet radiation; waste water management; waste water treatment plant; analysis; ecosystem; human; toxicity; wastewater; water pollutant, Ecosystem; Fresh Water; Humans; Plastics; Risk Assessment; Waste Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical
Department/Centre:	Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2022 05:45
Last Modified:	30 Jun 2022 05:45
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/73809

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