Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management
The pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has become a significant environmental concern in recent years. Because of their slow rate of disposal, MPs are ubiquitous in the environment. As a consequence of indiscriminate use, landfill deposits, and inadequate recy...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/909 |
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| author | Sameh S. Ali Mohammed Hussein M. Alsharbaty Rania Al-Tohamy Maha A. Khalil Michael Schagerl Majid Al-Zahrani Jianzhong Sun |
| author_facet | Sameh S. Ali Mohammed Hussein M. Alsharbaty Rania Al-Tohamy Maha A. Khalil Michael Schagerl Majid Al-Zahrani Jianzhong Sun |
| author_sort | Sameh S. Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has become a significant environmental concern in recent years. Because of their slow rate of disposal, MPs are ubiquitous in the environment. As a consequence of indiscriminate use, landfill deposits, and inadequate recycling methods, MP production and environmental accumulation are expanding at an alarming rate, resulting in a range of economic, social, and environmental repercussions. Aquatic organisms, including fish and various crustaceans, consume MPs, which are ultimately consumed by humans at the tertiary level of the food chain. Blocking the digestive tracts, disrupting digestive behavior, and ultimately reducing the reproductive growth of entire living organisms are all consequences of this phenomenon. In order to assess the potential environmental impacts and the resources required for the life of a plastic product, the importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) and circularity is underscored. MPs-related ecosystem degradation has not yet been adequately incorporated into LCA, a tool for evaluating the environmental performance of product and technology life cycles. It is a technique that is designed to quantify the environmental effects of a product from its inception to its demise, and it is frequently employed in the context of plastics. The control of MPs is necessary due to the growing concern that MPs pose as a newly emergent potential threat. This is due to the consequences of their use. This paper provides a critical analysis of the formation, distribution, and methods used for detecting MPs. The effects of MPs on ecosystems and human health are also discussed, which posed a great challenge to conduct an LCA related to MPs. The socio-economic impacts of MPs and their management are also discussed. This paper paves the way for understanding the ecotoxicological impacts of the emerging MP threat and their associated issues to LCA and limits the environmental impact of plastic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-734a7d7f4f664c26aadb7ce32b4be40e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-734a7d7f4f664c26aadb7ce32b4be40e2024-12-27T14:56:46ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-12-01121290910.3390/toxics12120909Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and ManagementSameh S. Ali0Mohammed Hussein M. Alsharbaty1Rania Al-Tohamy2Maha A. Khalil3Michael Schagerl4Majid Al-Zahrani5Jianzhong Sun6Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaBranch of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Al-Ameed, Karbala 56001, IraqBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaBotany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, EgyptDepartment of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, A-1030 Vienna, AustriaBiological Sciences Department, College of Science and Art at Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 25732, Saudi ArabiaBiofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaThe pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has become a significant environmental concern in recent years. Because of their slow rate of disposal, MPs are ubiquitous in the environment. As a consequence of indiscriminate use, landfill deposits, and inadequate recycling methods, MP production and environmental accumulation are expanding at an alarming rate, resulting in a range of economic, social, and environmental repercussions. Aquatic organisms, including fish and various crustaceans, consume MPs, which are ultimately consumed by humans at the tertiary level of the food chain. Blocking the digestive tracts, disrupting digestive behavior, and ultimately reducing the reproductive growth of entire living organisms are all consequences of this phenomenon. In order to assess the potential environmental impacts and the resources required for the life of a plastic product, the importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) and circularity is underscored. MPs-related ecosystem degradation has not yet been adequately incorporated into LCA, a tool for evaluating the environmental performance of product and technology life cycles. It is a technique that is designed to quantify the environmental effects of a product from its inception to its demise, and it is frequently employed in the context of plastics. The control of MPs is necessary due to the growing concern that MPs pose as a newly emergent potential threat. This is due to the consequences of their use. This paper provides a critical analysis of the formation, distribution, and methods used for detecting MPs. The effects of MPs on ecosystems and human health are also discussed, which posed a great challenge to conduct an LCA related to MPs. The socio-economic impacts of MPs and their management are also discussed. This paper paves the way for understanding the ecotoxicological impacts of the emerging MP threat and their associated issues to LCA and limits the environmental impact of plastic.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/909ecotoxicityemerging contaminantslife cycle assessmentmicroplasticssocio-economywaste management |
| spellingShingle | Sameh S. Ali Mohammed Hussein M. Alsharbaty Rania Al-Tohamy Maha A. Khalil Michael Schagerl Majid Al-Zahrani Jianzhong Sun Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management Toxics ecotoxicity emerging contaminants life cycle assessment microplastics socio-economy waste management |
| title | Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management |
| title_full | Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management |
| title_short | Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management |
| title_sort | microplastics as an emerging potential threat toxicity life cycle assessment and management |
| topic | ecotoxicity emerging contaminants life cycle assessment microplastics socio-economy waste management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/909 |
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