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    Plastic pollution includes microplastics. The environmental ubiquity of microplastics (< 5 mm) is evident and the leak of microplastics into the environment is projected to increase globally. Microplastics in the environment possess high heterogeneity in polymer composition, particle size, shapes, and surface chemistry, which sometimes result in contradictory toxicological findings. However, much less attention is paid to the color of microplastics, particularly black plastics that are the least recycled and account for a significant proportion of total plastic waste and environmental microplastics. In the present perspective article, based on 50 field-based research articles on microplastics published from 2014 to 2022 and our own research experience, we raised specific environmental concerns about black microplastics and emphasized the challenges posed by black microplastics in multiple aspects. Future prospects were also discussed for better mitigating black microplastics in the context of plastic pollution.
    Plastic pollution
    Plastic Waste
    Citations (27)
    Microplastics had been previously excluded from the data on global plastic pollution. Reports of findings from recent years have placed microplastics higher up the priority list. Microplastics have made their way into groundwater, soil, and the oceans. They have also been found to be present in the air samples. Thanks to studies from several research groups we can now identify the main sources of microplastics and their pathway to the world's ocean. While previous reports suggest that plastics released from synthetic textiles containing polyester were the leading source of microplastics, even more, recent studies that focused on microplastics released from paints and coating suggest that paints contribute more to the microplastics in the environment than even textiles. Parameters that affect the rate of microplastic release include washing methods, construction styles in case of release from painted buildings and structures, age of products like tires, climate, and weather conditions. These parameters vary across different regions and so does the impact of microplastic pollution and how it is addressed. Therefore, in this chapter, we will explore the issue of microplastics with a focus on the African region. It discusses microplastics in general as a global issue and a closer look at factors within the African continent that may influence the generation of microplastics from different sources in the region. In the process, the environmental and health implications of microplastics are explored as well as other issues.
    Plastic pollution
    Abstract Marine microplastic pollution has become one of the global problems due to the adverse effects of microplastics on marine organisms. This study investigated the uptake of (Polystyrene, PS) microplastics by marine rotifers ( Brachionus plicatilis ) under different microplastic concentration, exposure time and type of containers. The results showed that the ingestion of microplastics by rotifers was positively correlated with microplastic concentration. The intake reached maximum (65±5 particles/individuals, 5 mg/L; 28±11 particles/individuals, 3 mg/L) at 24 h, and then decreased over time. Moreover, the intake of microplastics in the plastic well plates was much lower than that in the glass vial. This study demonstrated that the intake of microplastics by rotifers varied with microplastics concentration and exposure time. More importantly, microplastics-related experiments using plastic containers could influence the uptake results. This work provides useful information on the interaction of microplastics with marine organisms.
    Brachionus
    Plastic pollution
    Expanded polystyrene
    Microplastics are environmental pollutants that prevail in the oceans, remote islands, and polar regions.Exposure to microplastics presents a major emerging threat to the ecosystems due to their potential adverse effects.Herein, we reviewed the literature to provide an up-to-date synopsis of the current understanding of the sources, compositions, and adverse effects of microplastics in humans and the environment.Most studies on microplastics have focused on developing standardized methods for monitoring the occurrence, distribution, and movement of microplastics in the environment, as well as developing microplastic substitutes; however, although humans are exposed to microplastics via various routes, research on the adverse effects of microplastics in humans remains limited.Little is known about the impact of microplastics on human health and the toxic effects that may vary depending on the type, size, shape, and concentration of microplastics.Therefore, more research is needed to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of microplastic toxicity and related pathologies.
    Citations (101)
    Microplastics are ubiquitous and persistent smaller size polymer compounds, which has detrimental effects on the environment. Due to domestic, industrial, and environmental activities, a huge amount of microplastics have been discharged into wastewater treatment plants. During treatment, microplastics have been removed to a great extent, allowing for the discharge of a maximum volume of effluent; large quantities of microplastics are still discharged into aquatic environments making wastewater treatment plants, a major source of microplastics. Microplastics have a size of less than 5 mm and have different physicochemical properties such as size, density, color, and chemical composition that contribute to its global prevalence. This chapter discusses the occurrence, environmental behavior, extraction methods, and analytical techniques for the identification and quantification of microplastics in the environment. In addition, it discusses the fate of microplastics during wastewater treatment. Finally, it comments on future perspectives and potential research interest within this field for the complete eradication of microplastics.
    Plastics are the most important component in marine debris. In turn, within plastics, microplastics (<5 mm) are those that most affect marine biota. Thus, this review has as its main objective to show the current state of studies of microplastics, as well as to determine the groups of vertebrates most affected by microplastics, and the type and predominant color of microplastics. For this research, we review a total of 132 articles, from 2010 to May of 2020. Our results show that the group more affected are turtles with 88% of the specimens contaminated by microplastics and median of 121.73 particles/individue. The predominant type is fibers (67.3%), polymer is polyethylene (27.3%), size is less than 2 mm (73.6%), and color is blue (32.9%).
    Biota
    Marine debris
    Plastic pollution
    The nationally-recognized Susquehanna Chorale will delight audiences of all ages with a diverse mix of classic and contemporary pieces. The ChoraleAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚™s performances have been described as AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚œemotionally unfiltered, honest music making, successful in their aim to make the audience feel, to be moved, to be part of the performance - and all this while working at an extremely high musical level.AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚¢AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚€AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚ƒAƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚ƒAƒÂ‚A‚‚AƒÂƒA‚‚AƒÂ‚A‚ Experience choral singing that will take you to new heights!
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