In this paper, global plastic usage and its impact on human health and the environment are highlighted. Plastic entering the oceans is estimated at 12.7 million tonnes, with roughly 40% of it ending up in the waste stream. It is estimated that over 5.25 trillion bits of plastic garbage are found on land, in water, in oceans, and the air as a result of the rise in single-use consumer plastics. The effects of petroleum-based polymers on human health and the environment and the impossibilities of managing and controlling plastic trash are also studied in this paper. The study highlights that producing single-use bioplastics from agro-waste substrates is the only practical answer for reducing plastic production and use while improving waste management to prevent this material from entering the environment at the source. Further, it was emphasised that advocacy should be backed up by cutting-edge technology. It is important to minimise overreliance on petroleum-based polymers to prevent harmful substances from entering the environment. The knowledge gained from this study can serve as a solid foundation for policymakers to defend the global population’s health and the environment.
This paper characterizes the fungal and bacterial colonizers of 5 types of plastic films (High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate) throughout a 242-day incubation in the south-eastern Mediterranean and relates them to the chemical changes observed on the surface of the samples via ATR-FTIR. Neither bacterial nor fungal community structures were related[…]
This paper provides insights into the sustainable alternatives that can replace conventional plastic mulches, such as biodegradable mulches made from natural fibers and biopolymers. The microscopic and FTIR analyses conducted during the study showed the degradation of the fibers from the mulches during the exposure time to a certain extent. The nonwoven mulches provide higher[…]
This paper investigates the degradation of biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) and traditional polyethylene (PE) plastic under two typical abiotic conditions: ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and mechanical abrasion (MA) for up to nine months. The quantitative analysis of the degradation products was carried out using membrane filtration and total organic carbon determination (MF-TOCD). The results[…]
This paper identifies technological innovation, policy formulation, advocacy and sensitization, and bioremediation as some of the approaches that are currently used for the mitigation of plastic pollution in Nigeria. This chapter also highlights the need to encourage, enhance, and disseminate scientific research on mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution in Nigeria. It concluded with[…]
This review provides insights into the sources of microplastics, the ecotoxicity of microplastics, and the impact microplastics have on aquatic and marine life, management, and bioremediation of microplastics. Policies and strategies adopted by the government to combat microplastic pollution are also discussed in this review. Microplastics tend to accumulate in many aquatic systems, contaminate them,[…]