This study investigates the possible presence of MP-like particles in five brands of commercial sugars and two unpacked, unbranded, and unlabeled sugars (hereinafter referred to as “non-branded”) obtained from different supermarkets in Dhaka (Bangladesh). The analysis of the study revealed that MPs-like particles were identified in all analysed samples, and taken together, the data demonstrated similar variations (between branded and non-branded samples) in terms of number, size, shape, colour, and polymer composition. MP materials with a size of <300 μm were the ones more frequently found in the sugar samples that were analysed. Overall, it was observed that microfibers and spherules were the most common, and the predominant colours of MPs (in general) were found to be black, pink, blue, and brown. This study provides a comprehensive report on the MP’s occurrence in sugar, confirming that the ingestion of this food constitutes an important route of human exposure to these micropollutants. The results obtained from this study also serve as a baseline for future assessments and are useful for generating efficient strategies to control MPs.
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,[…]