Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: a review
Involved Members: Dr. James Kar Hei FANG, Prof. Paul Kwan Sing LAM
Plastic waste are introduced into the environment inevitably and their exposure in the environment causes deterioration in mechanical and physicochemical properties and leads to the formation of plastic fragments, which are considered as microplastics when their size is < 5="" mm.="" in="" recent="" years,="" microplastic="" pollution="" has="" been="" reported="" in="" all="" kinds="" of="" environments="" worldwide="" and="" is="" considered="" a="" potential="" threat="" to="" the="" health="" of="" ecosystems="" and="" humans.="" in="" this="" review,="" potential="" hotspots="" for="" the="" accumulation="" of="" plastic="" waste="" were="" identified,="" major="" mechanisms="" and="" characterization="" methods="" of="" plastic="" degradation="" were="" summarized,="" and="" studies="" on="" the="" environmental="" degradation="" of="" plastics="" were="" evaluated.="" formation="" and="" degradation="" of="" microplastics,="" including="" nanoplastics,="" should="" receive="" more="" research="" attention="" to="" assess="" their="" fate="" and="" ecological="" risks="" in="" the="" environment="" more="">
Reference:
Zhang, K., Hamidian, A.H., Tubić, A., Zhang, Y., Fang, J.K.H., Wu, C. & Lam, P.K.S. (2021). Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: a review. Environmental Pollution, 274, 116554.
