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Environment from A to Z, from Air to Zero waste—Third part
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This is a short educational essay covering environmental topics from landfills to monitoring, written as part of a series for a general environmental science audience. It is not a research study focused on microplastics.
I have started a small series “Environment from A to Z, from Air to Zero waste.” The world we live in is unique as far as we know and so we should strive to preserve this one world. The first two parts can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202370013 and https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202300181 L for Landfill. A landfill is problematic because the environment has to deal with leachate from it. This leachate is one of the most difficult wastewaters to treat since it varies in composition depending on the age of the landfill. However, a landfill can be also seen as a resource for precious metals and/or other raw materials. See https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201400510, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202000395, and more to be published soon. M for Monitoring in the field of environment. With an increasing urgency regarding climate or climate change issues, we really need evidence of the changes in the parameters. If we do not have enough data to determine the quality of air, water and soils, we lack the basis for taking action for clean air, pure water, and good soil quality – and thus also for the health of all of us. See the Editorial: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202200341 and check out for papers: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202300122, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202000391, and many more. N for Nanoparticles, prepared for the use in water treatment, for photocatalysis, for extraction purposes, and many more applications. On the one hand they are very useful, but on the other hand they are also harmful to the environment. This is the case, for example, when they end up in water bodies or in the form of micro- and nanoplastics in soil and air. Or let's think of food, when nanofertilizers or nanopesticides are used or when nanoparticles accumulate in plants after irrigation with treated wastewater. Please read: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202100305, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202200229, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202100420, and others. O for Oil pollution, may it be of water or soils, is a huge environmental problem. Usually, physical, chemical and biological treatment technologies are used to tackle this problem. Biodegradation is one of these treatment options, other possible ways are the washing of soils or using sorbents in water to bind oil. See for example: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202000440, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202200207 P for Particulate matter, PM2.5 to PM10, particles with the size of 2.5–10 µm, are toxic air pollutants consisting of solid and liquid droplets that can be inhaled and are thus harmful to humans. Emissions from combustion processes, such as vehicles, excluding electric vehicles, industrial plants, wood fires, volcanoes, or emissions coming from construction sites or dust storms fall under the term particulate matter. On a global scale, particulate matter emissions have increased over the years with ever growing industry and mobility. Solutions to address this problem are urgently needed, and air-focused scientists are exploring various options such as urban greening, industrial filters, and more. Have a look at: https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202200222, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202100184, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.202100391, etc. CLEAN covers all aspects of sustainability and environmental safety including those mentioned here under the letters L to P. Do you have submissions that address environmental sustainability issues such as air pollution, waste management, water cycle and environmental protection? I look forward to receiving your submission in CLEAN. More on the letters Q through U in the next editorial. Stay healthy. Yours sincerely, Prisca M. Henheik
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Landfills are a major hotspot for tiny plastic particles called microplastics, which break down further and release chemicals into the surrounding soil and water. This review pulls together existing research on how these particles behave once buried and points out that scientists still lack good tools to measure how harmful they and their chemical additives might be. Since microplastics can eventually make their way into water supplies and food, better testing methods matter for understanding potential long-term health risks.
Sources, Types, and Occurrences of Microplastics in Soil, Water, and Air
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This review summarizes the sources, types, and distribution of microplastics found in water bodies, sediments, soil, and air worldwide. Researchers found that microplastic pollution is widespread across all environmental compartments, with significant variation by region and source. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive waste management strategies to reduce plastic consumption and improve recycling and disposal systems.
Sources, health risks, environmental implications, and management strategies of microplastics with a focus on landfill leachate
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This review examines microplastics in landfill leachate as a significant but underappreciated source of environmental contamination, covering detection methods, particle characteristics (type, size, color, shape), and the health and environmental risks of landfill leachate that enters groundwater and surface water.
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This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in various environmental compartments including water, soil, and air. Researchers summarize the sources, transport mechanisms, and potential harmful effects of microplastics on ecosystems and human health. The study also evaluates current eradication and remediation strategies, noting that while several promising approaches exist, no single method can fully address the scale of global microplastic contamination.
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This review paper summarizes existing research on tiny plastic particles called microplastics and how scientists detect them in the environment. Microplastics are a growing concern because they contaminate our air, water, and food, potentially affecting human health when we breathe or eat them. The researchers found that new, cheaper detection methods could help us better monitor these plastic particles and understand their impact on our health and environment.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.