We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste: Strategies for Sustainable Management
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review summarizes the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste and evaluates strategies for sustainable management. It highlights that plastic pollution threatens ecosystems and human health through microplastic contamination, and examines approaches like recycling, biodegradable alternatives, and policy interventions to reduce exposure.
The production and use of plastics have been developing at a very rapid pace during the last seventy years that have developed benefits to the current economies, but posing continuous environmental and health problems. The paper has addressed the ecological impact of plastic waste on land and marine ecosystems, possible pathways and ways in which the plastics lead to the destruction of the ecosystem and the human being and evaluation of how the plastics can be handled to ensure its sustainability. According to a systematic review of the recent literature and reports of other international bodies, the study observes such significant effects as habitat degradation, trapping and ingestion by fauna, contamination of food webs by microplastic, soil and freshwater impairment, and greenhouse gas emissions in terms of production and degradation (Jambeck et al., 2015; Geyer et al., 2017; UNEP, 2023). The paper subsequently appraises the current management practices as recycle, landfill, incineration and informal sector functions and presents technological, economic and policy innovations to aid the accomplishment of circularity which includes the following; extended producer responsibility (EPR), material substitution (bioplastics), waste valorization, design for recyclability and behavior-change interventions. The discussion has indicated the inefficiencies of recycling as a major solution and structural mechanisms that unites policy, industry responsibility, infrastructural investments as well as communal participation. It is advisable to implement combined policy portfolios, direct investments into waste infrastructure, novel materials that are designed with the assistance of the lifecycle analysis, and international partnerships (OECD, 2022; Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). The paper determines that the most severe effects of plastic pollution can be prevented only by reducing the production of virgin plastic at the same time, improving waste collection, and proliferating the models of the circular economy.
More Papers Like This
The Impact of Plastic Waste on Ecosystems and Human Health and Strategies for Managing It for A Sustainable Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes the broad impact of plastic waste on ecosystems and human health, covering how plastics break down into micro- and nanoplastics that contaminate soil, water, and air. The authors discuss health risks from plastic exposure including respiratory problems, liver damage, and hormonal disruption. The review calls for better waste management, recycling, and policies to reduce plastic pollution as a public health priority.
Evaluating the Environmental and Health Impacts of Disposable Plastics: Toward Sustainable Material Alternatives
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined the environmental and health impacts of disposable plastics and explored sustainable alternatives, drawing on secondary literature across environmental science and health disciplines. The paper assessed plastic waste contributions to ocean pollution and proposed strategies to mitigate these challenges.
Problems of environmental pollution with microplastic waste and ways to solve them
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment and their impacts on ecosystems and human health. Researchers highlight the limitations of conventional plastic food packaging and propose sustainable alternatives including bioplastics, edible packaging, and traditional materials like palm leaves. The study provides practical guidelines for transitioning away from conventional plastics to reduce microplastic contamination.
Evaluating the Environmental and Health Impacts of Disposable Plastics: Toward Sustainable Material Alternatives
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized evidence on the environmental and health impacts of disposable plastics, drawing on environmental science, health studies, and sustainability literature. The paper examined how plastic waste drives ocean pollution and wildlife harm while exploring sustainable alternative materials and policies.
The Presence of Plastics in the Environment, Hazards to Human Health, and Mitigation Efforts: A Literature Study
AI summary Read the abstract
This Indonesian-language literature review examined microplastic presence in the environment, summarizing health risks to humans from microplastic exposure through food and water, the environmental fate of plastic particles, and mitigation strategies including the 3Rs and material substitution to reduce plastic waste pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.