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A Comprehensive Review of Plastic Pollution: Public Health and Environmental Impacts, Sources, and Mitigation Strategies
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This research evaluated eco-design strategies for laundry systems to reduce microfiber emissions from synthetic textiles during washing. The study tested design modifications to washing machines, detergents, or garments to minimize the release of plastic microfibers that ultimately reach aquatic environments.
Plastic is a basic material widely used in various consumer and industrial sectors, from construction and vehicles to electronics and agriculture. In recent years, plastic pollution has put pressure on the environment and threatens human safety worldwide due to massive global plastic production, which has led to waste generation that exceeds society's ability to manage it efficiently. This review discusses the types of plastic pollution, as plastic chemical composition consists of long polymers that are resistant to degradation by decomposing organisms. Natural processes break down plastic materials into small particles, forming microplastics and nanoplastics that can easily disperse throughout the environment. Consequently, plastic pollution affects terrestrial and marine ecosystems, causing serious effects on the environment, the economy, and the health of organisms. In addition, the article reviews the main sources of plastic waste, including household, industrial, agricultural, and medical waste. It also reveals the major problems caused by plastic waste, especially its environmental and human health impacts, as chemical materials in plastic cause several health issues like reproductive disorders, hormonal disruption, and neurological disease. It also highlights the importance of control measures and coordinated global efforts to reduce single-use plastic, improve recycling systems, and create international partnerships to mitigate the effects of plastic pollution on the planet and public health.
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The Impact of Plastic Waste on Ecosystems and Human Health and Strategies for Managing It for A Sustainable Environment
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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.
Micro- and Nano-Plastics Contaminants in the Environment: Sources, Fate, Toxicity, Detection, Remediation, and Sustainable Perspectives
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This review provides a broad overview of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, covering where these particles come from, how they spread through the environment, and the damage they cause to living things including humans. The authors also compare different methods for removing microplastics from the environment, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The paper calls for more research and global cooperation to develop better tools for measuring the health risks of plastic pollution.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste: Strategies for Sustainable Management
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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.
Plastic pollution in the marine environment
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This review provides a comprehensive overview of plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments, covering everything from how plastics enter the ocean to their effects on marine life. Researchers compiled global data showing microplastic concentrations ranging widely across different water bodies and sediments, with marine organisms accumulating significant amounts. The study underscores that plastic pollution causes ecological damage through entanglement, ingestion toxicity, and the transport of invasive species.
Plastic Waste: Current Environmental Pollution, Health Hazard and Biodegradation Strategies and Its Management
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This review paper surveys the scope of global plastic pollution, covering environmental contamination, health hazards, and biodegradation strategies. The study highlights that with plastic production exceeding 390 million tons by 2021, effective waste management and biodegradation approaches are urgently needed to address microplastic accumulation.
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.