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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Life-cycle Assessment of Microplastics in the Environment
ClearStrategies for efficient management of microplastics to achieve life cycle assessment and circular economy
This review examines strategies for managing microplastic waste through a circular economy and life cycle assessment (LCA) lens, arguing that current recycling practices and waste disposal methods are inadequate given the sheer volume of plastics entering ecosystems. The authors propose a conceptual framework integrating LCA principles into microplastic management to better quantify ecological risks and guide more sustainable plastic use policies.
Microplastic Pollution Distribution in Aquatic Environments
This chapter examines the sources, distribution, and ecological impacts of microplastics in aquatic environments, and applies life cycle assessment methodologies to evaluate the broader environmental footprint of microplastic contamination throughout aquatic systems.
The capabilities and deficiencies of life cycle assessment to address the plastic problem
This review critically evaluates the capabilities and limitations of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool for understanding the full environmental impacts of plastics across their supply chain, from production through end-of-life disposal. The authors argue that LCA can contextualize plastic impacts relative to alternative materials and reveal invisible environmental costs throughout the plastic life cycle, while also identifying key deficiencies in current LCA methodology for addressing plastic pollution.
Updated and comprehensive characterization factors for microplastics in life cycle assessment considering multimedia fate modelling
Researchers updated life cycle assessment characterization factors for microplastics, developing comprehensive factors that account for ecosystem quality, human health, and socioeconomic impacts across multiple environmental compartments. The updated factors enable LCA practitioners to more accurately compare the plastic pollution impacts of different product systems and waste management strategies.
How Relevant Are Direct Emissions of Microplastics into Freshwater from an LCA Perspective?
This study assessed the relevance of direct microplastic emissions into freshwater from a life cycle assessment perspective, providing initial inventory data and identifying key knowledge gaps needed to incorporate microplastic impacts into environmental assessments.
Developing human noncancer and reproductive/developmental effect factors for nano- and microplastics exposure in LCA
This study developed noncancer and reproductive/developmental effect factors for nano- and microplastics for use in life cycle impact assessment, filling a gap in toxicological characterization needed to include plastic particles in environmental health accounting. The framework supports integrating microplastic health impacts into standardized life cycle assessments.
A critical review on plastic waste life cycle assessment and management: Challenges, research gaps, and future perspectives
This review examines the full environmental impact of plastics from production through disposal, noting that life cycle assessments often produce unexpected results when comparing bio-based and petroleum-based plastics. A major gap exists because microplastic pollution is not yet factored into these environmental assessments, despite growing evidence of its ecological harm.
Generating environmental sampling and testing data for micro- and nanoplastics for use in life cycle impact assessment
This study examined how environmental sampling and testing data for micro- and nanoplastics can be adapted for use in life cycle impact assessment, bridging the gap between receptor-perspective field data and emitter-perspective LCA frameworks.
A comprehensive critical review of Life Cycle Assessment applied to thermoplastic polymers for mechanical and electronic engineering
This review provides the first critical analysis of how life cycle assessment methodology has been applied to technical thermoplastic polymers used in mechanical and electronic engineering. Researchers identified gaps in existing studies and highlighted the formation of microplastics during production, use, and disposal as a critical but often overlooked environmental concern. The study offers practical recommendations for improving future environmental assessments of engineering plastics.
Plastic litter in life cycle assessment: Advances of the marine impacts in life cycle assessment international taskforce and application to case studies
This review examined advances in incorporating marine plastic litter impacts into life cycle assessment, addressing the long-standing gap in LCA methodology for accounting for plastic pollution as an environmental impact category. Recent progress by the MarILCA research group was highlighted as bringing LCA closer to properly reflecting biodiversity and ecosystem impacts from plastic waste.
Microplastics as an Emerging Potential Threat: Toxicity, Life Cycle Assessment, and Management
This review covers the full life cycle of microplastics, from how they enter the environment to their toxic effects on living organisms. Microplastics accumulate in aquatic and land ecosystems, where they can harm organisms by causing oxidative stress, disrupting hormones, and damaging organs. The authors emphasize that with global plastic production still rising, better waste management and recycling methods are urgently needed to reduce human and environmental exposure.
Microplastics Pollutants—Potential Impact on Ecosystems
This book chapter reviews the origins, environmental distribution, and ecological impacts of microplastic pollutants across terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems, and discusses current methods for identifying and removing these persistent contaminants.
Developing human noncancer and reproductive/developmental effect factors for nano- and microplastics exposure in LCA
Researchers developed non-cancer and reproductive/developmental effect factors for nano- and microplastics to support human health risk assessment in life cycle assessment frameworks. The derived factors provide a quantitative basis for comparing microplastic health risks with other chemical stressors in product assessments.
Unveiling the complex impact of microplastics on environmental health, ecosystems, and humans
This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Researchers examined sources, transport pathways, impacts on living organisms, sampling techniques, and regulatory challenges, highlighting significant gaps in understanding the full scope of microplastic effects on ecosystems and human well-being.
It is time to develop characterization factors for terrestrial plastic pollution impacts on ecosystems in life cycle impact assessment – a systematic review identifying knowledge gaps
Researchers reviewed how plastic pollution is — and is not — accounted for in life cycle assessments (LCAs), which are tools used to measure a product's full environmental footprint. They found that while ocean plastic impacts have been partially modeled, freshwater and terrestrial plastic pollution, including microplastics, are still missing from standard environmental impact calculations, leaving a major blind spot in sustainability analysis.
Microplastic Pollution in the Environment
This book chapter provides an overview of microplastic and nanoplastic contamination across land, air, and water environments, discussing the sources of plastic pollution, detection methods, ecological effects, and regulatory approaches to address this global environmental challenge.
Microplastics Pollution
This book chapter provides a broad overview of microplastic pollution, covering the sources, environmental distribution, ecological impacts, and remediation challenges of plastic particles across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
The missing link: A systematic review of microplastics and its neglected role in life-cycle assessment
This systematic review found that life-cycle assessments of plastic products almost never account for microplastic pollution. This means the true environmental and health impacts of plastics are being significantly underestimated in the tools used to guide policy decisions. The researchers call for better data on microplastic release and its effects so that the full cost of plastic products can be properly measured.
The impact of microplastic pollution on human health - current issues
This review covers the sources, distribution, and ecological implications of microplastics in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments, synthesizing existing knowledge and research gaps. It finds that MPs are a global contaminant threatening biodiversity and human health through chemical leaching, endocrine disruption, and physical harm to organisms at multiple trophic levels.
Ecotoxicological perspectives of microplastics
This review summarized the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics across aquatic and terrestrial organisms, covering the global scale of plastic production and the chronic harm MPs cause to ecosystems. The paper called for greater research standardization and policy intervention to address the escalating contamination.
Updated and comprehensive characterization factors for microplastics in life cycle assessment considering multimedia fate modelling
Researchers updated and expanded characterization factors for microplastics in life cycle assessment, allowing better quantification of plastic pollution impacts on ecosystem quality and human health. The new factors cover a broader range of particle types and environmental compartments than previous versions.
From Plastics to Microplastics: Quantification, Degradation and Mitigation
This book chapter reviews how plastics break down into microplastics, the methods used to detect and quantify them, and their environmental impacts including their ability to adsorb and concentrate other pollutants. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the microplastics problem from production to environmental harm.
Exploring the Core Aspects of Microplastic Pollution: Origin, Distribution, Imprint, Detection, and Policy Solutions
This chapter reviewed the core aspects of microplastic pollution including sources, ecological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, detection techniques, and global regulatory responses. The review emphasized how microplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, and assessed the life-threatening risks associated with accumulation.
Microplastics and NanoplasticsOrigin, Fate and Effects
This book chapter provides a broad introduction to micro- and nanoplastics, covering their origin from plastic degradation, their spread through the environment, and their entry into the food chain. The authors highlight that current analytical methods are largely limited to detection, while the full scope of health and ecological effects remains to be determined.