People discover various materials from time to time that break the boundaries of traditional materials. Plastic is a revolutionized material, and is referred to as “a material with 1,000 uses”. This review summarized up-to-date research on plastic and its waste pollution. Plastic has a domain throughout human life with its versatile properties such as lightweight, high durability, flexibility, and low production cost. This article describes the applications, benefits, production, consumption, and classifications of plastics. Plastic commercialization began with the Second World War and grew all over the world within less than a century. The global annual production of plastic is more than 359 million tons. Despite all the benefits, plastics cause severe environmental and public health issues. Accordingly, this study addresses the major issues of plastic waste on the environment and human health. Plastics can degrade into micro to nano sizes, and those fine particles are more spreadable in air, water, and soil. Therefore, both terrestrial and aquatic animals go through various negative impacts such as ingestion, entangling, ulcers, low reproduction, and oxidative stress. Microplastics also degrade human health due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, birth defects, cancer, etc. The closing contains the developed end-of-life options (e.g., recycling and reprocessing, incineration with energy recovery, modification reuse, value addition, and landfilling) of biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic wastes. Several international, regional/national level legislations and policies/concepts (e.g., plastic trade, 3R policy, and circular economy) are available to manage plastic and plastic waste generation. Plastic waste management is also discussed offering practical insights and real-world scenarios. Solutions and challenges in effective plastic waste management guide to create a more sustainable and environmentally responsible approach. Finally, this review article highlights the importance of judicious decisions and the involvement of all stakeholders to overcome the plastic waste crisis. 

The world of plastic waste: a review

The concentration of heavy metals and their spatial distribution in surface sediments collected from the Thondi coast, Palk Bay, South India were analysed in this study. The sediment grain size, pH, EC, and major elements (Fe, and Al), heavy metal concentrations (Mn, Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, and Pb) were determined and the values for the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), potential contamination index (Cp), potential ecological risk index (RI), contamination factor (CF), modified contamination degree (mCd), degree of contamination (Cd), and potential contamination factors (Cp) were calculated based on their background values to determine the pollution level of the study area. Multivariate analysis such as Pearson’s correlation coefficient, principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA), cluster analysis, and regression analysis are a versatile method for identifying heavy metal sources and determining the relationship between pollutants in marine sediment. The pollution indices, namely EF, CF, Cd, mCd, CP, RI, and Igeo, revealed that the heavy metal contamination was due to Cd, while a moderate level of contamination was caused by Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr. The principal component analysis and correlation matrix analysis showed a strong positive loading for Cd due to its high level of contamination in the study area. Anthropogenic inputs such as municipal wastewater, domestic sewage discharge, fishing harbour activities, and industrial and aquaculture wastes led to the increased Cd concentration in the study area. Moreover, the pollution load index revealed that the sediments were polluted by heavy metals. The findings of this study revealed that the increased concentration of heavy metals in the study area increases the toxicity in the marine environment, thus affecting the ecosystem.

/pdf/heavy-metal-pollutants-and-their-spatial-distribution-in-5flrhchuni.pdf

Heavy metal pollutants and their spatial distribution in surface sediments from Thondi coast, Palk Bay, South India

Assessment of heavy metal pollution from the sediment of Tupilipalem Coast, southeast coast of India

The pollution of river water and sediments by heavy metals has assumed serious problems due to their toxicity and accumulative behavior. The present study has been undertaken to assess the levels of heavy metals and the extent of pollution in the surface water and sediments from the Meghna river. Water and sediment samples were collected by the Standard Methods and, processed and analyzed for heavy metals using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The mean concentrations of heavy metal found in the river water were in the order of: Fe (1.0224 mg L-1) > Zn (0.0364 mg L-1) > Cr (0.0346 mg L-1) > Mn (0.0088 mg L-1) > Cd (0.003 mg L-1) and in the sediments in the order of: Fe (1281.416 mg kg-1) > Mn (442.596 mg kg-1) > Zn (79.021 mg kg-1) > Ni (76.116 mg kg-1) > Cr (31.739 mg kg-1) > Pb (9.4702 mg kg-1) > Cd (0.230 mg kg-1). Pb and Ni were found below detection limit in river water. Based on the findings, the Meghna river water can be considered as unpolluted with respect to Cd, Cr, Mn and Zn, whereas concentration of Fe was above the standard value according to recommended standard guidelines. According to Sediment Quality Guideline (USEPA, 1989), sediments were not polluted for Cd, Pb and Zn; moderately polluted for Cr and Mn and heavily polluted for Ni. The sediment geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values showed no pollution for most of sampling sites for all studied heavy metals. Pollution Load Index (PLI) values showed that all the studied sampling sites were not polluted and on the other hand mean Contamination Factor (CF) values showed low pollution for all measured heavy metals except Ni which indicated moderate pollution. This study can be used as reference to monitor the quality of water and sediments of the Meghna river.

Status of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediment of the Meghna River, Bangladesh

Assessment of microplastics pollution in aquatic species (fish, crab, and snail), water, and sediment from the Buriganga River, Bangladesh: An ecological risk appraisals.

http://www.cell.com/article/S2405844022012725/pdf

Sustainable plastic waste management in a circular economy

A study on the characterization of sediment quality was conducted along a stretch of the Benin River, Niger Delta, Nigeria, between June and December, 2011 to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities. Five stations were selected from Ajimele to Koko for the investigation. Samples were analysed using standard methods. The results showed that the sediment was slightly acidic across the study stations. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in the mean concentrations of organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable anions and zinc, while electrical conductivity, chloride, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, exchangeable base, iron, chromium, manganese, lead and nickel showed significant difference (P<0.05). A posteriori Duncan Multiple Range (DMR) test revealed that with the exception of Nickel, the concentrations of these parameters at stations 4 and 5 were not significantly different from each other, but were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of stations 1, 2 and 3. Estimated Pollution Load Index (PLI) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) revealed that the sediments at all stations were practically uncontaminated by heavy metals. The significant spatial variation recorded in the concentrations of some parameters used in characterizing the sediment quality is a reflection of impacts of anthropogenic activity on quality of this river.

http://manuscript.sciknow.org/uploads/ne/pub/ne_1386997015.pdf

Using Pollution Load Index and Geoaccumulation Index for the Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Sediment Quality of the Benin River, Nigeria

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Sustainable plastic waste management in a circular economy

Using Pollution Load Index and Geoaccumulation Index for the Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Sediment Quality of the Benin River, Nigeria