Microplastic Pollutants

Microplastic Pollutants introduces the reader to the growing problem of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment and is the first ever book dedicated exclusively to the subject of microplastics. Importantly, this timely full-colour illustrated multidisciplinary book highlights the very recent realization that microplastics may transport toxic chemicals into food chains around the world. Microplastic pollutants is currently an important topic in both industry and academia, as well as among legislative bodies, and research in this area is gaining considerable attention from both the worldwide media and scientific community on a rapidly increasing scale. Ultimately, this book provides an excellent source of reference and information on microplastics for scientists, engineers, students, industry, policy makers and citizens alike. A detailed chronological history of plastic materials from their creation until the present day Extensive review and discussion of the existing literature on the interactions of microplastics with chemical pollutants and their effects on aquatic life Explanation and provision of the techniques used for the detection, separation and identification of microplastics Detailed multidisciplinary information on the way in which plastic materials and microplastics behave in the aquatic environment The provision of extensive multidisciplinary reference data relating to plastic materials and microplastics Content: Front Matter,Copyright,About the Author, Christopher Blair Crawford,About the Author, Brian Quinn,Foreword,Preface,AcknowledgmentsEntitled to full text1 - The emergence of plastics, Pages 1-17 2 - The contemporary history of plastics, Pages 19-37 3 - Plastic production, waste and legislation, Pages 39-56 4 - Physiochemical properties and degradation, Pages 57-100 5 - Microplastics, standardisation and spatial distribution, Pages 101-130 6 - The interactions of microplastics and chemical pollutants, Pages 131-157 7 - The biological impacts and effects of contaminated microplastics, Pages 159-178 8 - Microplastic collection techniques, Pages 179-202 9 - Microplastic separation techniques, Pages 203-218 10 - Microplastic identification techniques, Pages 219-267 References, Pages 269-294 Glossary and list of abbreviations, Pages 295-303 Index, Pages 305-315