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Evaluation of the available strategies to control the emission of microplastics into the aquatic environment

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Abstract

No effective strategy has been found so far to control the emission of microplastics. The purpose of this article is to review the available control strategies, as well as barriers to developing them. Based on the estimations in the available literature, decomposition of larger plastics, clothes washing and tire abrasion play an essential part in the total emission rate of microplastics into the ocean. Nonetheless, there is no corresponding information regarding the soil, and more information is needed to prioritize the emission sources of microplastics more preciously. Generally, there have been two approaches for the management of the microplastic issues, including the substitution of non-plastic materials for plastic ones in products such as personal care products, and microplastic removal from wastewater. The former is in its infancy and has commenced only in a few developed countries. Existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as the other approach can transfer a significant portion of the microplastics into the sludge. The result is that the final destination of these microplastics can be the soil. Since there is little information on how serious the impact of microplastics is on the soil as compared with water, the currently used WWTPs cannot be considered as a final remedy. Furthermore, there has been not been any specifically designed techniques to remove microplastics from wastewater efficiently and economically.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Markus Sillanpää is thanked for useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Sadegh Rostami & Mohammad Reza Talaie

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Jami Institute of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

    Amirreza Talaiekhozani

  3. Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Mika Sillanpää

  4. Faculty of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Mika Sillanpää

  5. School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia

    Mika Sillanpää

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  1. Sadegh Rostami
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Mr. Sadegh Rostami and Professor Mohammad Reza Talaie had the idea for this article and perform the literature search. The first draft of the manuscript has been made by Mr. Sadegh Rostami and Dr. Amirreza Talaiekhozani, and it was critically reviewed and revised by Professor Mika Sillanpää. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Rostami, S., Talaie, M.R., Talaiekhozani, A. et al. Evaluation of the available strategies to control the emission of microplastics into the aquatic environment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 18908–18917 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12888-9

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