Anmerkung: Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- About the Authors -- Preface -- List of Abbreviations and Acronyms -- Chapter 1 Sources and Sinks of Microplastics -- 1.1 What are Microplastics? -- 1.1.1 Definitions -- 1.1.2 Distribution and Composition -- 1.1.3 Classification of Microplastics -- 1.1.3.1 Classification according to Size -- 1.1.3.2 Nanoplastics -- 1.1.3.3 Classification according to Origin -- 1.2 What are the Significant Emission Pathways ofMicroplastics into the Environment? -- 1.3 Sink of Microplastics: Where do MicroplasticsAccumulate? -- 1.4 How are Source and Target Regions Interrelated? -- 1.5 Relation between Microplastics Properties and Transport -- 1.6 Is Microplastic a Persistent Pollutant? -- 1.7 Global Trend -- 1.8 Summary -- References -- Chapter 2 Analytical Methods for the Identification and Assessmentof Microplastics -- 2.1 Sampling -- 2.1.1 Selective Sampling -- 2.1.2 Bulk Sampling -- 2.1.3 Volume-Reduced Sampling -- 2.2 Separation of Microplastics from Samples -- 2.2.1 Filtration or Sieving -- 2.2.2 Density Separation -- 2.2.3 Other Methods -- 2.3 Preprocessing -- 2.3.1 Removal of Organic and Biological Matter -- 2.4 Identification -- 2.4.1 Visual Detection -- 2.4.2 Spectroscopic Detection -- 2.4.3 Thermal Detection -- 2.4.4 Emerging Identification Methods -- 2.5 Assuring quality in Microplastic Monitoring -- 2.6 Summary -- References -- Chapter 3 Ecological Risks and Environmental Fate of Microplastic Pollution -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Plastics used in the Marine Environment -- 3.3 Microplastics in the Marine Ecosystem -- 3.4 Ecological risks of the Microplastics to Marine Life -- 3.4.1 Physical effects of Microplastics to Marine Organisms -- 3.4.2 Toxicity of Ingested Microplastics -- 3.4.3 Transfer of Microplastics along the Food Chain -- 3.5 Nanoplastics in the Oceans. , 3.6 Major Gaps in the Current Knowledge -- 3.7 Perspectives for Future Studies -- 3.8 Summary -- References -- Chapter 4 Human Health impacts of Microplastics Pollution -- 4.1 Human Exposure to Microplastics Pollution -- 4.2 Microplastics' Presence in Seafood -- 4.3 Nanoplastics' Presence in Food -- 4.4 Food Security -- 4.5 Toxicity to Humans -- 4.5.1 Physical effects of Microplastics Exposure -- 4.5.2 Effects of Chemical Additives -- 4.6 Microplastics as a Potential Source of Human Pathogensin the Marine Environment -- 4.7 Effects of Microplastics on Human Health -- 4.8 Epidemiology -- 4.9 Control Measures -- 4.10 Summary -- References -- Chapter 5 Biodegradation of Microplastics by Microbes -- 5.1 Microorganisms involved in Microplastic Degradation -- 5.1.1 Bacterial-Mediated Microplastic Degradation -- 5.1.1.1 Bacterial Strains capable of DegradingMicroplastics -- 5.1.2 Fungal-Mediated Microplastic Degradation -- 5.1.2.1 Examples -- 5.1.2.2 Fungi Associated with PolyethyleneMicroplastics Degradation -- 5.2 Mechanisms involved in the Biodegradationof Microplastics -- 5.2.1 Microbial Enzymes involved in the Degradationof Microplastics -- 5.3 Use of Bacterial Biofilms in Microplastic Degradation -- 5.4 Factors affecting the Application -- 5.5 Future Prospects -- 5.6 Summary -- References -- Chapter 6 Potential removal of the Microplastics in Marine Environment by Membrane Technology: Limitations and Future Solutions -- 6.1 Use of Membrane Technology to Address Microplastic Pollution -- 6.1.1 Reverse Osmosis -- 6.1.2 Ultrafiltration -- 6.1.3 Dynamic Membrane Technology -- 6.1.4 Membrane Bioreactor -- 6.1.5 Polymeric Membranes -- 6.2 How Membrane Technology can Reduce Microplastics in Marine Environment -- 6.3 Reuse and Recycling of Polymeric Membranes of Bioreactors -- 6.4 Examples -- 6.5 Limitations of Current Methods and Infrastructure. , 6.6 Future Solutions and Scope -- 6.7 Summary -- References -- Chapter 7 Recent Bioengineering advances in the Plastic Biodegradation and Future Challenges -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Bioengineering of the Microbes for the Enzymesthat Degrade Natural Polymers -- 7.3 Bioengineering of the Microbes for the Production of Biopolymers -- 7.4 Future Research Directions -- 7.5 Summary -- References -- Chapter 8 Biopolymers as an Alternative to the Conventional Plastics -- 8.1 What are Biopolymers? -- 8.1.1 Why are Biopolymers Needed? -- 8.2 Biopolymers -- 8.2.1 Bio-based vs Petrochemical-based Polymers -- 8.2.2 Protein as a Biopolymer -- 8.2.2.1 Collagen and Gelatin -- 8.2.2.2 Silk -- 8.2.3 Polysaccharides -- 8.2.3.1 Starch -- 8.2.3.2 Cellulose -- 8.2.3.3 Chitin/Chitosan -- 8.2.4 Polyhydroxyalkanoates -- 8.3 Biodegradability and Compostability -- 8.4 Microbes as the Source of Biopolymers -- 8.5 Plants as the Source of Biopolymers -- 8.6 Products Based on Biopolymers currently in Market -- 8.7 Future Prospects and Limitations to Overcome -- 8.8 Summary -- References -- Chapter 9 Global Legislature for the Mitigation of Microplastics in the Marine Environment -- 9.1 International Regulatory Bodies and Regulations -- 9.2 Regional Regulatory Bodies and Regulations -- 9.3 Regulatory Bodies and Regulations in India -- 9.4 Impact of the Consumer Voice and Behavior on Policy Developments -- 9.5 Impact of the Industrial Practices on Policy Framework -- 9.6 Need to Prioritize and change Regulations based onInnovations and Impact on Marine Environment -- 9.7 Conclusions and Future Outlook -- 9.8 Summary -- References -- Chapter 10 Role of Community Participation for the Reduction of Microplastic Emissions -- 10.1 Why is Reduction of Microplastic Emissions Important? -- 10.2 How Can Community Participation Reduce Microplastic Emissions?. , 10.2.1 Reducing the Consumption of Plastic -- 10.2.2 Raising Awareness in Public through Education -- 10.2.3 Role of the Research -- 10.2.4 Role of NGOs -- 10.2.5 Role of the Media and Social Networks -- 10.3 Improving Production Efficiency of Plastic Products -- 10.4 Reducing Microplastics through Proper Disposalof Plastic Waste -- 10.5 Recycling -- 10.6 Recommendations -- 10.7 The Way Ahead -- 10.8 Summary -- References -- Chapter 11 Recent Cutting-edge Solutions to Prevent Microplastics Pollution -- 11.1 Prevention Technologies -- 11.2 Collection Technologies -- 11.3 Summary -- References -- Index.