Note: Intro -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Contributors -- Chapter-1 -- Introducing Life Cycle Assessment and its Presentation in 'LCA Compendium' -- 1 What is Life Cycle Assessment? -- 2 LCA-How it Came About -- 2.1 The Early Time -- 2.2 Harmonisation by SETAC -- 2.3 Standardisation by ISO -- 2.4 Recent Trends -- 3 The Structure of LCA According to ISO 14040 and 14044 -- 3.1 Goal and Scope Definition -- 3.2 Life Cycle Inventory Analysis -- 3.3 Life Cycle Impact Assessment -- 3.4 Interpretation -- 4 The Structure of LCA Beyond ISO 14040 -- 4.1 Applications of Life Cycle Assessment -- 4.2 Beyond the Classical ISO LCA -- 4.3 Life Cycle Management -- 4.4 Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment -- 4.5 LCA Worldwide -- 5 Structure of 'LCA Compendium' -- 5.1 Background and Future Prospects in Life Cycle Assessment -- 5.2 Goal and Scope Definition in Life Cycle Assessment -- 5.3 Life Cycle Inventory Analysis -- 5.4 Life Cycle Impact Assessment -- 5.5 Interpretation -- and, Critical Review and Reporting -- 5.6 Overview on LCA Applications -- 5.7 Special types of Life Cycle Assessment -- 5.8 Life Cycle Management -- 5.9 Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment -- 5.10 LCA Worldwide -- 6 New Developments and Special Types of Life Cycle Assessment-How Are they taken into Account? -- 7 How Scientific is LCA? -- Appendix-Glossary -- References -- Chapter-2 -- The Role of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Development and Application -- 1 Introduction-SETAC and Life Cycle Assessment -- 2 Life Before SETAC's Involvement with LCA -- 2.1 Focus on Pollution Reduction -- 2.2 Moving Beyond Pollution Control to Pollution Prevention -- 2.2.1 Duelling Diaper Debates -- 2.2.2 Mercury in Fluorescent Light Bulbs -- 2.2.3 Coca-Cola's Supply Chain Improvements -- 3 The Birth of SETAC -- 3.1 SETAC Workshops. , 3.1.1 Pellston Workshops -- 3.1.2 Technical Workshops -- 4 Early Days of SETAC 1990-1993 -- 4.1 SETAC LCA Groups -- 4.2 LCA Group Activities -- 4.2.1 A Technical Framework for Life Cycle assessment. August 18-23, 1990, Smugglers Notch, Vermont -- 4.2.2 Life Cycle Assessment: Inventory, Classification, Valuation, and Data Bases. December 2-3, 1991, Leiden, The Netherlands -- 4.2.3 A Conceptual Framework for Life Cycle Impact Assessment. February 1-7, 1992, Sandestin, Florida -- 4.2.4 Data Quality: A Conceptual Framework. October 4-9, 1992, in Wintergreen, Virginia -- 4.2.5 Code of Practice. Sesimbra, Portugal, March 31-April 3, 1993 -- 4.3 SETAC LCA Workgroups from 1994 to 2000 -- 4.4 SETAC LCA Workshops and Initiatives up from 1999 -- 4.4.1 Application of Life Cycle Assessment to Public Policy, August 14-19, 1995, Wintergreen, VA, USA -- 4.4.2 A Second Wave of LCA Workshops -- 5 SETAC and the International Organization for Standardization -- 6 On-Going SETAC Activities -- 6.1 Global Advisory Groups -- 7 UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative -- 8 SETAC's Role in Advancing the Use of LCA in the Building Sector -- 9 Future Role of SETAC -- 9.1 Expanding the Use of LCA -- 9.2 LCA Case Studies -- 9.3 Additional Pellston Workshops -- 9.4 On-Going Effort with the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative -- 9.5 Impact Assessment Advancement -- 9.6 Alternative Assessments -- 9.7 LCA in Developing Countries -- Appendix-Glossary -- References -- Chapter-3 -- The International Standards as the Constitution of Life Cycle Assessment: The ISO 14040 Series and its Offspring -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 History of LCA Standards Development -- 1.1.1 The Early Days -- 1.1.2 The First Revision -- 1.1.3 The Proliferation -- 1.2 Relevance of ISO Standards on LCA -- 1.3 ISO's Standardization Process -- 2 The Core Standards of LCA: ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 -- 3 The Spin-off Standards. , 3.1 ISO 14025-Type III Environmental Product Declarations -- 3.2 ISO 14047-Examples of Impact Assessement -- 3.3 ISO 14048-Data Documentation Format -- 3.4 ISO 14049-Examples of Inventory Analysis -- 4 The Future Standards Based on ISO 14040/44 -- 4.1 ISO 14045-Eco-Efficiency Assessment -- 4.2 ISO 14046-Water Footprint -- 4.3 ISO/TS 14067-Carbon Footprint -- 4.4 ISO 14071-Critical Review -- 4.5 ISO 14072-Organizational LCA (OLCA) -- 5 Summary and Outlook -- Appendix-Glossary -- References -- Chapter-4 -- The UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiativeand The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment -- 3 Main Contributions from 2002 to 2012 of the Life Cycle Initiative to the International Community and Best Examples Worldwide -- 3.1 Phase 1-Creating a Global Community -- 3.1.1 The Life Cycle Management Programme -- 3.1.2 The Life Cycle Inventory Programme -- 3.1.3 The Life Cycle Impact Assessment Programme -- 3.1.4 Crosscutting Activities -- 3.2 Phase 2-Becoming a Stakeholder -- 3.2.1 Overall Structure -- 3.2.2 Deliverables -- 3.2.3 Running a Multi-Stakeholder Process: Global Guidance for LCA Databases -- 4 Key Messages Based on Work Conducted During the Last 10 Years -- 4.1 Life Cycle Thinking in the Private Sector-Ahead of the Curve -- 4.2 Life Cycle Thinking in the Public Sector-Potential for Improvement -- 4.3 Life Cycle Methodologies, Impact Assessment and Data-The Foundation for Informed Decision-Making -- 4.4 Life Cycle Sustainability Approaches-Measuring Triple Bottom Line Impacts -- 4.5 Trade-Offs and Unexpected Consequences-Avoiding the Pitfalls -- 4.5.1 Trade-Offs Between Stages of the Product Value Chain -- 4.5.2 Trade-Offs Between Environmental Impact Categories -- 4.5.3 Trade-Offs Between Sustainability Pillars: Environmental, Social, Economic. , 4.5.4 Trade-Offs Between Societies/Regions -- 4.5.5 Generational Trade-Offs -- 4.5.6 Relevant Activities in Last 10 Years -- 4.6 Life Cycle Initiative Networks-Growing in Numbers and Expertise -- 4.6.1 The International Life Cycle Network -- 4.6.2 Life Cycle Jobs are Green Jobs -- 4.6.2 Accomplishments in Phases 1 and 2 -- 4.7 Communicating Life Cycle Information-The Right Story for Every Audience -- 5 The Future of Life Cycle Thinking and Phase 3 of the Life Cycle Initiative -- 5.1 Consultation Process -- 5.2 New Strategic Approach and Programmes -- 5.2.1 Programme on Data -- 5.2.2 Programme on Methodologies -- 5.2.3 Programme on Product Sustainability Information -- 5.2.4 Programme on Capacity Building and Implementation -- 5.2.5 Programme on Communication and Stakeholder Outreach -- 5.3 Setting up the Baseline for Phase 3 of the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative-Monitoring Progress by Key Indicators -- 6 Conclusions and Perspectives -- Appendix-Glossary -- References -- Chapter-5 -- Life Cycle Assessment as Reflected by the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Milestones in Int J Life Cycle Assess -- 3 Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)-Impact Factor -- 4 Online Publications -- 5 The National Societies -- 5.1 LCA Society of Japan -- 5.2 Indian Society for LCA (ISLCA) -- 5.3 Korean Society for LCA (KSLCA) -- 5.4 Australian LCA Society (ALCAS) -- 5.5 Life Cycle Association of New Zealand (LCANZ) -- 5.6 Other LCA Organisations and Networks -- 5.6.1 SPOLD-Society for the Promotion of Life Cycle Development -- 5.6.2 LCANET-European Network for Strategic Life-Cycle Assessment Research and Development. A Strategic Research Programme for Life Cycle Assessment -- 5.6.3 CHAINET-European Network on Chain Analysis for Environmental Decision Support -- 5.6.4 ISOLP-International Society for LCA Practitioners. , 5.6.5 UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative -- 5.6.6 Swiss Discussion Forum on Life Cycle Assessment -- 5.6.7 LCA Activities in Spain, Italy and Greece -- 6 Topics and Subject Areas -- 6.1 Life Cycle Management -- 6.1.1 Editorial: 'How to Communicate LCA Results' by Walter Klöpffer and Almut B. Heinrich, Int J Life Cycle Assess 5(3): 125 (2000) -- 6.1.2 Editorial: 'Two Planets and One Journal' by Walter Klöpffer and Almut B. Heinrich, Int J Life Cycle Assess 6(1) 1-3 (2001) -- 6.1.3 LCM in the Internet-Journal 'Gate to Environmental and Health Science (EHS)' and the Discussion Forum 'Global LCA Village' -- 6.1.4 Editorial: 'LCM-Integrating a New Section' by Almut B Heinrich and Walter Klöpffer, Int J Life Cycle Assess 7(6): 315-316 (2002) -- 6.1.5 The LCM Conferences -- 6.2 Life Cycle Costing (LCC) -- 6.3 Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) -- 6.4 Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) -- 7 Special Issues and Supplements -- 8 ISO Standardisation of LCA -- 9 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter-6 -- Strengths and Limitations of Life Cycle Assessment -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Strengths and Limitations-Perceived and Real-in Life Cycle Assessment -- 2.1 Matching the Goal of the Assessment to the Approach -- 2.2 Gathering the Inventory Data can be Very Resource and Time Intensive -- 2.3 Missing Impact Data and Models for LCIA -- 2.4 Dealing with Data Uncertainty -- 2.5 Distinguishing between Life Cycle Impact Assessment and Risk Assessment -- 2.6 LCA Does not Always (usually) Declare a 'Winner' -- 2.7 LCA Results should be Supplemented by Other Tools in Decision Making -- 2.8 Allocating Environmental Burdens Across Co-products -- 2.9 Assigning Credit for Avoided Burden -- 2.10 Expanding the Boundaries (consequential LCA) -- 3 Life Cycle Thinking -- 4 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter-7. , Challenges in Life Cycle Assessment: An Overview of Current Gaps and Research Needs.

Note: Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Section I Single Use Plastics -- Chapter 1 Scientometric Analysis of Microplastics across the Globe -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Materials and Methods -- 1.3 Results and Discussion -- 1.3.1 Trends in Scientific Production and Citations -- 1.3.2 Top Funding Agencies -- 1.3.3 Top 10 Global Affiliations -- 1.3.4 Top Countries -- 1.3.5 Top 10 Databases and Journals -- 1.3.6 Top 10 Published Articles -- 1.3.7 Top 10 Author Keywords and Research Areas -- 1.4 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 2 Microplastic Pollution in the Polar Oceans - A Review -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Plastics -- 2.1.2 Plastic Pollution -- 2.1.3 Microplastics -- 2.1.4 Importance of Microplastic Pollution in the Polar Oceans -- 2.2 Polar Regions -- 2.2.1 General -- 2.2.2 Sea Ice -- 2.2.3 Water -- 2.2.4 Sediments -- 2.2.5 Biota -- 2.3 Future Perspectives -- 2.4 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 3 Microplastics - Global Scenario -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Environmental Issues of Plastic Waste -- 3.3 Coprocessing of Plastic Waste in Cement Kilns -- 3.3.1 Cost of Plants to Convert Plastic Waste to Refused-Derived Fuel (RDF) -- 3.4 Disposal of Plastic Waste Through Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT) -- 3.4.1 Merits of PPT -- 3.5 Constraints on the Use of Plastic Waste Disposal Technologies -- 3.6 Alternate to Conventional Petro-based Plastic Carry Bags and Films -- 3.7 Improving Waste Management -- 3.7.1 Phasing Out Microplastics -- 3.7.2 Promoting Research into Alternatives -- 3.7.3 Actions and Resolutions -- References -- Chapter 4 The Single-Use Plastic Pandemic in the COVID-19 Era -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Materials and Methods -- 4.2.1 Data Sources -- 4.2.2 Estimation of the General population's Daily Use of Face Masks. , 4.2.3 Estimation of the Daily Amount of Medical Waste in Hospitals -- 4.3 Trends in Production and Consumption of SUPs during the Pandemic -- 4.3.1 Personal Protective Equipment -- 4.3.2 Packaging SUPs -- 4.3.2.1 Trends in Plastic Waste Generation, Management, and Environmental Fate during the COVID-19 Era -- 4.4 SUP Waste from the Pandemic -- 4.4.1 Environmental Impacts from SUP Waste -- 4.4.2 Management of SUP Waste -- 4.5 Conclusions and Future Prospects -- References -- Section II Microplastics in the Aerosphere -- Chapter 5 Atmospheric Microplastic Transport -- 5.1 The Phenomenon of Microplastic Transport -- 5.2 Factors Affecting Microplastic Transport -- 5.2.1 Types of MPs -- 5.2.2 Characteristics and Sources of Microplastics Emitters -- 5.2.3 Meteorological Conditions -- 5.2.4 Altitude and Surface Roughness -- 5.2.5 Microplastic Deposition Processes in the Ocean -- 5.2.6 Microplastics Deposition Processes in the Air -- 5.3 Microplastic Transport Modelling -- 5.3.1 Eulerian Method -- 5.3.2 Lagrangian Method -- References -- Chapter 6 Microplastics in the Atmosphere and Their Human and Eco Risks -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Microplastics in the Atmosphere -- 6.2.1 Size, Shapes, and Colours -- 6.2.2 Chemical Composition -- 6.2.3 Sources of Microplastics -- 6.2.4 Spatial Distribution and Rate of Deposition -- 6.2.5 Effects of Climatic Conditions on MP Distribution -- 6.2.6 Transport Pathways -- 6.2.7 Pollutants Associated with MPs -- 6.3 Impact of Microplastics on Human Health and the Eco Risk -- 6.3.1 Impact on Human Health -- 6.3.2 Eco Risk -- 6.4 Strategies to Minimise Atmospheric MPs through Future Research -- 6.5 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 7 Sampling and Detection of Microplastics in the Atmosphere -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Classification -- 7.3 Sampling Microplastics -- 7.3.1 Sampling Airborne Microplastics. , 7.3.2 Sediment -- 7.3.3 Water -- 7.3.4 Biota -- 7.4 Sample Preparation -- 7.5 Detection and Characterisation of MPs in the Atmosphere -- 7.5.1 Microscopic Techniques for Detecting MPs -- 7.5.1.1 Stereomicroscopy -- 7.5.1.2 Fluorescence Microscopy -- 7.5.1.3 Polarised Optical Microscopy (POM) -- 7.5.1.4 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) -- 7.5.1.5 Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) -- 7.5.1.6 Hot Needle Technique -- 7.5.1.7 Digital Holography -- 7.5.2 Spectroscopic Techniques for Analysing MPs -- 7.5.2.1 Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy -- 7.5.2.2 Raman Spectroscopy -- 7.5.3 Thermal Analysis -- 7.5.3.1 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) -- 7.5.3.2 Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) -- 7.5.3.3 Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Pyr-GC-MS) -- 7.6 Conclusion -- Funding -- References -- Chapter 8 Sources and Circulation of Microplastics in the Aerosphere - Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.1.1 Occurrence and Abundance of Atmospheric MP -- 8.1.2 Plastic Polymers and Their Properties -- 8.1.3 Sources and Pathways of MPs in the Atmosphere -- 8.2 Temporal and Spatial Trends in MP Accumulation -- 8.2.1 Roadside MPs -- 8.2.2 Agricultural Fields and Soil -- 8.2.3 Wastewater and Sludge -- 8.2.4 Ocean/Marine Debris -- 8.3 Formation of MPs -- 8.3.1 Physical Weathering -- 8.3.2 Chemical Weathering -- 8.3.3 Biodegradation -- 8.3.4 Photo-thermal Oxidation -- 8.3.5 Thermal Degradation -- 8.4 Atmospheric Circulation, Transport, Suspension, and Deposition -- 8.4.1 Wet Deposition -- 8.4.2 Dry Deposition -- 8.4.3 Urban Dust -- 8.4.4 Suspended Atmospheric MPs -- 8.5 Atmospheric Chemistry of MPs -- 8.6 Predicting MP Dispersion and Transport -- 8.7 Eco-Environmental Impacts -- 8.7.1 Impacts on Human and Wildlife Health -- 8.7.2 Impacts on the Climate -- 8.8 Future Perspectives -- References. , Section III Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment -- Chapter 9 Interaction of Chemical Contaminants with Microplastics -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Interactions -- 9.3 Mechanisms -- 9.3.1 Interactions between Organic Contaminants and Microplastics -- 9.3.2 Interactions between Heavy Metals and Microplastics -- 9.3.3 Kinetics of the Sorption Process -- 9.3.4 Pseudo-First-Order Model -- 9.3.5 Pseudo-Second-Order Model -- 9.3.6 Intraparticle Diffusion Model -- 9.3.7 Film Diffusion Model -- 9.3.8 Isotherm Models -- 9.3.9 Langmuir Model -- 9.3.10 Freundlich Model -- 9.4 Environmental Burden of Microplastics -- 9.5 Future Approaches -- References -- Chapter 10 Microplastics in Freshwater Environments -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Microplastics in Rivers and Tributaries -- 10.3 Microplastics in Lakes -- 10.4 Microplastics in Groundwater Sources -- 10.5 Microplastics in Glaciers and Ice Caps -- 10.6 Microplastics in Deltas -- 10.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 11 Microplastics in Landfill Leachate: Flow and Transport -- 11.1 Plastics and Microplastics -- 11.2 Microplastics in Landfill Leachate -- 11.3 Summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 12 Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment - Effects on Ocean Carbon Sequestration and Sustenance of Marine Life -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment -- 12.2.1 Major Sources -- 12.2.2 Chemical Nature and Distribution Processes -- 12.2.2.1 Chemical Nature -- 12.2.2.2 Distribution Processes -- 12.3 Microplastics and Ocean Carbon Sequestration -- 12.3.1 Ocean Carbon Sequestration -- 12.3.2 Effect of Microplastics on Ocean Carbon Sequestration -- 12.3.2.1 Effect on Phytoplankton Photosynthesis and Growth -- 12.3.2.2 Effect on Zooplankton Development and Reproduction -- 12.3.2.3 Effect on the Marine Biological Pump -- 12.4 Microplastics and Marine Fauna. , 12.4.1 Effects on Corals -- 12.4.2 Effects on Fisheries and Aquaculture -- 12.4.2.1 Shrimp -- 12.4.2.2 Oysters and Mussels -- 12.4.2.3 Fish -- 12.4.3 Effects on Sea Turtles and Sea Birds -- 12.4.4 Effects on Marine Mammals -- 12.5 Microplastic Pollution, Climate Change, and Antibiotic Resistance - A Unique Trio -- 12.6 Conclusion and Future Perspectives -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Section IV Microplastics in Soil Systems -- Chapter 13 Entry of Microplastics into Agroecosystems: A Serious Threat to Food Security and Human Health -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Sources of Microplastics in Agroecosystems -- 13.2.1 Plastic Mulching -- 13.2.2 Plastic Use in Modern Agriculture -- 13.2.3 Application of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids -- 13.2.4 Compost and Fertilizers -- 13.2.5 Wastewater Irrigation -- 13.2.6 Landfill Sites -- 13.2.7 Atmospheric Deposition -- 13.2.8 Miscellaneous Sources -- 13.3 Implications of Microplastic Contamination on Agroecosystems -- 13.3.1 Implications for Soil Character -- 13.3.2 Implications for Crop Plants and Food Security -- 13.4 Human Health Risks -- 13.5 Knowledge Gaps -- 13.6 Conclusion and Future Recommendations -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 14 Migration of Microplastic-Bound Contaminants to Soil and Their Effects -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Microplastics as Sorbing Materials for Hazardous Chemicals -- 14.3 Types of Microplastic-Bound Contaminants in Soils -- 14.3.1 Heavy Metals and Metalloids - Inorganic Contaminants Adsorbed to MPs -- 14.3.2 Persistent Organic Pollutants, Pharmaceuticals, Antibiotics, Pesticides, and Other Organic Contaminants Adsorbed to MPs -- 14.4 Effects of Exposure and Co-exposure in Soil - Consequences of Contaminant Sorption for MP Toxicity and Bioaccumulation -- 14.5 Microplastic-Bound Contaminants in Soils as Potential Threats to Human Health -- 14.6 Conclusions -- References. , Chapter 15 Plastic Mulch-Derived Microplastics in Agricultural Soil Systems.