Special Issue "Fate and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems"

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2023 | Viewed by 136

Special Issue Editor

Department of Applied Molecular Chemistry, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: plastic; polymer; monomer; crush; degrade; fragment; contamination; metabolism; toxic; recover

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Artificial synthetic polymers (plastics), which are excellent materials that are indispensable to modern life, flow into the ocean because of carelessness. Environmental pollution caused by marine plastic litter has become an important and urgent problem due to concerns about its adverse effects on the marine ecosystem.

This Special Issue is focusing on the identification of the source (1), grasping the actual distribution (2), and the effects/evaluation on organisms (3).

Drifting plastics are generated by the physical effects of waves, wind, and ocean currents, as well as the effects of sunlight and heat. Macro-polymers such as those from washing clothing or intentionally created microbeads change into micro/nano-polymers.

The presence of microorganisms is limited, and research on microplastics (polymer) 1, 2, and 3 is very important. For example, it is a very interesting and important issue to find out what kind of impact microplastics (polymer) directly have on people or on the marine ecosystem, such as carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity.

These results will help deepen our understanding of the fate and risk assessment of marine plastics, and will provide essential information for problem solving.

Katsuhiko Saido Ph.D. Albatross Alliance Founder

Dr. Katsuhiko Saido
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • drift plastic
  • polymer
  • monomer
  • crush
  • degrade
  • fragment
  • contamination
  • metabolism
  • toxic
  • recover

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

Review
Sources, Degradation, Ingestion and Effects of Microplastics on Humans: A Review
Toxics 2023, 11(9), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11090747 (registering DOI) - 01 Sep 2023
Abstract
Celluloid, the predecessor to plastic, was synthesized in 1869, and due to technological advancements, plastic products appear to be ubiquitous in daily life. The massive production, rampant usage, and inadequate disposal of plastic products have led to severe environmental pollution. Consequently, reducing the [...] Read more.
Celluloid, the predecessor to plastic, was synthesized in 1869, and due to technological advancements, plastic products appear to be ubiquitous in daily life. The massive production, rampant usage, and inadequate disposal of plastic products have led to severe environmental pollution. Consequently, reducing the employment of plastic has emerged as a pressing concern for governments globally. This review explores microplastics, including their origins, absorption, and harmful effects on the environment and humans. Several methods exist for breaking down plastics, including thermal, mechanical, light, catalytic, and biological processes. Despite these methods, microplastics (MPs, between 1 and 5 mm in size) continue to be produced during degradation. Acknowledging the significant threat that MPs pose to the environment and human health is imperative. This form of pollution is pervasive in the air and food and infiltrates our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. It is essential to assess the potential hazards that MPs can introduce. There is evidence suggesting that MPs may have negative impacts on different areas of human health. These include the respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems, the liver and organs, the skin, and even the placenta and placental barrier. It is encouraging to see that most of the countries have taken steps to regulate plastic particles. These measures aim to reduce plastic usage, which is essential today. At the same time, this review summarizes the degradation mechanism of plastics, their impact on human health, and plastic reduction policies worldwide. It provides valuable information for future research on MPs and regulatory development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fate and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems)
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