Microplastics in Terrestrial Environments, 1st ed. 2020 Emerging Contaminants and Major Challenges The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Series, Vol. 95

This book focuses on microplastics as emerging persistent contaminants in terrestrial environments. Scientists from around the globe review recent advances in multi-disciplinary research on micro(nano)plastics, including analytical methods; the sources, fate and distribution of microplastics;  ecological risks;  toxicity and health risks; and control and countermeasures for microplastics in terrestrial environments. Offering a comprehensive overview of microplastics in terrestrial environments, the book is a valuable resource for environmental researchers, ecologists and toxicologists, as well as for policymakers and non-experts.

Analytical methods for microplastics in environments: current advances and challenges.-Identification and characterization methods for microplastics basing on spatial imaging in micro-/nanoscales.-Microplastics in urban environments: sources, pathways and distribution.-Microplastics in agricultural soils.-The distribution and characteristics of microplastics in coastal beaches and mangrove wetlands.-Microplastics in inland small waterbodies.-Microplastics in the sediments: From rivers to lakes investigated in the biggest freshwater lake (Poyang Lake) basin and Yangtze River in China.-Sources of microplastic in the environment.-Interaction of microplastics and organic pollutants: quantification, environmental fates and ecological consequences.-Interaction of microplastics and heavy metals: toxicity, mechanisms and environmental implications.-Microplastics and their effects on soil function as a life-supporting system.-Occurrence and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.-Microplastics in soil ecosystem: insight on its fate and impacts on soil quality.- The toxicity of (nano)microplastics on C. elegans and its mechanisms.-Uptake of microplastics and their effects on plants.- Biofilms of microplastics.-Tissue accumulation of microplastics and toxic effects: Widespread health risks of microplastics exposure.-Microplastics in food: health risks.-Microplastics in aquaculture systems and their transfer in the food chain.- Biodegradation of plastics in Tenebrio genus (mealworms).-Plastics of the future? The impact of biodegradable polymers on the environment.-Countermeasures on plastic and microplastic garbage management.

Dr. Defu He is an Associate Professor at the School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, and Director of the Environmental Toxicology Laboratory. His research fields include toxicology, environmental health and emerging contaminants. In recent years, his research has chiefly focused on microplastics in terrestrial environments, and their ecological and environmental risks. He has published more than 40 articles in these fields.

Dr. Yongming Luo is a researcher at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and a Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research fields mainly focus on soil pollution and remediation, coastal biogeochemistry and environmental risks. Having been selected for the NSFC’s Distinguished Young Scholar Award, he is a member of the expert group for China’s National Key Basic Research Program (“973” Program) in the field of Resource and Environment, and has served as Chief Scientist for China’s “973” Program and “863” Major Program alike.