A5007128562- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Marine and Offshore Engineering Studies
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Sustainable Industrial Ecology
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
2019-2024
Radboud University Nijmegen
2024
The Ocean Cleanup
2017-2018
University of Wales
1974
Faculty of 1000 (United States)
1974
Lancaster University Ghana
1974
Ocean plastic can persist in sea surface waters, eventually accumulating remote areas of the world's oceans. Here we characterise and quantify a major ocean accumulation zone formed subtropical waters between California Hawaii: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Our model, calibrated with data from multi-vessel aircraft surveys, predicted at least 79 (45-129) thousand tonnes are floating inside an area 1.6 million km
Abstract Plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems is an emerging environmental risk, as it may negatively impacts ecology, endangers species, and causes economic damage. Rivers are known to play a crucial role transporting land‐based plastic waste the world's oceans, but riverine also directly affected by pollution. To better quantify global transport effectively reduce sources risks, thorough understanding of origin, transport, fate, effects debris crucial. In this overview paper, we discuss...
To ensure a circular economy for plastics, insights in the environmental impacts of recycling and optimal choices specific plastic polymers are crucial. This was obtained by determining performance 10 selected technologies with varying TRL levels, using chemical properties top 25 produced Europe. The results were collected life cycle assessment (LCA) 'matrix' model. simulate realistic challenges, case studies PE/PP foils from municipal waste ABS brominated flame retardants developed, to be...
Land-based macroplastic is considered one of the major sources marine plastic debris. However, estimations emission from rivers into oceans remain scarce and uncertain, mainly due to a severe lack standardized observations. To properly assess global fluxes, detailed information on spatiotemporal variation in river quantities composition are urgently needed. In this paper, we present new methodology characterize riverine dynamics. The proposed was applied estimate Saigon River, Vietnam....
Knowledge on environmental plastic emission and spatial temporal accumulation is vital for the development of successful mitigation strategies risk assessments plastics. In this study, emissions both micro macro from value chain to environment were assessed a global level through mass flow analysis (MFA). All countries, 10 sectors, 8 polymers 7 compartments (terrestrial, freshwater or oceanic) are distinguished in model. The results assess loss 0.8 million tonnes (mt) microplastics 8.7 mt...
Here we report concentrations of pollutants in floating plastics from the North Pacific accumulation zone (NPAC). We compared chemical different types and sizes, assessed ocean plastic potential risks using sediment quality criteria, discussed implications our findings for bioaccumulation. Our results suggest that at least a fraction NPAC is not equilibrium with surrounding seawater. For instance, "hard plastic" samples had significantly higher PBDE than "nets ropes" samples, 29% them...
Although Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methods assess a wide range of environmental impacts, ecological impacts plastic pollution are not commonly included. Here, characterization factors Polypropylene (PP), Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) microplastics were assessed. Fate was assessed through the multimedia fate model Simplebox4Plastics. Ecological effects based on species sensitivity distributions. Macroplastic included though conversion fraction....
Dealing with heterogeneous plastic waste – i.e., high polymer heterogeneity, additives, and contaminants lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from production requires integrated solutions. Here, we quantified current future GHG footprints of direct chemical conversion post-consumer feedstock to olefins, a base material for plastics. The net footprint this recycling system is −0.04 kg CO2-eq./kg treated, including credits avoided virgin electricity, heat, the partial biogenic content...
Using biobased plastics has the potential to avoid fossil resource depletion and CO2 emissions. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a fast-growing bio-based plastic made from fermented sugars. Nowadays, PLA used replace fossil-based polymers in healthcare single-use applications, such as for packaging applications. However, offers much broader application range with targeted use of combination its stereoisomers; PL(L)A PL(D)A. A variety these advanced grades can be multiple purposes durable consumer...
Abstract. The continued expansion of offshore wind energy raises concerns regarding the microplastics released from turbine blades due to leading edge erosion. Currently, literature lacks reliable and transparent estimates microplastic formation emissions turbines. To bridge this knowledge gap, we employed state-of-the-art models analytically evaluate release resulting blades' This was achieved by integrating measured weather data with a fatigue-based erosion model. We then applied...
The environmental impacts from plastic pollution are typically not included in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This study developed characterisation factors (CFs) for macroplastic (MaP, >5 cm) and microplastic (MiP, <5 emissions related to freshwater ecotoxicity marine ecotoxicity, which were added the ReCiPe2016 impact assessment method. fragmentation of MaP MiP, fate ecological effects MiPs accounted for. new CFs applied LCAs two consumer films, including 3 polymer types (PP, LDPE, PET)....
Knowledge on plastic emissions to the environment and accumulation in time space is vital for development of successful mitigation strategies risk assessments plastics. In this study, losses human exposure are assessed a global level through yearly mass flow analysis. Countries, industrial sectors environmental compartments distinguished. Globally, 0.8 million metric tonnes (mmt) microplastics 9.5 mmt macroplastics were emitted 2017. Packaging contributed most macroplastics, tyre wear...
Using biobased plastics has the potential to avoid fossil resource depletion and CO2 emissions. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a fast-growing bio-based plastic made from fermented sugars. Nowadays, PLA used replace fossil-based polymers in low-performance, single-use applications, such as for packaging applications. However, offers much broader application range with targeted use of combination its stereoisomers; PL(L)A PL(D)A. A variety these advanced grades can be multiple purposes durable...