A meta-research analysis on the biological impact of plastic litter in the marine biota.

Marine litter and more specifically plastic marine litter is nowadays considered a global issue with unprecedented impact and consequences to the entire marine ecosystem and biota. The current situation that has been created worldwide due to the abundance of plastic litter in the Earth's Seas has been characterized as alarming, necessitating the immediate action for an overall reduction of plastic waste, better collection and recycling schemes and beach-shoreline clean-ups. In this article we attempt to delve into the details of the magnitude of the impact that plastic litter have caused to marine biota via a meta-research analysis, by compiling, combining, analysing and presenting data from various relative works, using primarily scientific and, secondarily, grey literature.

Investigation on the effect of several parameters involved in the biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) under various seawater environments.

This work investigates the biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and the leaching of their harmful additives. Micro/macro-plastics of both types were subjected to different laboratory-controlled conditions for 3 months. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) results revealed that leachate concentrations ranged from 0.

Effect of temperature and sunlight on the leachability potential of BPA and phthalates from plastic litter under marine conditions.

This study investigates the leaching potential of several additives embedded in six different plastic types when exposed to extreme simulated marine conditions for 140 days. The findings achieved herein contribute to a better understanding of the impact of macro- and microplastics leaching harmful compounds (bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates) in the marine environment when exposed to harsh climatic conditions. Leachability experiments showed that bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and BPA were detected in seawater (SW) samples.

Unpacking the complexity of the polyethylene food contact articles value chain: A chemicals perspective.

Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely used type of plastic food packaging, in which chemicals can potentially migrate into packaged foods. The implications of using and recycling PE from a chemical perspective remain underexplored. This study is a systematic evidence map of 116 studies looking at the migration of food contact chemicals (FCCs) across the lifecycle of PE food packaging.

Insights into the degradation mechanism of PET and PP under marine conditions using FTIR.

Plastics possess diverse functional properties that have made them extremely desirable. However, due to poor waste management practices, large quantities eventually end up in the oceans where their degradation begins. Hence, it is imperative to understand and further investigate the dynamics of this process.

An overview of the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling and open dumping.

Landfilling is one of the most common waste management methods employed in all countries alike, irrespective of their developmental status. The most commonly used types of landfills are (a) municipal solid waste landfill, (b) industrial waste landfill, and (c) hazardous waste landfill. There is, also, an emerging landfill type called "green waste landfill" that is, occasionally, being used.

An overview of the occurrence, fate, and human risks of the bisphenol-A present in plastic materials, components, and products.

With over 95% of bisphenol-A (BPA) used in the production of polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins, termed here as BPA-based plastic materials, components, and products (MCPs), an investigation of human exposure to BPA over the whole lifecycle of BPA-based plastic MCPs is necessary. This mini-review unpacks the implications arising from the long-term human exposure to BPA and its potential accumulation across the lifecycle of BPA-based plastics (production, use, and management). This investigation is timely and necessary in promoting a sustainable circular economy model.

Material flow analysis of plastic waste in the gulf co-operation countries (GCC) and the Arabian gulf: Focusing on Qatar.

Global plastic waste production has increased dramatically in recent years, both globally and regionally, having a multitude of adverse effects on the environment and human health. However, little attention has been directed to this problem in the Arabian Gulf region. This study aims to delineate and map the status of the plastic waste problem in the Gulf Co-operation Countries (GCC), with a focus on Qatar.

Why is the generation of packaging waste from express deliveries a major problem?

The rapid growth of the express delivery industry resulted in the explosion of packaging waste with a wide range of direct and indirect environmental consequences. Until recently, little attention was given to this topic, but e-commerce and the associated growth of packaging waste exploded with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the phenomenon is only little to moderately documented, the waste problems in express delivery are recognized and caused by excessive packaging, lack of recyclability of the packaging material, and the low motivation of consumers to recycle.

Unpacking the complexity of the PET drink bottles value chain: A chemicals perspective.

Chemicals can migrate from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drink bottles to their content and recycling processes may concentrate or introduce new chemicals to the PET value chain. Therefore, even though recycling PET bottles is key in reducing plastic pollution, it may raise concerns about safety and quality. This study provides a systematic evidence map of the food contact chemicals (FCCs) that migrate from PET drink bottles aiming to identify challenges in closing the plastic packaging loop.

An overview of brine management: Emerging desalination technologies, life cycle assessment, and metal recovery methodologies.

This study examines which management methods are the most recent and advanced in managing rejected brine generated from desalination plants. It also provides up-to-date information regarding the most adequate technologies that generate a minimum quantity of rejected brine via the use of minimization techniques and analyzes the method of direct disposal that has lately received noticeable improvements. It further discusses the reuse of discarded brine to recover valuable goods and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Opportunities, challenges and trade-offs with decreasing avoidable food waste in the UK.

Around 6 million tonnes of edible food are being wasted (post-farm gate) in the UK each year. This fraction of edible wasted food is known as avoidable food waste. In a circular economy food is a valuable resource that must be captured at all stages of the food supply chain and, where possible, redistributed for consumption.

A systems thinking approach to understanding the challenges of achieving the circular economy.

Circular economy (CE) is extensively discussed around the globe. Presently, discussions are mostly concerned with the importance of achieving CE and the benefits associated therewith, with the various barriers surrounding its implementation being less debated. Understanding the context in which circularity can flourish is a prerequisite in building the capabilities to deal with the multi-faceted challenges that currently hamper progress in closing the material, component and product loops.

Delineating the global plastic marine litter challenge: clarifying the misconceptions.

Plastics, owing to their various beneficial properties (durability, flexibility and lightweight nature), are widely regarded as the workhorse material of our modern society. Being ubiquitously and increasingly present over the past 60 years, they provide various benefits to the global economy. However, inappropriate and/or uncontrolled disposal practices, poor waste management infrastructure, and application of insufficient recycling technologies, coupled with a lack of public awareness and incentives, have rendered plastic waste (PW) omnipresent, littering both the marine and the terrestrial environment with multifaceted impacts.

Delineating and preventing plastic waste leakage in the marine and terrestrial environment.

Plastics are nowadays considered to be the workhorse material of our modern society with an ubiquitous presence that has increased manifold over the past 60 years, providing several benefits to the global economy. However, inappropriate and/or uncontrolled disposal practices, poor waste management infrastructure and application of insufficient recycling technologies, coupled with a lack of public awareness and incentives, have rendered plastic waste omnipresent, littering both the marine and the terrestrial environment with multi-faceted impacts. This short communication/commentary aims at delineating the plastic litter global challenge providing, at the same time, scientific views and perspectives on properly dealing with this material type, both upstream and downstream.

Assessing the role and use of recycled aggregates in the sustainable management of construction and demolition waste via a mini-review and a case study.

Rapid industrial development, mega construction projects and increased immigration are some of the reasons that the State of Qatar has recently generated an unprecedented amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the country. The State is racing towards the Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup 2022, a fact that requires additional construction, for which it is expected to increase its rate of waste generation. Compared to other regions, there are relatively few studies in the literature that report on the C&D waste management issues of Qatar.

Assessment of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) content in plastic waste recovered from WEEE.

Due to the variability of additives and polymer types used in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and in accordance with the European Directive 2012/19/EU, an implementation of sound management practices is necessary. This work focuses on assessing the content of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) and their polymer blends (i.e.

An overview of the challenges and trade-offs in closing the loop of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW): Focus on recycling.

Recycling of post-consumer plastic waste (PCPW) is increasingly promoted as the means to achieving circular economy (CE). It converts plastic waste into a secondary material that can be fed back into the system, for use in the same or new components and products, with similar or lower functionality; hence "closing the loop". Up until today, research on examining the environmental impacts, economic implications and technicalities of plastic waste recycling deals with one particular aspect, or stage on the plastic value chain, lacking coherence and structure.

Use and assessment of "e-plastics" as recycled aggregates in cement mortar.

In this study we investigated the physical and mechanical properties of cement mortars, partially replaced with plastic (recycled plastic aggregate, RPA) recovered from WEEE (namely, "e-plastics"). The plastic housing of 14 LCD screens was sampled and, subsequently, compositionally and elementally analysed. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), being the most commonly found polymer in WEEE, was used as aggregate in the cement mortar.

Delineating the plastic waste status in the State of Qatar: Potential opportunities, recovery and recycling routes.

The Qatar's national vision (QNV2030) underlines an unequivocal commitment to maintaining harmony between the three inter-dependent pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social development and environmental management. Nonetheless, it seems that the country is set on a trajectory of unparalleled and rapid development that most waste management and environmental experts would, possibly, characterise as unsustainable; in addition it seems to repeat many of the "errors" that have been made in other parts of the world, including, for example, a lack of developed recycling and waste management infrastructure. The average Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation rate per capita in the Gulf Co-operation countries (GCC) reaches almost 1.

Closing the loop on plastic packaging materials: What is quality and how does it affect their circularity?

While attention on the importance of closing materials loops for achieving circular economy (CE) is raging, the technicalities of doing so are often neglected or difficult to overcome. These technicalities determine the ability of materials, components and products (MCPs) to be properly recovered and redistributed for reuse, recycling or recovery, given their remaining functionality, described here as the remaining properties and characteristics of MCPs. The different properties of MCPs make them useful for various functions and purposes.

An overview of chemical additives present in plastics: Migration, release, fate and environmental impact during their use, disposal and recycling.

Over the last 60 years plastics production has increased manifold, owing to their inexpensive, multipurpose, durable and lightweight nature. These characteristics have raised the demand for plastic materials that will continue to grow over the coming years. However, with increased plastic materials production, comes increased plastic material wastage creating a number of challenges, as well as opportunities to the waste management industry.

Performance of electroremediation in real contaminated sediments using a big cell, periodic voltage and innovative surfactants.

The present work focused on evaluating the electrokinetic (EK) treatment of real contaminated sediments with toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), using a big laboratory EK cell, periodic voltage and recently tested non-ionic surfactants. The results indicated that the "day on-night off" application mode of voltage, in conjunction with the selected solubilising agents, favoured the overall EK process. Arsenic, nickel and chromium exhibited the highest removal percentages, obtaining 83%, 67% and 63%, respectively, while zinc and lead attained 54% and 41% at the maximum.

Leaching capacity of metals-metalloids and recovery of valuable materials from waste LCDs.

The purpose of Directive 2012/19/EU which is related to WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment), also known as "e-waste", is to contribute to their sustainable production and consumption that would most possibly be achieved by their recovery, recycling and reuse. Under this perspective, the present study focused on the recovery of valuable materials, metals and metalloids from LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays). Indium (In), arsenic (As) and stibium (Sb) were selected to be examined for their Leaching Capacity (R) from waste LCDs.