Table Of ContentPlastics and Microplastics
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CONTEMPORARY WORLD ISSUES
Plastics and
Microplastics
A REFERENCE HANDBOOK
David E. Newton
Copyright © 2021 by ABC-CLIO, LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review,
without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Newton, David E., author.
Title: Plastics and microplastics : a reference handbook / David E.
Newton.
Description: Santa Barbara, California : ABC-CLIO, [2021] | Series:
Contemporary world issues | Includes bibliographical references
and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021008696 (print) | LCCN 2021008697
(ebook) | ISBN 9781440875397 (hardcover) | ISBN
9781440875403 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Plastics. | Microplastics.
Classification: LCC TP1120 .N484 2021 (print) | LCC TP1120
(ebook) | DDC 668.4—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021008696
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021008697
ISBN: 978-1-4408-7539-7 (print)
978-1-4408-7540-3 (ebook)
25 24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5
This book is also available as an eBook.
ABC-CLIO
An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC
ABC-CLIO, LLC
147 Castilian Drive
Santa Barbara, California 93117
www . abc - clio . com
This book is printed on acid-free paper
Manufactured in the United States of America
Contents
Preface, xiii
1 Background and History, 3
Introduction, 3
Plastics in Daily Life, 5
History of Plastics, 8
Natural and Synthetic Rubbers, 9
Parkisine and Celluloid, 13
Bakelite, 16
The Modern Age of Plastics, 17
Plastic Pollution, 21
Microplastics, 23
Primary Microplastics, 24
Secondary Microplastics, 27
Transport of Microplastics, 28
Land and Air Deposition, 28
Water Deposition, 30
References, 33
vii
viii Contents
2 ProBlems, controversies, and solutions, 43
Introduction, 43
Plastics Production, 44
Future Trends in Plastics Production, 45
Fossil Fuels and Plastics Production, 47
Disposal of Plastic Wastes, 51
Dumps and Landfills, 52
Incineration, 55
The Oceans, 58
Environmental Effects of Plastics, 61
Soil, 64
Entanglement, 66
Ingestion, 68
Interaction, 70
Human Health, 71
Solutions, 76
Recycling, 76
Biodegradable Plastics, 80
Zero Waste, 81
Circular Economy, 83
Public Opinion and Legislation, 84
Conclusion, 88
References, 88
Contents ix
3 PersPectives, 107
Introduction, 107
Environmental Education That Empowers Students, 107
Ashlie Arkwright
Microplastics and Plankton, 110
Cherilyn Chin
Microplastics Are Everywhere: Threatening the Health of
the Planet and Future of Humanity, 114
Mark Friedman
How to Be More Eco-conscious, 118
Pratibha Gopalakrishna
Biological Recycling of Polyethylene
Shopping Bags, 121
Joel Grossman
Impacts of Plastic on Sea Turtles, 126
Jake Krauss
What Is the True Cost of Microplastic
Pollution on Our Health?, 129
Kara Rogers
Small Town Makes Big Impact, 133
Diana Reynolds Roome
Environmental Hazards of Bottled Water, 137
Ellen Rubin
The Reckoning, 142
Das Soligo
