Sources of Microplastic Generation in the Environment

This paper explores the various sources of microplastic generation in the environment. It emphasizes the exponential growth of research on microplastics, highlighting the increasing concern and political attention this issue is receiving. The paper examines the properties of polymeric materials, differentiating between microplastics and nanoplastics and their respective impacts. It then provides a qualitative inventory of microplastic sources, focusing on processes like air and water flows, chemical oxidation, and mechanical fragmentation. Finally, the paper stresses the importance of environmental education and management, including reverse logistics, to effectively address the pervasive problem of microplastic pollution.

José Machado Moita Neto, Elaine Aparecida Da Silva