Characterization of Microplastics in Total Atmospheric Deposition Sampling from Areas Surrounding Industrial Complexes in Northwestern Colombia

Abstract

In this study, the total atmospheric deposition of microplastics in places near an industrial complex in Cartagena, Colombia is evaluated by taking samples at three points at different distances from the industrial zone. The samples obtained were treated to quantify and identify the type of plastic present, indicating the presence of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate. The values of microplastics obtained were related to the climatic conditions of the areas (wind and rainfall) to determine these effects on the transport of microplastics. Values of 9472 ± 702 MP were obtained at the point closest to the industrial area and 1455 ± 14 MP at the farthest point, within which a greater proportion were fibers. In this study, it was also possible to determine that the microplastics most affected by the wind were the fragments.

A New Route of Valorization of Petrochemical Wastewater: Recovery of 1,3,5-Tris (4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl benzyl)–1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)-trione (Cyanox 1790) and Its Subsequent Application in a PP Matrix to Improve Its Thermal Stability

“…VOCs can adversely affect human health and the environment if not treated properly. On the other hand, PHAs are a group of biodegradable polymers produced from the biotransformation of organic matter in water and can be difficult to remove via conventional treatment processes [5,6,16,[21][22][23][24]. Phenols can also be present in wastewater from petrochemical plants due to the presence of chemical processes and can have toxic effects on the environment and human health.…”

Application of Pyrolysis for the Evaluation of Organic Compounds in Medical Plastic Waste Generated in the City of Cartagena-Colombia Applying TG-GC/MS

“…Of the production volumes, a significant percentage ends up in various bodies of water and it becomes one of the most critical environmental pollutants on the planet [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Currently, one of the most serious types of harm that are caused by plastic is the generation of bioaccumulative microplastics [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In the United States alone, hospitals were reported in 2020 to generate 5.9 million tons of medical waste per year [ 16 ].…”

Quantification of the Synthetic Phenolic Antioxidant Cyanox 1790 in Bottled Water with SPE-HPLC/MS/MS and Determination of the Impact of the Use of Recycled Packaging on Its Generation

“…It is well-known that the current worldwide trend of bottled-water processing plants is to increase the recycling and reuse of these containers [54,55]. In water samples, it has been possible to identify other substances such as bisphenols, volatile compounds, microplastics, heavy metals, organophosphates, arsenic, nitrates, and manganese that have generated alarms about their risks [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69]. The great concern arises given that the consumption of bottled water worldwide in 2011 reached the figure of approximately 232 billion liters, with an estimated growth of 7% per year.…”

“…The great concern arises given that the consumption of bottled water worldwide in 2011 reached the figure of approximately 232 billion liters, with an estimated growth of 7% per year. It is projected that by 2025 it will reach 513 billion liters [63,69]. It was found that the world region that consumes the most bottled water is North America with 30%, followed by Europe and Asia with 29% and 27%, respectively [70][71][72][73].…”