Microplastics as emerging pollutants in urban waterways

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have been classified as any plastic particle with a diameter less than 5 mm. MPs have been identified as a prominent environmental concern due to the fact that they associate with a wide range of toxic contaminants, and also because of their non-degradability and long lifespan. Urban waterways are important natural resources that support human life, economic development, as well as natural ecosystems, which are closely linked with human and aquatic ecosystem well-being. Urban waterways are also the first places to suffer from MPs pollution derived from terrestrial environments. Therefore, it is essential to fully understand the presence and spatial distribution patterns of MPs in urban waterways to further evaluate the hazardous consequences resulting from their presence. This chapter provides a detailed discussion on MPs pollutants in relation to the definition, occurrence, distribution patterns and morphological characteristics to contribute knowledge on MPs pollution in urban waterways, and provides baseline data for further analysis of MPs from a risk assessment perspective.