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Preface

Humans have modified the environment to better answer their needs, and in the process, they have changed the homeostatic mechanisms of the earth's system. The ecological fabric of the planet has undergone drastic changes due to human‐induced modifications. These changes have resulted in certain thresholds of ecological systems being broken. One such human activity is the production of waste, mainly plastic waste. Plastics are a versatile material that provides an inexpensive alternative to many industries. Plastics are a group of synthetic polymers which are now considered as an indicator of the Anthropocene. Of the 300 million tons of plastic produced each year on average, 50% of waste is designed for waste applications, i.e., it is destined to be thrown away. The European Union alone accounts for about 650 thousand tons of flexible plastic wastes. Due to its applicability, potential technology for recycling and degradation of plastic debris has become an essential issue of the 21st century. Renewable raw materials in innovative polymer products with comparable production costs and efficient technology are being explored. Global production of plastic resin has increased from about 1.5 million tons in 1950 to 322 million tons in 2015. Overall, plastic consumption has given rise to the massive load of plastic waste which has disturbed the entire ecosystem. The disposal of plastic waste is a crucial issue regardless of the present awareness and technological capacity. Plastic has been identified to be a global pollutant that now contaminates our aquatic and soil systems. Its durability and use in various industries and as disposables have resulted in a large amount of plastic in landfills and open dumps. Waste disposal is a serious concern, especially in developing countries, due to the non‐implementation of rules and lack of public mobilization. Collection, segregation, and treatment or recycling are lacking, and about 90% of the waste is still disposed of through landfills. Because the presence of plastic waste is an unrelenting concern, mainly due to its non‐biodegradability and adverse environmental impacts, there is an urgent need to tackle the plastic waste issue. A combination of various techniques is currently used to increase the energy value or reduce the waste volume of plastic wastes. Recycling of plastic waste consists of converting it into fuel or feedstock, which would reduce the volume and the net cost of disposal. Recycling converts plastics into liquids or gases with chemical, thermal, or thermo‐chemical procedures. Chemical recycling, including de‐polymerization, pyrolysis, and catalytic cracking, are the usual procedures employed by industries for plastic recycling.The omnipresence of microplastics with a size range of <5 mm is increasing worldwide concerns about their implications for human health. Its presence in water, soil, and air poses serious health risks to humans and other organisms via the food chain. However, whether these contaminants pose a substantial risk to human health is far from understood. This book emphasizes the occurrence of plastic and microplastic in the environment, challenges faced, and various management strategies and policies for their management at the global level. It also includes health risk issues related to plastic and microplastic in different componentsof the environment.

This book displays several chapters on microplastic contamination in freshwater, marine water, soil, and air. It also includes a chapter focused on microplastic in various aquatic food chains and its impact on human health. It includes and highlights several techniques related to microplastic detection in different environmental media. Chapters on the distribution of plastic at the global level and challenges related to its recycling, degradation of plastic, and biodegradable plastic are also included. It also includes a chapter on the role of education and society to deal with plastic problems. This book will be helpful for graduate students, researchers, engineers, technologists, NGOs, and government agencies working in plastic and microplastic related issues.

This book is a humble effort to address the plastic and microplastic issues across the globe. We hope that it is an important addition to the available literature. The contributors of the book are from diversebackgrounds that provided holistic information on the topic. We convey our heartfelt gratitude to all the contributors and publishers who helped to produce an incredible and meaningful edited volume on a very relevant theme.