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The need for harmonized monitoring protocols for marine microplastic has been discussed for many years, but how to reach this goal has not been agreed upon. Important questions addressed when microplastics are monitored are: how to carry out field sampling, how to eliminate other particulate matter from a sample without harming the microplastics, and how to accurately identify the particles, while also preventing and assessing potential sample contamination at each step from sampling to analyses. In the project HARMIC, Nordic scientist with long term experience in microplastic research, applied and evaluated different methods for sampling and sample preparation relevant for the establishment of common guidelines. The outcomes of the studies are discussed from a monitoring perspective, including aspects of quality assurance and quality control.
The report presents results from a study on the role municipal sewage treatment plants (STPs) have as entrance routes for microplastics and other microlitter particles to the marine environment. Microlitter concentrations were analysed in waste water before and after treatment in the STPs, and in the recipient waters where the treated waste water is discharged. Municipal waste water was found to contain a substantial amount of microlitter, but in STPs equipped with chemical and biological treatment most of the litter particles were retained in the sewage sludge. This reduces the impact on the recipient water, but if the sludge is used as fertilizer on farm land the microlitter will still reach the environment. Efforts to reduce the microlitter concentrations should therefore preferably be done in households and other locations where the waste water is originally being formed.
This unique compendium consists of peer-reviewed articles spanning from novel growth of materials for nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices, electronic nose sensor array, bio-nano-systems, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and emerging technologies, to applications in each of these fields.Systems implementing additively manufactured RF devices for communication, packaging, remote sensing, compact multi-bit FETs and memories are also included.Plasmonic nanostructures with electrical connections have potential applications as new electro-optic devices. Quantum dot-based devices are discussed with regard to optical logic gates, mid-infrared photodetectors, gain and index tailored external cavity high power lasers.Contributed by eminent researchers, this useful reference text broadly illustrates relevant aspects of high-performance materials and emerging nanodevices for implementing high-speed electronic systems.
This reference book reviews various aspects of microplastics, from their sources and manifestation in terrestrial, aquatic, and air environments to their fate in wastewater treatment systems. It also covers sampling, analysis, and detection methods for microplastics, along with advanced instrumentation for quantification. Further, the book presents health risk analysis and the toxicity of microplastic contamination, including their ecotoxicological impact on the environment and health risks associated with their accumulation in the tropical food chain and food web. The chapters also present studies exploring the health risks associated with microplastic additives and their interactions with other pollutants. The final chapters focus on plastic and microplastics management, exploring advanced technologies for bioplastics production, the biodegradation of plastics and bioplastics, and the role of nanotechnology in plastic management. This book serves as an important source for researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists concerned about the impact of microplastics on ecosystems and human health.
Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-566/
Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-524/ Release of small plastic items, known as Acute Plastic Pollution (APP) in the environment. What is it and what can it cause? For understanding, the Nordic Council of Ministers commissioned an assessment which is described in this report including the problems, causes and solutions to address APP at multiple levels. It is a serious problem for which there are no legal frameworks nor coordinated response. Research on the magnitude and locations of APP emphasizing pellet loss is needed. Recommendations include adoption of an internationally accepted definition, reclassification of pellets as hazardous goods, inclusion in legislation, awareness-raising and incorporation of APP in a legal framework with actions for preparedness and a standardized disaster response protocol. Prevention is key, hence, technical and legal measures should be applied to achieve this.
Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-523/ Over the 15 past years, leakages of millions of plastic biocarriers - supports for bacterial growth used in certain types of Wastewater Treatment Plants have been reported in riverine and marine environments. In most cases, the biocarriers are not recovered, contributing to the issue of global plastic pollution. The objective of this report is to develop guidelines for the safe management of biocarriers based on proven-effective existing technical solutions and management measures, with the overarching goal of preventing releases of biocarriers in the marine and riverine environments. A holistic approach, encompassing every step of the biocarriers’ life cycle, helped to identify possible improvements in production, transportation, storage, engineering, facility operation, and biocarrier disposal.
Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2024-508/ This report provides potential criteria to address problematic, unnecessary and avoidable plastic products at the global level, supporting the objectives of the upcoming international plastics instrument as per UNEA Resolution 5/14. The report notes that over 140 countries have enacted bans or restrictions on specific plastic products, highlighting the need for global criteria to manage not just single-use plastics, but also a wider range of plastic products. It presents possible criteria for determining plastic products into three distinct classifications - problematic, unnecessary, and avoidable – each subject to specific control measures. The report's ultimate aim is to phase out these plastic products through removal, substitution and redesign. A strong science-policy interface is needed to ensure informed listing of these plastic products under the instrument.
How colleges can foster growth mindsets among students—and why this approach matters. We live in an era of escalating, tech-fueled change. Our jobs and the skills we need to work and thrive are constantly evolving, and those who can't keep up risk falling behind. That's where college comes in. In Mindset Matters, Daniel R. Porterfield advances a powerful new argument about the value of residential undergraduate education and its role in developing growth mindsets among students. The growth mindset, according to Porterfield, is the belief that we can enhance our core qualities or talents through our efforts, strategies, and education, and with assistance from others. People with growth mind...