Preface
1. Background and History
Introduction
Plastics in Daily Life
History of Plastics
Natural and Synthetic Rubbers
Parkisine and Celluloid
Bakelite
The Modern Age of Plastics
Plastic Pollution
Microplastics
Primary Microplastics
Secondary Microplastics
Transport of Microplastics
Land and Air Deposition
Water Deposition
References
2. Problems, Controversies, and Solutions
Introduction
Plastics Production
Future Trends in Plastics Production
Fossil Fuels and Plastics Production
Disposal of Plastic Wastes
Dumps and Landfills
Incineration
The Oceans
Environmental Effects of Plastics
Soil
Entanglement
Ingestion
Interaction
Human Health
Solutions
Recycling
Biodegradable Plastics
Zero Waste
Circular Economy
Public Opinion and Legislation
Conclusion
References
3. Perspectives
Introduction
Environmental Education That Empowers Students, Ashlie Arkwright
Microplastics and Plankton, Cherilyn Chin
Microplastics Are Everywhere: Threatening the Health of the Planet and Future of Humanity, Mark Friedman
How to Be More Eco-conscious, Pratibha Gopalakrishna
Biological Recycling of Polyethylene Shopping Bags, Joel Grossman
Impacts of Plastic on Sea Turtles, Jake Krauss
What Is the True Cost of Microplastic Pollution on Our Health?, Kara Rogers
Small Town Makes Big Impact, Diana Reynolds Roome
Environmental Hazards of Bottled Water, Ellen Rubin
The Reckoning, Das Soligo
4. Profiles
Alliance to End Plastic Waste
Leo Baekeland (1863-1944)
Wallace Carothers (1896-1937)
The 5 Gyres Institute
Greenpeace
Walter Lincoln Hawkins (1911-1992)
Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014)
Charles J. Moore (Dates Unavailable)
Alexander Parkes (1813-1890)
Boyan Slat (1994-)
Surfrider Foundation
5. Data and Documents
Data
Table 5.1 Global Production of Plastics, 1950-2015
Table 5.2 Disposal of Plastic Wastes, 1980-2015 (%)
Table 5.3 Plastic Use by Sector (million tonnes) (2015)
Table 5.4 Per Capita Plastic Waste for Selected Countries, 2010 (kilograms per person per day)
Table 5.5 Plastic Production and Disposal in the United States, Selected Years (thousands of tons)
Table 5.6 Microplastic Concentration at Various Points in the United States
Table 5.7 Fate of All Plastics Produced Worldwide, 1980-2015
Table 5.8 Global Production of Various Types of Plastics for 2015 (millions of tons)
Table 5.9 Forms of Polyethylene
Documents
Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act (1987)
Policy Memorandum 11-03 ("Water Bottle Ban") (2011); Discontinuation of Policy (2017)
Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015
Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Organisms (2016)
No More Plastics in the Oceans (2017)
City of Laredo, Texas, Petitioner, v. Laredo Merchants Association (NO. 16-0748) (2018)
Plastic Bag Bill (Connecticut) (2019); Plastic Bag Bill (Idaho) (2016)
A Circular Economy for Plastics (2019)
Save Our Seas Bill (S.1982) (2019)
Plastic or Bioplastic Disposable Food Service Ware (2019)
San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper and S. Diane Wilson v. Formosa Plastics Corp., Texas, and Formosa Plastics Corp., U.S.A. (2019)
Udall-Lowenthal Bill (2020)
6. Resources
Books
Articles
Reports
Internet
7. Chronology
Glossary
Index
