Microplastic Pollution

Microplastic pollution is an increasingly important issue in science, industry, and politics. This book presents global case studies from fields such as materials science, analytical chemistry, toxicology, and public health. It explores the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment and details the methods used for their detection, separation, and identification in complex environmental samples. The book examines the fate and transport of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants and natural ecosystems, providing regional classifications and identifying key sources. It also discusses how microplastics act as vectors for hazardous chemicals and how exposure and co-exposure to these pollutants affect aquatic and terrestrial organisms. By combining diverse scientific perspectives, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of the environmental challenges posed by microplastics and aims to support research, policymaking, and strategies for pollution control and environmental protection.

Julia Martín is assistant professor of analytical chemistry, and her most relevant scientific contributions are in the field of environmental analytical chemistry, focusing on the dynamics of priority and emerging contaminants in different environmental scenarios and industrial facilities. She has participated in 25 research projects and contracts with companies and public institutions. She has published more than 120 scientific articles (h-index 42) and 30 book chapters.
Juan Luis Santos is full professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the University of Seville, Spain. He is member of the research group Anquimed since 2004. He is an expert in chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis, has participated in more than 50 research projects and contracts, and is co-author of more than 130 scientific papers focused on the dynamics of organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment and on evaluating the environmental impact of these pollutants on organisms within affected environmental compartments.
Irene Aparicio is a full professor; secretary of the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the University of Seville, Spain; and a member of the research group Anquimed (Industrial and Environmental Chemical Analysis), since 2004. Her research is focused on the development of analytical methodologies for the determination of organic contaminants, mainly pharmaceuticals and metabolites, in environmental matrices and their application to fate, removal, and risk assessment studies.
Esteban Alonso is a full professor and director of the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Seville. In 2004, he founded the research group Anquimed (Industrial and Environmental Chemical Analysis), with the purpose of improving specifically the knowledge about the dynamics of priority and emerging pollutants in several environmental scenarios and industrial installations. Before joining the University of Seville, he worked at the Center for New Water Technologies, a non-profit association of private firms and government agencies focused on the field of novel water technologies.