Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Environmental Risks, Impact Assessment, and Remediation Technologies

This book offers a comprehensive examination of microplastics and nanoplastics, focusing on their environmental behavior, detection, and associated risks to ecosystems and human health. It explores the full lifecycle of these pollutants―from production and disposal to their distribution and persistence in natural systems―while highlighting the challenges of accurate detection and impact assessment across diverse environments.

With a strong emphasis on scientific methodology and practical applications, this book presents advanced strategies for monitoring, risk assessment, and remediation of microplastics and nanoplastics. It explores a range of chemical, biological, and emerging technologies, while also delving into innovative tools such as remote sensing, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. By integrating sustainable management practices and policy frameworks, the book offers a multidimensional approach―making it an essential resource for researchers and professionals working to understand and mitigate the effects of micro- and nanoplastic pollution.

Shrikaant Kulkarni, Ph.D., is a Research Professor at Sanjivani University, Kopargaon, India, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Victorian Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; Lincoln University College, Malaysia; and Chitkara University, Punjab, India.  He has been a senior academician and researcher for 42 years. Dr. Kulkarni has delivered invited lectures and conducted specialized sessions at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and faculty development programs. He has supervised a wide range of major and minor research projects in fields including engineering chemistry, green chemistry, nanotechnology, analytical chemistry, catalysis, chemical engineering materials, industrial organization and management, advanced artificial intelligence, and educational technology. He has published over 100 research papers and conference articles, edited over 50 books, including several on advanced AI, and contributed more than 100 book chapters for reputable publishers such as CRC Press, Springer Nature, Apple Academic Press, Elsevier, Wiley, and IET. He has also authored four textbooks in engineering chemistry. Dr. Kulkarni holds MSc, MPhil, and PhD degrees in Chemistry, as well as Master’s degrees in Economics, Business Management, and Political Science. He has two published patents, as well as two additional patents currently under review. He was invited by UNESCO to deliver a talk on “Green Chemistry Education for Sustainable Development” at the International Conference on Green Chemistry in Bangkok, where his presentation was highly appreciated by international experts and dignitaries.

Prof. (Dr.) Susanta Das is an accomplished educator and researcher with extensive experience teaching and mentoring students across diverse academic environments. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Physics from Western Michigan University (WMU), USA, and a M.Sc. in Physics from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India. He continued his research as a Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Stockholm University, Sweden, where he researched beam diagnostics for the DESIREE (Double Electrostatic Ion Ring Experiment) facility under the DITANET (Diagnostic Techniques for Particle Accelerators – a Marie-Curie initial training network) program. He subsequently worked as a Project Scientist-B at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, India, focusing on high-pressure physics, and later as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, Japan, studying ion–surface interactions. He has participated in and delivered contributions at international conferences across Europe, Asia, and South America. Prior to joining Ajeenkya D. Y. Patil University, he served in academic and research roles at several institutions in India and abroad. His recognitions include the Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (Sweden), Science Academies’ Summer Research Fellowship (India), Gowen Frostic Doctoral Fellowship, Department Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award (WMU), and the Leo R. Parpart Doctoral Fellowship (WMU Dept. of Physics), among others. Dr. Das has co-authored numerous research articles in WoS/Scopus-indexed journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters, and has co-edited several books with leading international publishers including Springer Nature, IGI Global, Nova Science, Wiley, and Scrivener Publishing. His current research interests span nanotechnology, data science, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.