How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach
Microplastics are prominent marine pollutants that have been investigated in various recent studies. While some of these studies mention regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs), as part of microplastics or in close connection, other studies consider RCFs to be biodegradable by their nature and hence neg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Communications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad8ac3 |
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| author | Sophie Pasterk Lea Ranacher Tobias Stern K Christian Schuster Danuta J Aigner Franziska Hesser |
| author_facet | Sophie Pasterk Lea Ranacher Tobias Stern K Christian Schuster Danuta J Aigner Franziska Hesser |
| author_sort | Sophie Pasterk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics are prominent marine pollutants that have been investigated in various recent studies. While some of these studies mention regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs), as part of microplastics or in close connection, other studies consider RCFs to be biodegradable by their nature and hence neglectable in context of marine pollution. This systematic literature review on the biodegradability of RCFs was conducted to investigate how such differences can be explained. An innovative snowballing-network approach has been applied for the review to gain a better understanding of historical developments of and interconnections between according strains of literature. Starting from four different papers the review followed according references and citations. Results indicate that a consensus is lacking across research fields on the chemical characteristics of RCFs. The inconsistent use of existing terminology by some researchers, and failure to make distinctions between RCFs and synthetic fibers or plastics in the results may lead to misinterpretation regarding the impacts of RCFs in the environment. By using more accurately the existing terms and definitions, researchers could prevent readers from misinterpreting research results and increase their understanding of RCFs. Biodegradation of regenerated cellulose fibers was reviewed, and consensus is that these fibers are biodegradable in all natural environments and suitable industrial settings. Conducting further research on the fate of RCFs and other cellulose fibers from processed consumer products like textiles, as well as microfibers from textiles in general, in natural environments are recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e69d88acbbf44cb686e3e03235004488 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2515-7620 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-e69d88acbbf44cb686e3e032350044882025-08-20T02:14:53ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202024-01-0161111200110.1088/2515-7620/ad8ac3How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approachSophie Pasterk0Lea Ranacher1Tobias Stern2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2336-5910K Christian Schuster3Danuta J Aigner4Franziska Hesser5Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Marketing and Innovation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) , Feistmantelstaße 4, 1180, Vienna, AustriaWood K plus /Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry, Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040, Linz, AustriaUniversity of Graz , Institute of Environmental Systems Sciences, Merangasse 18, 8010, Graz, AustriaLenzing AG, Corporate Sustainability, Werkstrasse 2, 4860, Lenzing, AustriaWood K plus /Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry, Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040, Linz, AustriaDepartment of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Marketing and Innovation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) , Feistmantelstaße 4, 1180, Vienna, AustriaMicroplastics are prominent marine pollutants that have been investigated in various recent studies. While some of these studies mention regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs), as part of microplastics or in close connection, other studies consider RCFs to be biodegradable by their nature and hence neglectable in context of marine pollution. This systematic literature review on the biodegradability of RCFs was conducted to investigate how such differences can be explained. An innovative snowballing-network approach has been applied for the review to gain a better understanding of historical developments of and interconnections between according strains of literature. Starting from four different papers the review followed according references and citations. Results indicate that a consensus is lacking across research fields on the chemical characteristics of RCFs. The inconsistent use of existing terminology by some researchers, and failure to make distinctions between RCFs and synthetic fibers or plastics in the results may lead to misinterpretation regarding the impacts of RCFs in the environment. By using more accurately the existing terms and definitions, researchers could prevent readers from misinterpreting research results and increase their understanding of RCFs. Biodegradation of regenerated cellulose fibers was reviewed, and consensus is that these fibers are biodegradable in all natural environments and suitable industrial settings. Conducting further research on the fate of RCFs and other cellulose fibers from processed consumer products like textiles, as well as microfibers from textiles in general, in natural environments are recommended.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad8ac3regenerated cellulose fibersmarine debrismarine pollutionmicroplasticbiodegradability |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Pasterk Lea Ranacher Tobias Stern K Christian Schuster Danuta J Aigner Franziska Hesser How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach Environmental Research Communications regenerated cellulose fibers marine debris marine pollution microplastic biodegradability |
| title | How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach |
| title_full | How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach |
| title_fullStr | How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach |
| title_short | How regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic: a snowballing and network approach |
| title_sort | how regenerated cellulose fibers appear in the discourse on marine pollution with microplastic a snowballing and network approach |
| topic | regenerated cellulose fibers marine debris marine pollution microplastic biodegradability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ad8ac3 |
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