Foster, John E. García, María C 2024-05-10T11:26:59Z 2024-05-10T11:26:59Z 2022 1089-7674 http://hdl.handle.net/10396/28232 Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasmas transform input electrical energy efficiently into reactive species, charged particles, and photons. This “activated gas” is being investigated as solutions for a range of environmental and health problems facing society today. In this Perspective, we take a cursory look at a few of these societal problems and the reflected role that plasmas may play in charting the pathway to a solution buoyed by supporting research. Here, we survey the plasma-based opportunities in the removal of trace contaminants in water supporting methodologies such as water reuse, which addresses scarcity and pollution, the opportunity posed by plasmas-based chemical depolymerization for plastics recycling, and the application of plasmas for food security, which includes sterilization of foodstuffs and the improvement of crop yield. Finally, we also included a short review on how plasmas may help control disease spread. In each case, the scope of the problem is presented along with the potential plasma-based solution. application/pdf eng AIP Publishing https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Foster, J. E., & Garcı́a, M. C.(2022). Promise of nonthermal plasmas in addressing emerging environmental and health problems: Present and future. Physics Of Plasmas, 29(6). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0083766 Electrical energy Depolymerization Polymers Pyrolysis Plasma processing Plasma applications Toxins Diseases and conditions Fungi Pathogens Promise of nonthermal plasmas in addressing emerging environmental and health problems: Present and future info:eu-repo/semantics/article https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0083766 Gobierno de España. PID2020-112620GB-I00 Gobierno de España. PID2020-114270RA-I00 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess