Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Environment

Micro- and nanoplastics are small plastic particles that can arise from the breakdown of discarded plastic materials, wear from regular use, or even spills of plastic manufacturing materials such as nurdles. Microplastics typically range in size from about 5 millimeters down to the lower micrometer scale, while nanoplastics extend to the smallest particles, with sizes down to 1 nanometer. Both types have now been found in every biome on the planet and can be detected in the air, in water, a...