A universal scaling law for suspended particle transport in heterogeneous fractures, with focus on micro- and nanoplastics

Summary

Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles, like the micro- and nanoplastics found in water sources, move through cracks in rock underground, which matters because these cracks can act as pathways connecting groundwater to the water we drink. They found a predictable pattern (a "universal scaling law") that explains how particle size, density, and the shape of the crack affect whether plastics get trapped in rock or flow through freely. This kind of finding helps scientists better predict where microplastic contamination might build up in underground water supplies, which could eventually inform how we protect drinking water from plastic pollution.