We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Prevalence of Nanoplastics in the Mediterranean Sea: A Growing Environmental Concern
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the state of knowledge on nanoplastics—particles smaller than 1 µm—in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting that detection and quantification remain technically challenging. The authors synthesize available evidence suggesting nanoplastics are more abundant and potentially more hazardous than microplastics, while identifying critical gaps in monitoring capability.
The majority of our knowledge about plastic pollution is based on microplastics, defined as particles measuring between 500 µm and 5 mm. Due to technical limitations, our understanding of nanoplastics (smaller than 1 µm) remains limited. Nonetheless, it is widely accepted that nanoplastics are more abundant, more widely dispersed, and pose a potentially greater risk to ecosystems and human health than microplastics1. Nanoplastics also differ from microplastics in terms of transport mechanisms, reactivity with other particles, interaction with light, and bioavailability.Given these distinctions, since 2021, we have conducted several field campaigns to quantify nanoplastics in the Mediterranean Sea, using the research vessel Expedition 7th Continent. A rigorous methodology was developed, encompassing sampling, isolation, and quantification via Py-GC-MS/MS, to ensure highly reliable results2, 3. Particular attention was paid to quality control, which is a critical concern in nanoplastic analysis.We detected nanoplastic concentrations in the Mediterranean in the µg/L range. These high concentrations are notable and likely result from the fact that the semi-enclosed Mediterranean Sea serves as the ultimate sink for plastic pollution originating from coastal countries, where plastic waste degrades into nanoplastics. The presentation of these data will also address their impact on current ecological risk assessment thresholds for plastics in marine environments. References cited :Mitrano, D. M.; Wick, P.; Nowack, B., Placing nanoplastics in the context of global plastic pollution. Nat Nanotechnol 2021, 16, (5), 491-500. Albignac, M.; de Oliveira, T.; Landebrit, L.; Miquel, S.; Auguin, B.; Leroy, E.; Maria, E.; Mingotaud, A. F.; ter Halle, A., Tandem mass spectrometry enhances the performances of pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for microplastic quantification. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 2023, 172, 105993. Albignac, M.; Maria, E.; De Oliveira, T.; Roux, C.; Goudouneche, D.; Mingotaud, A. F.; Bordeau, G.; ter Halle, A., Assessment of nanoplastic extraction from natural samples for quantification purposes. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management 2023, 20, 100862.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in the Mediterranean marine environment: a combined bibliometric and systematic analysis to identify current trends and challenges
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review analyzes microplastic research trends in the Mediterranean Sea region, where contamination levels are a growing concern. The study identifies key research areas and gaps in understanding how microplastics in this semi-enclosed sea affect marine life and could impact the health of the millions of people living along its coasts.
Microplastics in Mediterranean coastal area: toxicity and impact for the environment and human health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined microplastic and nanoplastic pollution across the Mediterranean Sea, finding contamination in surface water, sediments, deep seafloor, and seafood consumed by humans. Researchers highlighted that coastal zones are the most contaminated areas due to population pressure, tourism, and marine traffic, and noted that standardized analytical protocols are still needed for reliable identification and quantification of these particles.
Nanoplastics in the Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This chapter reviews the emerging concern about nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — which are even harder to detect and may have more pervasive biological effects than larger microplastics. Current analytical challenges make nanoplastics difficult to quantify in the environment, leaving significant knowledge gaps.
A critical review on nanoplastics and its future perspectives in the marine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review provides a comprehensive look at nanoplastics, plastic particles smaller than one micrometer, and their fate in marine environments. Researchers found that nanoplastics can originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris and may carry harmful chemical additives and absorbed pollutants on their surfaces. The evidence indicates that due to their extremely small size, nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and accumulate in marine organisms, raising concerns about food chain contamination.
Challenges in the search for nanoplastics in the environment—A critical review from the polymer science perspective
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the scientific challenges in detecting nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — in natural environments, noting that none had been confirmed in the wild at the time of the study despite being suspected to pose serious environmental risks. The review highlights the urgent need for better sampling, separation, and detection methods, since the very techniques needed to find nanoplastics are still being developed.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.