Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Over the past few decades, plastic production and consumption have proliferated, accompanied by the release of tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). The fate, distribution, and behavior of these particles are becoming a cause of concern for scientists, who have found that MNPs can be introduced into the environment through a variety of sources, including industrial processes, consumer products, and waste management. Once they enter the environment, MNPs can enter in different environments, such as the ocean, lakes, rivers, soil, air, and remote areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic. The fate of these particles in each environment depends on several factors, including their size, shape, density, chemical composition, and surrounding conditions. When it comes to the behavior of MNPs, these particles can have adverse effects on marine organisms, including changes in behavior, growth, reproduction, and mortality, which is not only a consequence of their polymeric structures, but also because of the transportation of toxic chemicals and pathogenic strains that can be transferred to organisms, including humans, through the food chain and exacerbating climate change by affecting the light absorption properties of the atmosphere and creating a positive feedback loop.