Impacts of Nano- and Microplastics on the Environment and Health

The omnipresence of plastic in our environment has become a global scourge with harmful consequences for human health and the environment. Indeed, large quantities of plastic have already accumulated in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The annual global production of plastic is 460 million tons and has more than doubled between 2000 and 2022 according to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It could triple by 2060 if nothing changes.Nano- and microplastics primarily come from the fragmentation of plastic materials. Their small sizes make cleaning up this plastic pollution more difficult and costly. Current waste management methods are o\en not suited to deal with nano- and microplastics, thus contributing to their accumulation in the environment. These plastic particles are particularly ingested by aquatic organisms, posing risks of bioaccumulation in the food chain. Moreover, studies suggest that humans can be exposed to microplastics through water, air, and food, raising concerns about their impact on human health.