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Nano- and Microplastics: Pollutants of the 21st Century
Original title: Nano- i mikroplastik – zanieczyszczenia XXI wieku
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This Polish-language review summarizes the emergence of microplastics and nanoplastics as 21st-century environmental pollutants, explaining how plastics break down through physical, chemical, and biological processes into tiny particles found in air, water, soil, and living organisms including humans. The article highlights documented and potential adverse health effects and frames micro/nanoplastics as a new class of xenobiotic environmental contaminants requiring urgent attention.
Plastics are an important material in our economy and everyday life. Thanks to low production costs and the ability to form them into various shapes, they have become the most universal material in the world. Plastics are mass-produced for applications in packaging, construction, electrical and electronics, textiles, transportation and agriculture. Global plastic production in 2021 amounted to 391 million tonnes. As a result of physical, biological, chemical or thermal processes, these materials decompose, forming particles called microplastics (MP) and/or nanoplastics (NP), which have become a significant environmental pollutant in the last decade. These xenobiotics are found in the air, water, soil, as well as in living organisms. They may also cause adverse effects on human health.
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This review provides a broad overview of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, covering where these particles come from, how they spread through the environment, and the damage they cause to living things including humans. The authors also compare different methods for removing microplastics from the environment, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The paper calls for more research and global cooperation to develop better tools for measuring the health risks of plastic pollution.
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This Croatian-language review article summarizes research on the environmental and human health impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics. It highlights the alarming ubiquity of these particles across all environmental compartments and the growing scientific concern about their biological effects.
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This review summarizes existing research on tiny plastic particles found in water, soil, and air, and how they affect plants, animals, and microorganisms. It also covers methods being developed to remove these particles from the environment, including filtering, chemical treatments, and recycling, while noting that removal methods are still being developed.
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