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Plastic or plastic-free life: From formation to removal
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This review traces the lifecycle of microplastics and nanoplastics from their formation through various sources like textiles, cosmetics, and pandemic waste, to their eventual breakdown and potential removal from the environment. Researchers describe how physical, chemical, and biological forces fragment larger plastics into progressively smaller particles. The study highlights that humans encounter these particles through food, water, and air, and surveys emerging strategies for reducing plastic pollution.
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have caused global environmental concerns due to their ubiquitous existence in our surrounding environment and the potential threats posed to the ecosystem and human health. This review aims to extend current knowledge on the formation and degradation of MPs and NPs. The paper presents the potential sources of MPs and NPs including plastic containers, textiles, cosmetics, personal care products, COVID-19 wastes, and other plastic products. Once in the natural environment, the fragmentation and degradation of plastic wastes are thought to be initiated by physical, chemical, and biological factors. The corresponding degradation mechanism will be presented in the present review. Given the plastic life and environment, humans are inevitably exposed to MPs and NPs through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The potential risks MPs/NPs pose to humans will be also discussed in our study. Currently, the relevance of MP/NP exposure to human health outcomes is still controversial and not yet fully understood. Deciphering the translocation and degradation of plastics in the human body will be helpful to reveal their potential organotoxicity. In this case, available approaches to alleviate MP/NP pollution and advanced strategies to reduce MP/NP toxicity in humans are recommended to build a plastic-free life.
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This review traces the journey of micro- and nanoplastics through marine ecosystems, from their release as industrial wastewater to their accumulation in organisms via bioaccumulation and food web transfer. Once in the ocean, these particles undergo processes like biofouling and fragmentation that change their behavior and toxicity, and they act as carriers for other persistent pollutants and pathogens. The paper underscores that marine plastic pollution is not static but dynamic, with evolving risks at every level of the food chain including seafood consumed by humans.
The Fate of Micro/Nano Plastic Pollutants in the Natural Environment
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This review explains how micro- and nanoplastics form through physical, chemical, and biological breakdown of larger plastic debris, and then traces their fate across land, water, and living organisms at every level of the ecological hierarchy. The authors discuss methods for identifying and classifying these particles and summarize the ecotoxicological risks they pose as they accumulate and interact with other pollutants. It provides a broad-level framework for understanding where microplastics end up in nature and why that matters for both ecosystem and human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.