Micro- and Nanoplastics in Environment: Degradation, Detection, and Ecological Impact

Abstract

Microplastics and also nanoplastics are tiny pieces of plastics that have been a rising source of worry due to their ubiquitous occurrence and possible environmental effect. This article dives into the presence, origins, and degrading processes that cause microscopic and nanoplastics in the natural environment, illuminating the complexities of this worldwide issue. Micro- and nanoplastics have become increasingly common in the environment during the last few decades. Microplastics have negative effects on aquatic habitats when they enter water bodies. Atmospheric deposit (microplastics are substances that have been found in the upper atmosphere, primarily originating compared to the breakdown of bigger polymers and the everyday use of car tires), splitting at sea in the marine environment, materials are confronted with constant both chemical and physical stressors, leading to dispersion into smaller pieces along with land-based runoff; storm water drainage from urban areas can transport polymer content, and particle size all impact the breakdown of micro- and nanoplastics. While plastics are known for their durability, they can be degraded through a variety of mechanisms, including mechanical weathering, photodegradation, corrosion by chemicals, biological degradation, and fragmentation. The widespread presence and persistence of micro- and nanoplastics in the surroundings has raised concerns about their potential effects on ecosystems and human health. Particles like these can be consumed by a variety of creatures, ranging from zooplankton to bigger marine animals, resulting in the spread of plastics throughout the food chain. The occurrence and degradation of micro- and nanoplastics is therefore focused in this review.