Microplastics and nanoplastics are the two kinds of major environmental pollutants, which exist everywhere, including our bodies, and they are produced when plastic fragments into small pieces.

Microplastics are small plastic pieces, about the size of a grain of rice, which is less than five millimeters in length, and it can be detrimental to oceans and aquatic life. They come from various sources, such as larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller pieces.

 

 

Nanoplastics are smaller than 1 μm, but they are solid plastic particles unintentionally produced from the degradation and fragmentation of larger plastic objects. They have a large specific surface area, which makes them have a strong ability in absorbing micropollutants.

 

 

Microplastics, which are widely present in oceans, can be detrimental to a variety of species and the environment, posing threats for the aquatic animals. Aquatic animals can easily mistake them for food and ingest them, putting themselves in danger. We can reduce microplastics pollution by reducing the usage of single-use plastic products, avoiding microbeads, participating in clean-up events, and educating people about the hazardous impacts of microplastics.

 

Nanoplastics contribute to plastic pollution by causing a disruption in the chemical cycles, by releasing harmful chemicals into the environment during the life cycle of plastic, which is manufacturing, use, and end of life of plastic products. Improper waste management is one of the major contributors to production of nanoplastics. However, we can reduce nanoplastics pollution by avoiding plastic kitchen products, clothes made out of plastic fibers, plastic bottled water, plastic packaging, and selecting plastic-free furniture.

 

Keep in mind that people everywhere can take action by following simple steps in their daily lives such as warming food in ceramic or glass food containers, avoiding plastic bottled water, avoid buying clothes made out of microfibers, reducing global plastic production, sign petitions on plastic issues, and donate whatever we can to stop plastic pollution. Please visit the website: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/takeaction/pledge to learn more.

Works Cited:

Service, Purdue News. “Something’s in the Air: It’s Nanoplastic Pollution.” Purdue University News, www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2022/Q4/somethings-in-the-air-its-nanoplastic-pollution.html#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20The%20tiny%20bits%20of%20plastic,environments%20both%20marine%20and%20terrestrial.

“Experts Explain Health Concerns about Micro- and Nanoplastics in Water. Can You Avoid Them?” CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/nanoplastics-microplastics-water-health/.

Editor, Plastic Pollution Coalition. “Microplastics, Nanoplastics, and You.” Plastic Pollution Coalition, 21 Nov. 2023, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2023/1/27/microplastics-nanoplastics-and-you.

Solutions, Pollution. “Microplastics vs Nanoplastics: What’s the Difference?” Pollution Solutions Online, www.pollutionsolutions-online.com/news/waste-management/21/breaking-news/microplastics-vs-nanoplastics-whats-the-difference/57165#:~:text=The%20term%20microplastics%20refers%20to,just%20100%20nanometres%20or%20less.

“Nanoplastics.” Nanoplastics – an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/nanoplastics.

Blaise Manga Enuh, Ph.D. “Nanoplastics in Water: Removal Techniques.” AZoNano, 17 Jan. 2023, www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=6357#:~:text=Removing%20Nanoplastics%20from%20Water%20Using%20Adsorbents&text=Researchers%20have%20found%20that%20certain,found%20to%20effectively%20adsorb%20nanoplastics.

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Are Microplastics?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, 13 Apr. 2016, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html.