Chapter 1: Understanding Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Conventional and Emerging Contaminants in the Environment

Microplastics and nanoplastics are small plastic particles that can arise from the breakdown of discarded plastic materials, wear from regular use, or even spills of plastic manufacturing materials such as nurdles. Microplastics typically range in size from about 5 millimeters down to the lower micrometer scale, while nanoplastics extend to the smallest particles, with sizes down to 1 nanometer. Both types have now been found in every environmental compartment on the planet and can be detected in the air, in water, and even in the organs of the human body. This chapter briefly introduces the reader to some of the main sources of microplastics and nanoplastics found in the environment and introduces other chapters by all contributing authors. By doing so, this chapter helps the reader better understand some of the complex processes that cause the distribution of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and offers insights into their overall fate and impact. Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Environment is an ideal resource for researchers interested in environmental pollutants in general, plastic pollution particularly and pollution control, mitigation or remediation.