Research progress of nanoplastics in freshwater

With the mass production and use of plastic products, which leads to their continuous entry into the water environment, the problem of environmental pollution has been paid more and more attention by scholars from different countries. In recent years, a large number of studies have focused on microplastics, but few on nanoplastics (NPs). However, NPs are smaller in size, have a higher affinity for cells, and surface and volume ratios are higher than those of microplastics. NPs may also enter biological tissues, blood and cells, which may cause greater potential harm to organisms. In this paper, firstly, the environmental fate of NPs accumulation and deposition is summarized, and further research is needed in the future; secondly, the current techniques for NPs extraction and characterization of NPs extraction and characterization are summarized. At present, the analytical methods of NPs are in the primary stage, and lack of standardized and accurate methods; finally, the toxic effects of NPs on biological morphology, behavior and reproduction are discussed. It has been found that the small size and high surface area of NPs make them more toxic to organisms than microplastics. However, most of the current toxicological studies of NPs on freshwater organisms could not be simulated in real environment. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

With the increased production and use of plastic products, environmental pollution due to their continuous entry into water environments is a growing concern. While microplastics have been the focus of many studies, nanoplastics (NPs) have received less attention despite their smaller size and potential greater harm to organisms. This paper summarizes the environmental fate of NPs, the current techniques for their extraction and characterization, and the toxic effects NPs may have on biological organisms. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of NPs on the environment and living organisms.