Visualizing The Size of Microplastics

Key takeaways

• Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, usually less than 5 millimeters in size, that result from the breakdown of larger plastics or are manufactured for specific uses.
• Nanoplastics, typically smaller than 1 micrometer (micron), are formed from the further breakdown of microplastics and can slip inside cells by crossing cell membranes.
• Both types can harm people and the environment by accumulating in organisms, disrupting ecosystems, and potentially causing toxic or inflammatory effects in living tissues.