Nanoplastics are neither microplastics nor engineered nanoparticles

Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.1700782 · Cited by 18,606

Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., & Law, K. L. (2015) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1260352 · Cited by 13,163

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea

Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C. M., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., Galgani, F., Ryan, P. G., & Reisser, J. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111913 · Cited by 4,710

Microplastics in Freshwater and Terrestrial Environments: Evaluating the Current Understanding to Identify the Knowledge Gaps and Future Research Priorities

Horton, A. A., Walton, A., Spurgeon, D. J., Lahive, E., & Svendsen, C. (2017) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190 · Cited by 3,756

Life in the “plastisphere”: microbial communities on plastic marine debris

Zettler, E. R., Mincer, T. J., & Amaral-Zettler, L. A. (2013) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es401288x · Cited by 3,368

Are we speaking the same language? Recommendations for a definition and categorization framework for plastic debris

Hartmann, N. B., Hüffer, T., Thompson, R. C., Hassellöv, M., Verschoor, A., Daugaard, A. E., Rist, S., Karlsson, T., Brennholt, N., Cole, M., et al. (2019) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b05297 · Cited by 2,881

Nanoparticle-mediated cellular response is size-dependent

Jiang, W., Kim, B. Y. S., Rutka, J. T., & Chan, W. C. W. (2008) · Nature Nanotechnology · doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.30 · Cited by 2,814

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Aggregation, Deposition, and Enhanced Contaminant Transport

Alimi, O. S., Farner Budarz, J., Hernandez, L. M., & Tufenkji, N. (2018) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b05559 · Cited by 2,668

Characterization techniques for nanoparticles: comparison and complementarity upon studying nanoparticle properties

Mourdikoudis, S., Pallares, R. M., & Thanh, N. T. K. (2018) · Nanoscale · doi:10.1039/c8nr02278j · Cited by 2,328

Towards a definition of inorganic nanoparticles from an environmental, health and safety perspective

Auffan, M., Rose, J., Bottero, J., Lowry, G. V., Jolivet, J., & Wiesner, M. R. (2009) · Nature Nanotechnology · doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.242 · Cited by 2,026

Micro- and nanoplastics disrupt the gut–liver–brain axis: mechanisms of multi-organ toxicity in animal models

Kępka-Borkowska, K., Borkowski, M., Dąbrowski, M., Karpiesiuk, K., Starzyński, R. R., Chałaśkiewicz, K., Ogłuszka, M., Kozera, W., & Pierzchała, M. (2026) · Food and Chemical Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.fct.2026.116297

Fate, toxicology and Organ-on-a-chip methodology of nanoplastics in human body

Wang, Y., Lü, F., Fang, J., Li, G., Zhang, H., & He, P. (2026) · Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.tox.2026.154550

Mechanistic Drivers of Nanoplastic-Induced Soil Enzymatic Suppression: A Synthesis Pairing Meta-Analysis and Explainable Machine Learning

Li, X. X., Chen, Y., Wang, R., Abbas, M., Sarwar, N., Hussain, S., Jafir, M., & Nazir, T. (2026) · Microplastics · doi:10.3390/microplastics5030148

Nanoplastics at the Science-Policy Interface: Strengthening the Evidence Base for Decision-Making

Monikh, F. A., Wiesner, M. R., Peijnenburg, W. J. G. M., Lee, J., & Grossart, H. (2026) · ACS Chemical Health & Safety · doi:10.1021/acs.chas.6c00014

Microplastic removal from water: from physical separation to chemical transformation

Chen, S., & Hu, Y. H. (2026) · Journal of Materials Chemistry A · doi:10.1039/d6ta04747e

Micro- and nanoplastic sensing in aqueous systems: An interfacial chemistry perspective

Cvjetan, N., Janković, N., Bajac, B., Panić, M., & Gucciardi, P. G. (2026) · Sensors and Actuators Reports · doi:10.1016/j.snr.2026.100496

Nanoplastic removal from water using metal–organic framework-based adsorbents and membrane systems: Mechanisms, performance, and practical perspectives

Tariq, M. F., Ihsanullah, I., Javed, F., Almanassra, I. W., & Atieh, M. A. (2026) · Journal of Water Process Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.110643

Interfacial engineering of a chitosan-tannic acid layer on bacterial cellulose for a high performance forward osmosis membrane toward sustainable juice concentration and reduced microplastic release

Gao, R., Jiang, S., Gao, S., Chen, H., Chen, W., Chen, W., Zhong, Q., Zhang, M., Lyu, Y., He, R., et al. (2026) · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153851

Strategies for the removal of emerging nanoparticles from contaminated environments

Kowalska, A., Kasińska, P., Szuniewicz, P., Sławczyk, D., Całus-Makowska, K., Shourie, A., & Grobelak, A. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-45503-2.00036-4

Rapid determination of PVC NPs based on hydrophobic three-dimensional sponge sol SERS method

Yang, X., Huang, Y., Liu, W., Liang, Y., Guo, M., Meng, H., Lu, Y., Lu, W., Lu, W., Xie, W., et al. (2026) · Microchemical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.microc.2026.119258

Size-controlled synthesis of polystyrene nanoparticles via concentration swing method and their size dependent sorption behavior

Yang, S., Son, J.-W., Park, S., Lee, H., Lee, S., & Kim, C. (2026) · Applied Water Science · doi:10.1007/s13201-026-02914-x

Artificial Neptune balls: Superadhesive biomimetic networks for broad-size microplastics capture and removal

Hong, H., Kim, B., Ahmad, M., & Velev, O. D. (2026) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aeg0819

Temperature and polystyrene nano- and microplastics co-exposure alters physiology and metabolome in the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata

Huang, Y., Liu, Y., Jing, M., Hu, M., Xue, S., Wang, Y., Ding, J., & Chen, L. (2026) · Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2026.110652

Bacteria–nanoplastic interactions: mechanisms, ecological consequences, and advances in biodegradation technologies

Abuelhaded, K., Mohamed, H. H., & Alam-ElDein, K. M. (2026) · Archives of Microbiology · doi:10.1007/s00203-026-05080-5

Nanoplastic detection and quantification in high-altitude glacial snow samples from Italy, Switzerland and France

Latz, M., Gill, A. J., Evangeliou, N., Eckhardt, S., Milner, R., Reemtsma, T., & Materić, D. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-63263-y

Role of Plant Growth Regulators and Biological, Chemical, Nutrient, and Nanomaterial-Based Approaches in Mitigating Micro- and Nanoplastic Stress in Agroecosystems

Azhar, W., Khan, A. R., Salam, A., Iqbal, B., Wang, P., Li, G., Du, D., & Li, J. (2026) · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.6c04540

Integrating Flow Imaging Analysis and Single-Particle ICP-TOFMS for Comprehensive Micro- and Nanoplastic Characterization

Szakas, S. E., Hendriks, L., Koellensperger, G., & Manard, B. T. (2026) · Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.6c02328

Micro‐ and nanoplastics in gastrointestinal disorders: Mapping the translational gap between exposure, biomonitoring, and pathogenic mechanisms

Diao, Z., Luo, Y., Zhu, C., & Hu, Y. (2026) · BMEMat · doi:10.1002/bmm2.70120

Differential uptake and toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in Vigna radiata seedlings

Basu, A. G., Sarkar, A. K., Paul, R. S., & Roy, S. (2026) · Plant Research · doi:10.1016/j.plares.2026.100019

PET Micro(nano)plastics Modulate Metformin–Albumin Binding and Species-Specific Bacterial Responses

Saygın, H., Aydın, E., & Baysal, A. (2026) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms27167504

Role of Amorphous Chains in Nanoplastic Formation from Semicrystalline Polymers.

Valsecchi, M., Kalghatgi, S., Mendez, N. F., Lincoln, C. L., Rorrer, N. A., & Kumar, S. K. (2026) · ACS Macro Letters · doi:10.1021/acsmacrolett.6c00299

Modeling Ingestion and Clearance Kinetics of Polydispersed Micro- and Nanoplastics in Daphnia magna Utilizing spICP-MSPreprint

Hietpas, C., Schneiderjan, E., Gray, E., & Crago, J. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7345452

Visualizing bioaccumulation of fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics in coastal food chains via interference-free imagingPreprint

Du, Y., Li, S., Cai, M., Huang, X., Guo, Q., Yang, J., Chen, Z., & Liu, F. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.7344653

Electro-Fenton removal of polystyrene nanoplastics from urban treated wastewater using a biodegradable iron chelating agent

Pérez-López, A., Cruz-Gómez, F., Domínguez, C. M., Rodríguez, S., Santos, A., & Cotillas, S. (2026) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130793

Toxicity and Microecological Responses of Daphnia magna and Danio rerio to PVC and PHA Microplastics: Focusing on Trophic Pathogen Enrichment

Chen, M., Wang, M., Wu, S., Wang, Z., Gu, J., Ni, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2026) · Fishes · doi:10.3390/fishes11090503

Occurrence, biotic interactions, and ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics in the East African coastal environment: Insights and research priorities from the MICROMARINE Project

Khan, F. R., Nchimbi, A. A., Mbugani, J. J., & Shilla, D. A. (2026) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.120304

Microplastic and nanoplastic interactions with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soils: a critical review of main findings and knowledge gaps

Soares, P. A., de Souza, G. S., Rodrigues, V. G. S., & Lima, J. Z. (2026) · Environmental Geochemistry and Health · doi:10.1007/s10653-026-03419-x · Cited by 1

Photoaging of polystyrene nanoplastics promoted dissolution and sulfidation of silver nanoparticles: the crucial role of functional groups and derived dissolved organic matter

Yang, Y., Wang, X., Su, Z., Liu, X., & Zhang, Y. (2026) · Environmental Science Nano · doi:10.1039/d6en00313c

Revisiting Chemicals of Concern in the PlastChem Report: Addressing the Challenges, Gaps, and Future Directions

Lyulin, S. V., Proskurnin, М. А., Gurtovenko, A. A., Zorin, I. M., Gouin, T., & Kenny, J. M. (2026) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.6c05309

Diet-dependent effects of an environmentally relevant dose of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate on white adipose tissue and systemic insulin resistance in mice

Cao, X., Ren, X., Fang, J. K., & Zhu, Y. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.143520

Plastic-Derived Organic Aerosols in the Atmosphere: Beyond Micro- and Nanoplastics

Laskin, A. (2026) · ACS ES&T Air · doi:10.1021/acsestair.6c00309

Nanoplastic-mediated non-B DNA mutagenicityPreprint

Kolev, N. Z., Kufferath, I., Mahmud, A. K. M. F., Mandemaker, L. D. B., Olsson, J., Medaglia-Mata, A., Liu, R., Pollheimer, M. J., Bystrý, V., Resch, U., et al. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.09.08.750059

Nanoplastics reshape methane adsorption and seepage pathways in heterogeneous cold-seep sediment nanopores

Liao, Z., Feng, J., Zhang, S., & Wu, G. (2026) · Chemical Engineering Science · doi:10.1016/j.ces.2026.125115

Decoding the oxidative digestion mechanism for polystyrene nanoplastic detection in the Great Lakes using a customizable Raman spectral processing algorithm

Zhongjie, W. U., Janssen, S. E., Tate, M. T., Cook, B. A., Wei, H., & Qin, M. (2026) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2026.126906

Microwave-Induced In-Liquid Plasma for Rapid Decomposition of Recalcitrant Compounds

Horikoshi, S., & Serpone, N. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-92-0298-0_14

Microplastic and potentially toxic element Co-contamination in semi-arid agricultural and peri-urban soils of Tamansourt (Marrakech Region, Morocco)

Moatassem, T. E., Świtoniak, M., Chabowski, M., Kujawiak, K., Boularbah, A., Kebede, F., & Charzyński, P. (2026) · Journal of Soils and Sediments · doi:10.1007/s11368-026-04553-w

Fluorescent Labeling Strategies for Tracking Micro- and Nanoplastics in Biological Systems

Bardawil, C. E., Dobbins, J., Dodson, A. C., Lankford, S. S., Schaack, C., & Dhupar, R. (2026) · Materials · doi:10.3390/ma19183943

From compost-amended soil to plant tissues: field quantification of environmentally relevant polystyrene nanoplastics and limited translocation in Holcus lanatus L.

Ryzhenko, N. O., Dia, A., Pattier, M., & Davranche, M. (2026) · NanoImpact · doi:10.1016/j.impact.2026.100647

Microplastic interference at the cellular level: Mechanisms of action

Multisanti, C. R., Stoliar, O., & Faggio, C. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-45635-0.00016-1

Dual-ligand engineered nickel-based coordination polymer containing carbon-dot-like domains for sensitive fluorescent detection of polystyrene microplastics

Zhao, Y., Fei, F., Shan, J., Wang, T., Zhao, X., Yang, X., Wang, X., & Wang, X. (2026) · Microchemical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.microc.2026.119828

Closing the gap between micro- and nanoplastics science and policy

Nejadhashemi, A. P., Rasu, E., & Mahmoudi, M. (2026) · npj Emerging Contaminants · doi:10.1038/s44454-026-00060-2

Microplastics as a Modulator of Mercury Biogeochemistry: Transport, Transformation, and Environmental Impacts

Cheng, Z., Zhang, Q., Zhang, W., Zhang, Y., Li, H., Wang, M., Wang, J., Ge, X., & Wu, Y. (2026) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.6c09883

Particle Size, Shape, and Polymer Composition as Determinants of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Toxicity in Freshwater Biota: A Mechanistic and Critical Synthesis

Ashry, A., Khan, A., Kalcienė, V., & Byčenkienė, S. (2026) · Water Air & Soil Pollution · doi:10.1007/s11270-026-10005-5

Microwave Heating and Freeze-Thaw Cycles Exacerbate Microplastics and Nanoparticles Release from Plastic Takeout Food Containers: Characterization and Health Risk Assessment

Wang, Y., Qian, Y., Feng, Z., Gao, Y., Zhang, G., Cao, Y., & Xing, B. (2026) · Emerging contaminants · doi:10.1016/j.emcon.2026.100766

Dual-phase plastic derivatives: Phase-specific photochemical behaviors and impacts on aquatic carbon

Gu, J., Cai, T., Liang, Y., Na, P., Huang, W., Dang, Z., & Yang, C. (2026) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2026.127109

Microplastics: The Unseen and Unavoidable Threat to Aquatic Environment and its Public Health Implications

Akinloye, O. M., Samson, A., Balogun, H. A., Akinpelu, A. T., Bukola, A. C., Stephen, A. O., Stephen, O. A., Timothy, B. F., Ojeyinka, I. M., & Kolawole, B. J. (2026) · Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology · doi:10.3923/rjet.2026.13.25

Size-Associated Partitioning of Oral Polystyrene Particles Between Intestinal Capillaries and Lacteals Determines Systemic and Lymph Node Distribution in Mice

Yi, H., Zhang, Y., Jia, H., Chen, J., & Huang, Z. (2026) · Nanomaterials · doi:10.3390/nano16201278

Nanocoated probiotics by expressing PET hydrolase to efficiently regulate gut dysbiosis induced by nanoplastics

Liu, Y., Chen, W., Guo, Q., Chi, X., Tang, Y., Li, H., Li, J., Hou, W., & Liu, Y. (2026) · Materials & Design · doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2026.117235

Oxygen-bridged catalysts for efficient plastic valorization: Structure-activity relationships and catalytic advantages

Jia, X., Zhang, Y., Yu, G., Wang, P., & Zhan, S. (2026) · Chinese Chemical Letters · doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2026.113512

Microplastics: a comprehensive overview of bioaccumulation, health impacts, global challenges, and green alternatives through bioplastic innovation

Singh, N., Agarwal, A., Garg, M., Prajapati, P., Malpotra, M., Jindal, A., Chopra, R., Sadhu, S. D., & Tripathi, A. D. (2026) · Food Research International · doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2026.120994

Cellular uptake, transport, and inflammatory responses of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoplastics in in vitro Caco-2 monoculture/mucus models

Jhang, Y.-T., Paul, M. B., Hou, Y., Yeh, C.-E., Sharma, C., Lichtenstein, D., Böhmert, L., Sieg, H., Thünemann, A. F., & Hsiao, I. (2026) · Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.etap.2026.105198

Sustainable applications of nanotechnology in the aquatic and terrestrial environments

Lead, J. R., Bair, E., Barnette, L., Perera, K. M. K., & Zand, H. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-41678-1.00013-4

Molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of Co(II)-catalase interactions by polystyrene nanoplastics

Bi, W., Wang, X., Guo, S., Li, X., Qi, Y., Wang, J., & Liu, R. (2026) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.143943

Placing nanoplastics in the context of global plastic pollution

Mitrano, D. M., Wick, P., & Nowack, B. (2021) · Nature Nanotechnology · doi:10.1038/s41565-021-00888-2 · Cited by 682

Environmental Toxicity of Emerging Micro and Nanoplastics

Bhat, M. A., Gedi̇k, K., & Gaga, E. O. (2022) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781003207641-18 · Cited by 25

Polyethylene Terephthalate Micro and Nano-plastics: Fate, Transport, and Human Exposure

Kasuske, Z. A. (2026) · ThinkTech (Texas Tech University)

Definition and features of microplastics and nanoplastics

Liu, X., Lan, R., Liu, L., Zhao, Y., & Zhao, J. L. (2024) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-15779-0.00007-9 · Cited by 2

Nanoplastics in the Environment

da Costa, J. P. (2018) · Royal Society of Chemistry eBooks · doi:10.1039/9781788013314-00082 · Cited by 8