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The Ubiquity and Impact of Nanoplastics on the Environment and Health

The planet is facing an alarming situation with the presence of trillions of micro- and nanoscopic plastic particles. These particles can be smaller than a virus, which raises concerns as they have the potential to disrupt cellular functions and even modify genetic material. Scientists have detected these pollutants in a variety of environments, ranging from the pristine snows of Antarctica to human blood samples.

Recent research has shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind the significant proliferation of these minuscule plastic fragments. Since their introduction to the market 75 years ago, plastics have become an integral part of daily life, and as a result, nanoplastics have similarly infiltrated various ecosystems. The same characteristics that render plastics strong and flexible also contribute to their breakdown into nanoplastics; notably, 75-80% of commonly used plastics fall into the category of semicrystalline polymers, a term widely recognized in the field of materials science. This research was spearheaded by Sanat Kumar, a professor of Chemical Engineering at Columbia Engineering, alongside his colleagues Michael Bykhovsky and Charo Gonzalez-Bykhovsky.

A closer examination of plastic through high-powered microscopy reveals a layered structure comprising alternating hard and soft segments. The hard segments exhibit a rigid and organized arrangement of molecules in strong crystalline formations, while the soft segments consist of a more disordered, amorphous mass. The amalgamation of these layers results in a material that is not only lightweight and durable but also exceptionally versatile. The remarkable properties of these materials arise from the intricate connections between the soft and hard phases.

In their article, published on March 28 in Nature Communications, the researchers elucidate the formation process of nanoplastics. They found that degradation caused by environmental factors weakens the soft layers of plastic over time, leading to potential detachment even in the absence of mechanical stress. Individually, these soft fragments degrade rapidly in the environment. However, issues emerge when the breakdown of a soft layer causes the hard layers to fragment as well. These resulting crystalline particles, which include nano- and microplastics, exhibit remarkable longevity, persisting in ecosystems for centuries, posing significant risks to both environmental health and living organisms, including humans.

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