Abstract
Plastics are a major environmental contaminant. Due to the high resistance of plastic materials, they do not completely decompose in the environment, but only break down into smaller particles called microplastics.
Microplastics can be hazardous to their surroundings in several ways. They can mechanically damage the digestive tract of animals and, if small enough, they can also permeate biological membranes.
Plastics often contain toxic monomers or additives that can be released in the body of organisms. Organic pollutants sorb and accumulate on the surface of plastics and can be transported into the bodies of organisms at higher concentrations.
Plastics are virtually ubiquitous and can be found even in the most desolate places on the planet, but we are not yet able to assess the full extent of microplastic pollution. In fact, there is no standardised methodology for the detection of microplastics (and nanoplastics) in environmental samples that would allow us to obtain a comprehensive view of their concentrations in the environment.