Current opinion: What is a nanoplastic?. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gigault, Julien; Halle, Alexandra ter; Baudrimont, Magalie; Pascal, Pierre-Yves; Gauffre, Fabienne; Phi, Thuy-Linh; El Hadri, Hind; Grassl, Bruno; Reynaud, Stéphanie
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 235(2018)
• Page Start: 1030
• Page End: 1034
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Nanoplastics -- Colloids -- Nanomaterials -- Environment -- Pollution -- Characterization; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: With the large amount of attention being given to microplastics in the environment, several researchers have begun to consider the fragmentation of plastics down to lower scales ( i.e ., the sub-micrometer scale). The term "nanoplastics" is still under debate, and different studies have set the upper size limit at either 1000 nm or 100 nm. The aim of the present work is to propose a definition of nanoplastics, based on our recently published and unpublished research definition of nanoplastics. We define nanoplastics as particles unintentionally produced (i.e. from the degradation and the manufacturing of the plastic objects) and presenting a colloidal behavior, within the size range from 1 to 1000 nm. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: No current opinion is given in the literature debating the word "nanoplastics". The misuse of the prefix "nano" could lead to unrepresentative results. We propose a definition of nanoplastics as a basis for discussion. Nanoplastics are particles resulting from the degradation of plastic objects. Nanoplastics exhibit a colloidal behavior within size ranging from 1 to 1μm.