REVIEW ARTICLE
Presence of MNPs in Water Environment-pathways of Degradation and Impact on Organisms
 
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1
Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Bioelectrochemistry, University of Bialystok, Poland
 
2
Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Bioelectrochemistry, University of Bialystok, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2023-11-12
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-01-26
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-01-30
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-02-01
 
 
Publication date: 2024-02-01
 
 
Corresponding author
Marcin Zając   

Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Bioelectrochemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego, 1K, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland
 
 
Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 2023;33(4):106-122
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
In recent years, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the natural environment have become a severe issue. Therefore, it seems significant to be knowledgeable on the topic. The purpose of the literature review presented here is to describe the general characteristics of plastic particles, their main sources, degradation mechanisms, and the impact of plastic particles on individual systems of the human body. The usefulness and scale of distribution of plastics worldwide is shown, considering the increase in their production in recent years. Up-to-date literature indicates that they may influence the development of cancer, e.g. stomach, liver, or colon cancer. Scientists associate microplastics with the development of cardiovascular and immunological diseases. They also draw attention to the temporal correlation between the increased incidence of the above-civilization diseases and the increased environmental contamination with microplastics in recent decades.
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