The key difference between microplastics and nanoplastics is that microplastics contain particles with less than 5 millimeter particle size whereas nanoplastics contain particles with less than 100 nanometer particle size.
Microplastics and nanoplastics can be categorized depending on the particle size of these materials. Moreover, there are two subcategories of microplastics as primary microplastics and secondary microplastics; these subcategories are divided depending on the particle size before and after entering the environment. Primary microplastics contain particles with less than 5 millimeters before entering the environment while secondary microplastics form from larger plastic products after entering the environment.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Microplastics
3. What are Nanoplastics
4. Side by Side Comparison – Microplastics vs Nanoplastics in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What are Microplastics?
Microplastic materials are very small pieces of plastic that can pollute the environment. These materials are not included in a specific type of plastic group, but we can categorize these plastics as materials containing particles that are less than 5 millimeters. There are many different sources of microplastic materials. Some of these include cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes.
There are two different categories of microplastics: primary and secondary microplastics. These two groups are divided depending on the particle size of the microplastic material before and after entering the environment. Primary microplastics contain particles with less than a 5 millimeter size before entering the environment while secondary microplastics form from larger plastic products after entering the environment. Both these microplastic types usually occur in the environment at high levels, mainly in aquatic and marine ecosystems.
Figure 01: Different Microplastics in River Water Samples
Generally, plastic materials tend to degrade slowly over many years. Therefore, microplastics tend to be digested and incorporated into and accumulated in bodies and tissues of many organisms. We can find the microplastics in waterways and oceans, seafloor, soil, human tissues, etc.
What are Nanoplastics?
Nanoplastics are polymer materials that contain less than 100-nanometer particle size. This material in the environment can occur as a temporary byproduct during the fragmentation of microplastics and end up an invisible environmental threat at potentially high concentrations.
Since nanoplastics are very small and are able to cross through the cellular membranes and affect the functioning of cells, there is a risk to the environment and human health. Moreover, nanoplastics are lipophilic substances, and according to recent findings, polyethylene nanoplastics can get incorporated into the hydrophobic core of lipid bilayers. These materials tend to cross the epithelial membrane of fish, accumulating in various organs, including the gall bladder, pancreas, and the brain. It has been discovered that in Zebrafish, polystyrene nanoparticles can induce a stress response pathway altering glucose and cortisol levels. However, there is little information on adverse health effects of these materials to organisms, including humans.
What is the Difference Between Microplastics and Nanoplastics?
Microplastics and nanoplastics can be categorized depending on the particle size of these materials. The key difference between microplastics and nanoplastics is that microplastics contain particles with less than 5 millimeter size whereas nanoplastics contain particles with less than 100 nanometer size.
Below is a summary of the difference between microplastics and nanoplastics.
Summary – Microplastics vs Nanoplastics
Microplastics and nanoplastics can be categorized depending on the particle size of these materials. The key difference between microplastics and nanoplastics is that microplastics contain particles with less than 5 millimeter size whereas nanoplastics contain particles with less than 100 nanometer size.
Reference:
1. “Basics – FAQs.” DaNa, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Microplastics in sediments” By Martin Wagner et al. – Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know. In: Environmental Sciences Europe. 26, 2014, doi:10.1186/s12302-014-0012-7 (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia