Nanoplastics: From model materials to colloidal fate

Nanoplastics are pieces of plastic debris of mixed shape and chemical composition, which can be present in the air, soil, freshwater bodies, seas, biota, and our diet. We know little about the prevalence of nanoplastics and the risks they pose to the health of living organisms; recent studies of plastics in the environment have not significantly contributed information about this crucial topic. In this article, nanoplastics are presented as colloids. Analysing their colloidal properties shows that their fate is governed by interfacial properties, Trojan horse properties, and their stability in aqueous media. Their hazards, however, are as yet unknown.