1. Extremely small plastic particles, typically less than one micrometer in diameter, that result from the breakdown of larger plastic debris or are manufactured at that size.
Usage: Usually used in plural form; Scientific and environmental context; Increasingly common in discussions of pollution and human health

Examples

• Nanoplastics have been detected in drinking water and food sources around the world.
• Scientists are studying how nanoplastics enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion.
• The accumulation of nanoplastics in marine ecosystems poses a significant environmental threat.
• Researchers found nanoplastics in human blood samples for the first time in recent studies.
• Microplastics break down into nanoplastics over time, making them harder to track and remove.
• The health effects of nanoplastics on humans are still not fully understood.