Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) are no longer just an environmental curiosity. They are now recognised as a global environmental and public health concern, affecting air, water, soil, food chains, and even the most remote ecosystems on the planet. As plastics break down into smaller and smaller fragments, they become more mobile, more persistent, and more likely to interact with living systems.

From Everyday Plastics to Invisible Particles

Conventional plastics were designed for durability, not degradability. Over time, sunlight, mechanical abrasion, and chemical processes fragment larger plastic items into micro- and nano-sized particles. These MNPs can be transported over long distances by wind and water, and they are now detected in urban air, oceans, rivers, soils, groundwater, and polar regions.

For environmental and health professionals, this creates a new challenge: the pollution is often invisible, widely dispersed, and tightly integrated into natural and human-made systems.

Why Micro- and Nano-Plastics Matter for Public Health

Recent research suggests that MNPs may act through several mechanisms:

• Physical effects: particles can accumulate in tissues and organs, potentially triggering inflammation and oxidative stress.
• Chemical effects: plastics can carry additives and adsorbed pollutants, including endocrine disruptors and persistent organic pollutants.
• Biological effects: MNPs can interact with microbiota and immune responses, contributing to ecological and physiological imbalance.

Studies now investigate how these mechanisms relate to cardiovascular complications, gut and immune dysfunction, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, especially with chronic exposure at low doses.

Connecting Micro-Plastics to the SDGs

The micro- and nano-plastics crisis is directly linked to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): good health and well-being (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15). Addressing MNPs is not just a technical issue; it is a governance, policy, and equity issue.

Decisions on plastic production, product design, waste management, and international trade all contribute to the long-term trajectory of this problem.

Why This Book Is a Key Resource

The book Micro-Nano Plastics Exposure, Environmental Degradation and Public Health Crisis – Perspectives and Concerns for Sustainable Development offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment of these issues. It spans 29 chapters, covering environmental degradation of plastics, identification and quantification of MNPs, contamination of air, water, soil, and food, and the effects on ecosystems, wildlife, agriculture, and human health.

For universities, research centres, and public institutions, this volume provides an evidence-based foundation to:

• Design courses and training on plastic pollution and environmental health.
• Support policy briefs and risk assessments related to MNP exposure.
• Inform interdisciplinary projects linking environment, health, and sustainability.

Key International Organisations Working on Micro-Plastics

Professionals interested in this topic may also follow the work of:

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – global assessments and policy frameworks on plastic pollution: www.unep.org
• World Health Organization (WHO) – reports on microplastics in drinking water and health risk assessment: www.who.int
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – research on plastics in agriculture, fisheries, and food systems: www.fao.org
• UN SDGs Platform – background on the goals directly affected by plastic pollution: sdgs.un.org/goals

How CLNZ Books Supports Professionals and Institutions

At CLNZ Books, I focus on curated academic and professional titles that help teams and institutions navigate complex global challenges. This book is part of a broader effort to support evidence-based work on environment, health, and sustainability.

If your university, library, or research group is building a collection on plastic pollution, environmental health, or SDG implementation, this title can serve as a cornerstone reference.

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