Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • NEWS FEATURE

Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful?

Microplastics from the Magothy River are pictured at the laboratory of Dr. Lance Yonkos at the University of Maryland.

Microplastics collected from the Magothy River in Maryland. Credit: Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program

Listen to an audio version of this story

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 593, 22-25 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01143-3

References

  1. Li, D. et al. Nature Food 1, 746–754 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Nor, N. H. M., Kooi, M., Diepens, N. J. & Koelmans, A. A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 55, 5084–5096 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Botterell, Z. L. R. et al. Environ. Pollut. 245, 98–110 (2018).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ziajahromi, S., Kumar A., Neale, P. A. & Leusch, F. D. L. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 13397–13406 (2017).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Horn, D. A., Granek, E. F & Steele, C. L. Limnol. Oceanogr. Lett. 5, 74–83 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Koelmans, A. A., Redondo-Hasselerharm, P. E., Nor, N. H. M. & Kooi, M. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54, 12307–12315 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Li, B. et al. Chemosphere 244, 125492 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jin, H. et al. J. Hazard. Mater. 401, 123430 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Park, E.-J. et al. Toxicol. Lett. 324, 75–85 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ragusa, A. et al. Environ. Int. 146, 106274 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fournier, S. B. et al. Part. Fibre Toxicol. 17, 55 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ter Halle, A. et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 13689–13697 (2017).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rowenczyk, L. et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54, 4102–4109 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Caldwell, J. et al. Environ. Sci. Nano 8, 502–513 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lau, W. W. Y. et al. Science 369, 1455–1461 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

  • Postdoctoral Fellow - Boyi Gan lab

    New postdoctoral positions are open in a cancer research laboratory located within The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The lab curre...

    Houston, Texas (US)

    The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Experimental Radiation Oncology

  • Assistant Professor

    Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Cell and Molecular Physiology Department at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

    Maywood, Illinois

    Loyola University of Chicago - Cell and Molecular Physiology Department

  • Chief Editor

    We are looking for a Chief Editor to build and manage a team handling content at the interface of the physical and life sciences for the journal.

    London or Berlin - hybrid working model.

    Springer Nature Ltd

  • Junior and Senior Staff Scientists in microfluidics & optics

    Seeking staff scientists with expertise in microfluidics or optics to support development of new technology to combat antimicrobial resistance

    Boston, Massachusetts (US)

    Harvard Medical School Systems Biology Department

  • Postdoctoral Fellow in Biophysics

    Seeking ambitious biophysicists to fight antimicrobial resistance with new technology at the interface of microfluidics and optics

    Boston, Massachusetts (US)

    Harvard Medical School Systems Biology Department

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Quick links