Micro- and Nanoplastics: Fundamental Research, Environmental and Health Risks, and Mitigation Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Micro- and nanoplastics have emerged as a global environmental concern due to their persistence, widespread distribution, and potential impacts on human health and ecosystems. These small plastic particles originate from the degradation of larger plastic debris or are intentionally produced for industrial applications. Their high surface area, chemical complexity, and ability to adsorb pollutants make them biologically and ecologically active, posing risks to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Recent studies have documented the accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in rivers, oceans, soils, and even the atmosphere, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive research on their behavior, transformation, and toxicity.

Despite growing awareness, the fundamental understanding of the chemical and physical transformations of micro- and nanoplastics remains limited. Advanced experimental and computational techniques, including molecular simulations, spectroscopy, and microscopy, are essential to elucidate degradation mechanisms, surface chemistry, and interactions with biomolecules. Equally important are studies on human and environmental exposure pathways, toxicity, and long-term ecological effects. Furthermore, the development of mitigation strategies, such as efficient recycling, waste management, and innovative remediation technologies, is critical to reduce their environmental burden.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary research on micro- and nanoplastics, bridging fundamental chemistry, environmental science, toxicology, and applied mitigation approaches. Contributions that advance understanding of formation, fate, risk assessment, and remediation are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Tomasz Pańczyk
Guest Editor

Dr. Marcin Cichy
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.