Miniature electrochemical sensing accelerates detection of toxic responses induced by nanoplastics

Abstract

Emissions of plastic waste will reach ∼53 million metric t per year by 2030. Large pieces of plastics gradually decompose via photodegradation, oxidation, hydrolysis, and mechanical crushing to generate microplastics (MPLs, <5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPLs, <1 μm). (1) These miniscule particles of plastic are ubiquitous within every compartment: rivers, oceans, soil, and the atmosphere. In addition to the size, composition, and morphology of MPLs and NPLs, toxic substances (such as metal ions, antibiotics, and pesticides) on the plastic surfaces pose a significant threat to both ecological systems and human health. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the dynamics of the plastic-induced toxic response of especially smaller plastic particles (NPLs). Nonetheless, the possibilities for detection of NPLs inducing chronic toxicity and corresponding biomarkers at exposure levels are limited and hinder in-depth investigation of the longer-term mechanisms that induce human and environmental toxicity. It is clear that a more thorough evaluation of exposure and effect levels requires multiplexing, signaling synergies, and more sensitive means of detection. In this Viewpoint, we advocate how electrochemical techniques contribute to the real-time monitoring of the toxicological evolution of organisms exposed to NPLs at low levels and for the long term.