Plastics are the most common marine waste, coming from both land and ocean sources. They enter water in various ways and never fully break down. Once in the ocean or Great Lakes, they cause harm to marine life and ecosystems. Yellow text in the above graphic shows sources of the plastics that end up in the ocean. Orange text shows ways that these plastics are carried into the ocean. (Image from NOAA; full description of infographic at https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/marinedebris/plastics-in-the-ocean.html#transcript)
What are nanoplastics?
Plastic pollution has become one of the biggest global environmental challenges in…