microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic cause pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a variety of sources

microplastics fragments type plastic cause pollution entering natural ecosystems variety sources primary small pieces purposefully manufactured process involves blasting acrylic melamine polyester microplastic scrubbers machinery engines boat hulls remove rust paint used repeatedly diminish size secondary plastics derived breakdown larger debris sea land nanoplastics thought risk environmental human health polystyrene textiles tires city dust synthetic fibers bottled water common singleuse products cellular redox balance respiratory disease inflammation marine estuarine environments embedded animals39aph39 tissue ingestion respiration