Editorial: Plastics, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics: Management and Mitigation of Water Contamination

The properties of plastic have established it as an essential material in modern society. Yet, the extensive use of plastic and, in particular, mismanaged disposal of plastic products have culminated in environmental pollution that now spans a global scale (Geyer et al., 2017; Rochman, 2020). This contamination exists across wide size spectrum of plastic, from larger plastic litter down to smaller particles known as microand nanoplastics. This issue has received substantial attention from scientists, governments, media and the public, but there are still several persistent knowledge gaps in our understanding of the sources and fate of plastics, the associated risks and potential solutions for reducing pollution and its impacts. Papers in this Research Topic address several critical components of microplastic pollution. From sources to solutions, these contributions advance understanding of microplastic distributions in the environment, establish the potential risks of microplastics, and articulate effective and appropriate strategies to minimise pollution into the future.