Understanding the Transportation of Plastic Pollution to Different Environmental Compartments and Human

ABSTRACT Modern society's excessive reliance on plastic products has resulted in the accumulation of vast amounts of plastic waste that inevitably resolve into enormous microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) to threaten ecological environments and human health. Systematic comprehension of the transportation routes and critical nodes is imperative to adopt effective control measures to protect humans from MNPs‐related impacts. Here we give an overview of the transportation of plastic pollution to different environmental compartments from a macroscopic perspective, with an emphasis on the spatial–temporal distributions of MPs and NPs in water, soil, atmosphere, and plants. Moreover, we critically assess the alarming evidence of the plastic accumulation in human tissues and their toxic effects. To further understand the intricate influences of MNPs pollution on environmental compartments and humans, the development of improved detection methods, long‐term monitoring, and systematic evaluation of plastic‐associated chemicals are indispensable.