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In May 2022, about 40 researchers, mainly from Columbia University, formed the Plastic Pollution Analysis & Sustainability Solutions (PPASS) working group/network. The mission of the PPAS network is to advance science and develop innovative tools and technologies that provide sustainable management of plastic wastes for all humanity. PPASS network seeks to coordinate efforts of network members with expertise in Environmental Health, Geoscience, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Policy, Economics, and Sustainable Development to find and develop holistic and sustainable solutions to global plastic pollution by promoting internal and external multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Plastic materials are associated with the development of technology, industry, and commerce, and are an integral part of our evolution. At present, the U.S. is a major producer and consumer of plastics; however, the recycling rate of plastic waste in the U.S. pathetically was about 8.7 % in 2018, similar to the average global recycling rate of 9 %. Thus, most of these materials end up in landfills, and in many cases, in the aquatic environment. Recent estimates indicate that 710 million metric tons of plastic waste cumulatively entered aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, resulting in unprecedented environmental challenges. Physical weathering and photodegradation break those plastic wastes into microplastic MPs (1 μm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 μm). Multiple studies have shown the occurrence and adverse effects of MPs in ecosystems and their existence in human blood and vital organs such as lungs and hearts. Recently, there have been significant concerns about NPs since they are much more accessible, compared to MPs, to enter the human body through ingestion and inhalation and can be transported to various organs by the blood.