FRAGMENT-MNP: a model of micro- and nanoplastic fragmentation in the environment

The degradation and fragmentation of plastics in the environment is an important but relatively
poorly characterised process. Fragmentation leads to the formation of micro- and nanoplastics,
and research has shown that particle size and shape, and thereby fragmentation, impacts a
variety of processes, such as the ability of organisms to uptake plastics, and the movement of
plastics around the environment (Thompson et al., 2024; Thornton Hampton et al., 2022). In
this paper, we present the FRAGMENT-MNP model as an open-source mechanistic model
of micro- and nanoplastic degradation and fragmentation. FRAGMENT-MNP predicts how
pieces of plastic can break part (fragment), providing invaluable insights into fragmentation
dynamics to help develop our understanding of plastic degradation and fragmentation, and
offering predictive capabilities to enable better prediction of the fate and exposure of plastics
in the environment.