Table 3.

Microplastics shape, type and their physical characteristics

Microplastics shape and type	Physical characteristics
Shape
Film	Flexible and thin
Fiber	Very thin, long and can also be short
Fragment	Irregular shape, thick, sharp crooked edge
Type
Polypropylene (PP)	Slippery and elastic
Polyethylene (PE)	Slightly rigid, hard and of low strength
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	Rigid, very hard and very dense
Polystyrene (PS)	Rigid, transparent and looks like glass
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	Transparent, strong, lightweight and shatterproof