What microplastics might be doing to our intestines
Plastics are among the most ubiquitous manmade materials—we wear them, build with them, play with them, ship goods in them, and then we throw them into the waste stream. Ultimately, they can break down into tiny particles that get into our food sup.....»»
Pathogens can hitch a ride on plastic to reach the sea
Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean, with likely consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis......»»
Researchers use machine learning to speed up counting of microplastics
Microplastics are all around us—in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. But before researchers can understand the real impact of these particles on health, they need faster and more effective ways to quantify what is there......»»
Q&A: Researchers develop sponge that can collect oil, phosphates and now microplastics from polluted waters
With a sponge that looks like one you might find in your kitchen, Northwestern University researchers have discovered how to effectively clean up oil, microplastics and phosphate pollution......»»
Microplastics Found Deep in Lungs of Living People for First Time
Microplastic pollution has been discovered lodged deep in the lungs of living people for the first time. The particles were found in almost all the samples analysed. From a report: The scientists said microplastic pollution was now ubiquitous across.....»»
Here"s how the new global treaty on plastic pollution can help solve this crisis
Plastic pollution is a global problem, contaminating terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Microplastics—plastic particles smaller than five millimetres in size—infiltrate and circulate in the global planetary dust cycle, water cycle a.....»»
Chemists cook up way to remove microplastics using okra
Extracts of okra and other slimy plants commonly used in cooking can help remove dangerous microplastics from wastewater, scientists said Tuesday......»»
Scientists find microplastics in blood for first time
Scientists have discovered microplastics in human blood for the first time, warning that the ubiquitous particles could also be making their way into organs......»»
Adding Okra To Drinking Water Removes Microplastics
An anonymous reader quotes a report from New Atlas: If you've ever eaten okra, then you'll know that the stuff can be pretty gooey. According to new research, that quality could allow a compound from the plant to be used in a less toxic method of rem.....»»
Cooking up a way to remove microplastics from wastewater—with okra, aloe
In many cuisines, okra serves as a master thickener of stews and soups. The goo from that fruit and other plants, such as aloe, cactus and psyllium, can also clean water and wastewater of some types of solid pollutants, as well as some that are disso.....»»
New technology enables the detection of microplastics from road wear
A new study shows that a form of optical tweezers can be used to detect small microplastics from tires and road wear, that previously has been too small to detect. The results can be used to develop more sustainable tires that produce less pollution......»»
European floating microplastics may accumulate in Arctic Ocean
Floating microplastics from European rivers may accumulate in parts of the Arctic Ocean, the Nordic Seas and Baffin Bay, a study in Scientific Reports suggests......»»
Birch trees remove microplastics from the soil
With the help of trees, microplastic-polluted soils could be remediated. For the first time, researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have shown that birch trees absorb microplastics through their roots du.....»»
Scientists uncover "missing" plastics deep in the ocean
About 51 trillion microplastics are floating in the surface waters of oceans around the world. Originating from various types of plastics, these tiny fragments (less than 5 millimeters in length) pollute natural ecosystems. Hundreds of studies have s.....»»
Microplastic pollution linger in rivers for years before entering oceans
Microplastics can deposit and linger within riverbeds for as long as seven years before washing into the ocean, a new study has found......»»
Microplastics are widespread in soils of tropical areas
Microplastics (MPs) refer to plastic particles.....»»
No Mountain High Enough: Study Finds Plastic in "Clean" Air
From Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, microplastics are everywhere -- even high in the Earth's troposphere where wind speeds allow them to travel vast distances, a new study has found. From a report: Microplastics are tiny fragments -- measuring.....»»
No mountain high enough: Study finds plastic in "clean" air
From Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, microplastics are everywhere—even high in the Earth's troposphere where wind speeds allow them to travel vast distances, a study showed Tuesday......»»
Plant-based component could boost bacterial production of biodegradable plastic
Given that less than 10 percent of synthetic plastics are recycled, the petroleum-derived, non-biodegradable materials continue to accumulate across the planet, covering stretches of land and the ocean floor. Microplastics have been found 29,000 feet.....»»
Microplastics Cause Damage To Human Cells, Study Shows
Microplastics cause damage to human cells in the laboratory at the levels known to be eaten by people via their food, a study has found. From a report: The harm included cell death and allergic reactions and the research is the first to show this hap.....»»
Tracking down microplastics in Antarctica
Microplastics are everywhere, even in the most remote places. Where do these tiny pieces of plastic come from? Researchers from the University of Basel and the Alfred-Wegener Institute have shown that it takes precise analysis to answer this question.....»»