This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Microplastics from textiles may inhibit the lung’s ability to repair damage caused by conditions such as COVID-19, according to research findings released on 24 February. With humans exposed to microplastic fibres on a daily basis, scientists also warned of the potential health risks for those with developing lungs, such as children.
Wastewater treatment fails to kill several human pathogens when they hide out on microplastics in the water, reports a new study appearing in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove contaminants from wastewater, but microplastics persist and can become colonized by a sticky microbial biofilm.
The meat you buy in the store may be contaminated with microplastics. A recent study by Free University of Amsterdam found microplastics in the bloodstreams of pigs and cows for the first time.
Indonesians eat more microplastics per month than any other country, said the study, with most of it coming from seafood (image credit: raulbaldean / Shutterstock.com). That is a 59-fold increase in daily microplastic consumption from 1990 to 2018, the date range used for the models. grams per month, while the lowest is Paraguay at 0.85
Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a seemingly new technique to trap and recover microplastics. The method uses bacterial biofilms, a sticky substance created by micro-organisms, to trap microplastic particles. In bioreactors, this makes the microplastics more convenient to collect, according to Liu.
Recent research from The James Hutton Institute suggests that hidden threats from the agricultural use of contaminated sewage sludge could be contributing to already diminished poor soil health. Around 87% of the 3.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge produced in the UK is recycled to agricultural land.
A recently published review I co-authored concludes exposure to microplastics is suspected to harm human reproduction and digestive and respiratory health
A new study has found that microplastics can inhibit lungs that are growing or trying to heal themselves, particularly after health conditions like COVID-19.
Bristol based microplastic technology company Matter is launching Gulp, “the first sustainable, long-lasting washing machine microfibre filter” on Kickstarter from 11 October. and recycling of microplastics, and says it is focused on “cradle-to-cradle solutions”, with a mission to stop microplastic pollution at source.
Nano- and microplastics are seemingly everywhere — water, soil and the air. As reported in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters , boiling and filtering calcium-containing tap water could help remove nearly 90% of the nano- and microplastics present. Image credit: Eddy Zeng.
The last decade has seen some progress with studying plastic pollution, but there are still significant challenges, such as a lack of comparability of reported results, especially when it comes to microplastic particles. Plastic production and pollution affect human health and fuel greenhouse gas emissions.
A research group in Japan has demonstrated that airborne microplastics adsorb to the epicuticular wax on the surface of forest canopy leaves, and that forests may act as terrestrial sinks for airborne microplastics The study used a new technique to measure the levels of microplastics adhering to the leaves.
While many previous reports had documented the buildup of plastic bottles and bags in the natural environment, much less attention had been paid to what the scientists dubbed “microplastics.” One thing that has become much clearer since the early 2000s is the sheer extent of microplastic pollution. It turns out, they were right.
A recent paper in PLOS One presents evidence of dolphin inhalation of microplastics. What first drew you to study microplastic inhalation in dolphins, and why did you choose to investigate this topic? Just as we suspected, dolphins are breathing in microplastics. Hart (College of Charleston, USA) and Miranda K.
The three-year PhD project seeks to determine whether future environmental conditions – such as higher UV radiation levels, increased temperatures and acidity in the oceans – will cause plastics to shed more microplastics than they do now. We expect to see many more microplastics coming off aged plastic rather than new plastic.
No human organ is safe from microplastic contamination, it seems — not even the testicles. Researchers at the University of Mexico recently tested 70 samples of testicular tissue — 47 from dogs and 23 from humans — and found microplastics in every single one. So how do the microplastics get into people’s bodies?
Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean. It can lead to consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens.
Independently verified research by Swedish water technology firm Bluewater has apparently verified the efficiency of its water purifier technology at removing up to 99.99% of health threatening microplastics and chemicals such as toxic PFAS from tap water.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, used in bottles and food containers, was one of the most common sources of microplastic identified in the study (image caption: Kevin Doncaster , CC BY 2.0 A potential link between microplastics and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been flagged up by a scientific study released in late December.
The campaign group, Fighting Dirty, has launched legal action against the Environment Agency (EA) and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, over a lack of testing for microplastics and harmful ‘forever chemicals’ in sewage sludge spread on land. The group announced the action on 2 November.
The Government acknowledged the serious and growing impacts of poisonous particle pollution from brake, tyre and road surface wear on the environment and human health – but diverted attention away from the immediate and urgent need to stop it entering directly into rivers and streams, water quality specialists have warned.
Microplastics which have been used in leave-on cosmetic and personal care products are being overlooked by research and regulators, according to a new critical review conducted by scientists at the University of Birmingham. The research found that, of 2,381 products studied, only two were leave-on products.
Compiled by a multidisciplinary group of experts – including engineers, ecologists, medics, and air quality analysts – the document provides a detailed rundown on topics such as what happens to tyres when we drive, what kind of particles are produced, where they end up, and the implications for health and the environment.
In more modern times, support for aquaculture has ebbed and flowed along with concerns about animal health and welfare, worries over the effluent pollution caused by wastewater discharges, and the unintended impacts of production infrastructure such as pipes and pumps on natural ecosystems. Among the emerging U.S.
. “I want to help make sure that future generations can still have the same planet that we live on — that they don’t have to constantly worry about their health just because of what we have done in the past,” said Victoria Ou, another of this year’s top winners. And I was like, This is definitely a huge problem.
Microplastics are everywhere: We know that much. Certification schemes aim to provide some assurance that products like compost and digestate are safe for human, animal and plant health. Even the definition of “microplastics” is slippery. And not all rivers carry the same load of microplastics. But should we be worried?
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. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens.
“It shows that the ocean is not only a sink but also a source of microplastics,” Melanie Bergmann, a marine ecologist who was not involved in the study, told Grist in an email. Steve Allen said that the same process of microplastic ejection is likely happening out at sea, and in other bodies of water like rivers and lakes.
But unfolding alongside the “macroplastic” pollution crisis is another threat caused by much smaller particles: microplastics. Microplastics — tiny plastic fragments that are less than 5 millimeters in diameter, a little less than one-third the size of a dime — have become ubiquitous in the environment.
Now, researchers say they have demonstrated that combinations of these food-grade plant extracts can remove microplastics from wastewater. In the typical wastewater treatment process, microplastics are removed from water in two steps. However, this step only removes a fraction of the total microplastics that are present.
Drain health is still important One thing that Unblocktober has taught us looking into 2023 is how important drain health remains, not just on an individual level but also on a wider environmental level. But what does this mean looking into 2023?
The Baltic Sea had the highest levels of microplastics in Europe, double the amount in the Mediterranean?. • New research from the round-the-world yacht race The Ocean Race* has found microplastics, and in particular microfibres, to be prevalent across the length and breadth of the continent. fragmented fishing gear and lines.
Artist Maarten Vanden Eynde discusses microplastics and nanoplastics, and the challenge they present with ocean pollution, at a 2017 event, Biotalk (image credit: FotoMediamatic , CC BY-NC 2.0 The health effects of such environmental pollution is not well understood. More than 90% of tap water in the U.S.
At this point, it’s common knowledge that bottled water contains microplastics — fragments of the insidious material that can be as small as a bacterial cell. Until now, scientists lacked a quick and efficient way to identify nanoplastics, hindering research on their health and environmental impacts. I was blown away,” she told Grist.
The nanoparticles are smaller and more toxic than microplastics, which have already been found across the globe, but the impact of both on people’s health is unknown. People are known to inadvertently eat and breathe microplastics and another recent study found that the particles cause damage to human cells.
In recent years, concern has risen about the effect plastic waste could have on human health. More specifically, microplastic. Mussels, tuna, sardines, sea bream, hake, you name it; all contain an amount of microplastics consumed while in the sea. How do Microplastics come about? All of these are secondary microplastics.
In a recent study published in the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science and Technology Letters, scientists found 10 times more microplastic in babies’ feces than in adults’ Researchers discovered this in a pilot study that involved sifting through infants’ used diapers.
Research commissioned by Plastic Soup Foundation points to microplastics in feed pellets as possible cause for high content of plastic particles found in meat and dairy. Released today, the results of the study reveal 73 per cent of meat and dairy products tested by scientists contained microplastics.
The spotlight If you’ve read any climate-related news in the past several years, you’re probably familiar with the scourge of microplastics. A study published just last month in the journal Toxicological Sciences tested 62 placentas, and found microplastics, in varying concentrations, in every single one.
The air quality conference will address three major themes: air quality regulations; air quality and climate change, and indoor air quality and public health. The three main themes of the analytical conference will be the challenges involved with the laboratory analysis of microplastics, PFAS, and coronaviruses in wastewater.
Huge numbers of tiny particles of plastics in water supplies are unlikely to post serious health risk, but data is 'extremely limited' UN health body warns.
Microplastics are found in zooplankton, fish, seabirds, whales, seals, and also humans. The post Three Scientists Awarded the 2022 Volvo Environment Prize for Groundbreaking Microplastic Research appeared first on The Green Living Guy. Yet, the long-term effects of this plastic pollution threat are still largely unknown.
All materials do this, even plastics, which break down into what we call microplastics – i.e. plastic particles smaller than 5mm. Yet, given the environmental impact of plastic straws , they don’t make sense for the health of our planet either. Biodegradable Straws Reduce Microplastics at Sea and on Land. ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
There is growing scientific concern about the environmental and health impacts of microplastics which are being discovered in the remotest areas of the earth and in food chains. The research studied the impact on the mussels and how the microplastics could be captured ensuring they didn't get released into the marine environment.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 12,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content