Remove Health Remove Microplastics Remove Organic
article thumbnail

Microplastics from textiles damage lung cells, finds study

Envirotec Magazine

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.

article thumbnail

Hidden threats to soil apparent from sewage sludge research

Envirotec Magazine

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. Around 87% of the 3.6

Soil 221
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Using microbes to remove microplastics

Envirotec Magazine

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.

article thumbnail

Brazilian group presents novel method of analyzing microplastic pollution

Envirotec Magazine

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.

article thumbnail

What scientists have learned from 20 years of microplastics research

Grist

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.

article thumbnail

Microplastics are in human testicles. It’s still not clear how they got there.

Grist

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?

article thumbnail

Microplastics Can Transport Parasites to Oceans, Impacting Wildlife and Humans

Green Living Guy

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.