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Line for washing shredded PET plastic at a recycling facility. Australian researchers have identified a new, or previously overlooked, culprit in the release of microplastics into the environment: The shredding process used to recycle plastics. They subsequently discussed this in a commentary published in Science.
Microplastics (plastic particles under 5mm) are a widespread environmental pollutant, with more than 120trillion estimated to have accumulated in the global ocean. Upon entering the environment, microplastics are rapidly colonized by diverse microbial communities, forming what is known as the Plastisphere.
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.
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 have developed a new way to estimate the age of microplastics found in the upper oceans. The method involves a combination of analyzing plastic oxidation levels with environmental factors such as UV exposure and ambient temperature. As plasticwaste is exposed to the elements they eventually break down and fragment.
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.
The world is producing twice as much plasticwaste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled, according to a new OECD report. Almost half of all plasticwaste is generated in OECD countries, according to the Outlook.
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.
Microplastics have become so widespread that they have been discovered in fresh Antarctic snow. Something as seemingly innocent as Halloween decorations or gum can be a source, says Sulacpac, a producer of bio-based alternatives for conventional plastics. However, typical plasticwaste isn’t the only source of microplastics.
By Ria Devereux , PhD Student, Microplastic Pollution, University of East London, writing in The Conversation. However, our research found discarded face coverings and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are likely to be the cause of a rise in microplastics entering the environment. That works out to an average of 17.6
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. River landscape in Pantanal, Brazil. We measure particle size in all samples.
Where there's hope for speeding up business action on plastics. Its landmark report, "The New Plastics Economy," sounded the alarm in 2016 that if "business as usual" continues, by 2025 the ocean may hold more plastic than fish by weight. Only five years ago, few corporate leaders had plastic pollution on their official radar.
Surface cracks and biofilms on plastic particles might help spread pollution Concerns about microplastic pollution arise not only because of the particles themselves, but also from whatever cargo they might be carrying. Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (image credit: takepicsforfun / Shutterstock.com).
A research project investigating the problem of microplastics in inland waters has been using a tube pump from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG), in a system where samples are taken automatically at programmed intervals. The procedure must also exclude the potential for samples to become contaminated by other plastic particles.
The microplastic pollution that turns up in landfill leachate has received much less attention than the stuff appearing in wastewater, and there seem to be far fewer studies exploring it. According to the OECD, in 2019, 50% of the world’s plasticwaste was landfilled, 19% was incinerated, 9% was recycled and 22% was mismanaged.
Methods for the analysis of microplastic particles in a sample (of water) are beset by challenges such as high error rates and a high time requirement. The chemical characterization of the microplastic particles is based on their absorption of infrared light. Near-surface analysis.
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.
is aiding the world in the fight against single-use plasticwaste by offering a variety of biodegradable organic bamboo products for personal use, homes and businesses. From disposable utensils to dental and hair care, EcoLuxe has an array of eco-friendly alternatives to help you reduce your plastic footprint.
Microplastics are everywhere: We know that much. Even the definition of “microplastics” is slippery. But tiny plastic fragments follow a multitude of pathways into the enviroment. And not all rivers carry the same load of microplastics. But should we be worried? What can we do about it? What do we know?
Want to know how much plastic is entering the ocean every year? A commonly cited figure — 8 million metric tons — comes from a decade-old estimate based on population and waste data, and scientists now believe the number could be significantly higher. I regret to inform you that nobody knows.
Microplastics can be removed by 99% with flocculants alone, without any additional equipment, by irradiating them with sunlight, according to new research Plasticwaste breaks down over time into microplastics (<0.1
The spotlight If you’ve read any climate-related news in the past several years, you’re probably familiar with the scourge of microplastics. These tiny bits of plastic end up clogging oceans. The bits of plastic shed from synthetic textiles have their own term: microfibers.
An aerial view of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as Plastic Island, which comprises mainly plastic, light metals and organic residues of garbage. A new report attempts to better understand the provenance and impact of plastics in the ocean. Plastic, the report (titled ‘How Much Plastic Is In The Ocean?’)
New research combining Planet’s high cadence satellite imagery and other innovative technologies has successfully found the sources and pathways of plastic pollution in the Caribbean Sea. A boom is filled with plastic, and yet was only able to collect small amounts of it due to much of the debris passing it by. km2 to 0.77km2.
The Scale of the US PlasticWaste Problem The United States is projected to generate 220 million tons of plasticwaste in 2024, a 7.11% increase from 2021. Over a third of this waste is expected to be mishandled, contributing significantly to global plastic pollution. With only 19.8% With only 19.8%
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 “We’re looking at developing a filter that can be more efficient at removing these plastics,” Chowdhury said.
Governments must work together to avoid tidal wave of plasticwaste, think tank warns. Plasticwaste is on track to triple by 2060, according to the latest report from the OECD think tank, which warns that recycling capacity and circular economy policies are failing to keep pace with still surging global demand for plastics.
360 million metric tonnes of new plastic was produced in 2018. A group from the University of Pittsburgh explains, and offers a view on why the world must transform plastic use from linear to circular. In 1950, 2 million metric tonnes of new plastic was produced globally. Where did it all go?
University of Edinburgh start-up firm EVA Biosystems has developed a plastic that is described as being able to sense when it’s in the ocean and break itself down without creating microplastics. EVA Biosystems’ innovation involves adding special bacteria to conventional plastics.
University of Plymouth-led study notes that microplastics shed from vehicle tyres are putting millions of square metres of UK waters at risk of contamination. Vehicle tyres have been confirmed as a leading source of microplastic pollution in the ocean and rivers, according to scientists.
A study of 29 European lakes has found that some naturally-occurring lake bacteria grow faster and more efficiently on the remains of plastic bags than on natural matter like leaves and twigs. The bacteria break down the carbon compounds in plastic to use as food for their growth.
Last week at the New York State Capitol, more than 300 advocates joined lawmakers for a rally to urge the passage of a landmark waste reduction bill that proponents say is the best piece of legislation in the country aimed at lessening plastic trash. Thankfully they have not succeeded so far.”
Environmental monitoring expert CGG Environmental Science and partners have used a number of techniques to characterise micropollutants and contaminants, including microplastics and synthetic fibres, captured by domestic and industrial filters.
Victoria and Justin Huang, two 17-year-olds from The Woodlands College Park High School in Texas, designed a system that filters microplastic particles out of water using ultrasound waves. For my project that year, I actually did plastic pollution, which is how this kind of all started. Their project received the Gordon E. Justin: Ms.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office had launched an investigation into the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries alleged role in causing a plastic pollution crisis on April 28th, 2022, in Playa Del Rey, California. They failed to act, and now they seek to blame others. Why go after ExxonMobil over recycling?
With funding from the plastic bag charge Waitrose launched a £1m grant fund for innovative plastic-waste busting ideas - Hubbub's Trewin Restorick sets out the key achievements. It is estimated that lost fishing gear makes up as much as 46per cent of marine plastic pollution. Tackling hidden plastics.
Some of that sludge gets sent to a refinery and processed into plastic, then it becomes the phone in your hand, the shades on your window, the ornaments hanging from your Christmas tree. The problem is that we have been incredibly wasteful as weve been making and building things. Zalasiewicz said. Their research looked at the 8.4
Bioplastics As An Alternative to Petroleum-Based Plastics. The development of bioplastics – plastics that are biodegradable and made of natural materials – provides businesses with eco-friendly alternatives for packaging and products, especially single-use items that contribute a lot of waste.
These self-contained operations are designed to address concerns about wastewater discharges in coastal waters, as well as concerns over viruses, parasites and microplastics that plague ocean and coastal operations. The downside: They are incredibly capital-intensive, costing millions to get up and running. Among the emerging U.S.
Last month, the American Chemistry Council, a petrochemical industry trade group, sent out a newsletter highlighting a major new report on what it presented as a promising solution to the plastic pollution crisis: using “recycled” plastic in construction materials. This already happens with materials that don’t have plastics in them.)
And so every time he takes the sailboat out to open water, whether he’s hanging out with friends or instructing students, he keeps an eye open for any plastic debris. The group started the crusade, called Operation Plastic Pollution Purge, last year. They also need to keep the ocean as clean as possible.
“Plastic kills, and the damages of plastic pollution have no borders. We cannot beat plastic pollution if we don’t tackle climate change, environmental loss and food crises at the same time.” That was the powerful message Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
With the launch of the US branch of the Plastics Pact the case for corporates to step up their plasticwaste reduction efforts are becoming clearer than ever. Only five years ago, few corporate leaders had plastic pollution on their official radar. Picture a double bag in 30 years. Picture a double bag in 30 years.
Beyond these artifacts, the industries that created them have left their own scars upon the planet: Atmospheric signatures in carbon isotopes, fly ash from burning fossil fuels, and radioactive waste will be among the clues left for geochemists studying what Zalasiewicz calls our carbon extravaganza” and energy binge.
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