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Researchers are only beginning to uncover the toxic cocktail of chemicals, microplastics and heavy metals hidden in car and truck tires. But experts say these tire emissions are a significant source of air and water pollution and may be affecting humans as well as wildlife.
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.
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. Few studies of pollution by MPs have been published in Brazil, especially regarding inland aquatic areas.
Researchers from the University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht recently announced that cells exposed to microplastics experience cell death three times faster than those that are not. With microplasticpollution everywhere, the findings are sobering.
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.
Researchers have developed a new way to estimate the age of microplastics found in the upper oceans. The team – from Kyushu University and Asahi Kasei Corporation – applied their new method to estimate the age of microplastics found in nearshore and offshore sites in the North Pacific Ocean.
Geoscience technology firm CGG has conducted a microplasticspollution survey as part of a scoping study into whether it would be possible to create a “Plastic Free zone” on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). On Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), microplastic content was naturally highest where people congregate in large numbers.
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 microplasticpollution at source.
Surface cracks and biofilms on plastic particles might help spread pollution Concerns about microplasticpollution arise not only because of the particles themselves, but also from whatever cargo they might be carrying. Surface features such as holes and biofilms also increase this propensity to collect pollutants.
By Ria Devereux , PhD Student, MicroplasticPollution, University of East London, writing in The Conversation. At a first glance the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have a positive impact on the environment, with significant decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, and transport-related noise, air and light pollution.
The microplasticpollution 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. ” Another important issue is remediation, and how best to remove microplastics from leachate. link] [2] ibid
Microplastics have become so widespread that they have been discovered in fresh Antarctic snow. Microplastics are minute pieces of plastic – less than five millimeters in length. However, typical plastic waste isn’t the only source of microplastics. Just imagine how many microplastics they consume by chewing toys.
Dr Rosa Busquets is Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry and Forensics at Kingston University What are microplastics, why are they such a problem and what can be done to reduce the pollution they cause? From studies involving organisms, we know that microplastics can cause inflammation, which is a common step in many diseases.
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.
Poisonous particle pollution from brake and tyre wear is carried in runoff then enters rivers and streams. Particles from brake and tyre wear include copper and zinc, microplastics and a group of chemicals called polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Yet, urban runoff persists as a forgotten polluter.
Understanding why climate change might contribute to increasing plastic pollution is the focus of a new research project starting this month at the University of Portsmouth. Until now, studies have concentrated solely on microplastics shedding from brand-new plastics.
Not only will this allow us to bring our experience in the removal of micro-pollutions and micro-plastic into the UK but also extending it further into the drinking water industry is another milestone in our collaboration.” The post Sponsored content: Microplastic and pollution removal partnership extended first appeared on Envirotec.
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 microplasticpollution.
Plastic pollution in the ocean may serve as a source for novel antibiotics, according to a new student-led study conducted in collaboration with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. A polyethylene bag floats in the open sea.
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? We do not yet know exactly where these chemicals are coming from, but the evidence points to plastic pollution as a possible source.
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?
Most plastic pollution comes from inadequate collection and disposal of larger plastic debris known as macroplastics, but leakage of microplastics (synthetic polymers smaller than 5 mm in diameter) from things like industrial plastic pellets, synthetic textiles, road markings and tyre wear are also a serious concern.
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.
The study also found that tyre wear particles significantly outweighed other forms of microplastics, such as plastic fibres and fragments, in the samples collected but that they were also removed in far greater quantities. Easy come, easy go? It was funded by UK National Highways.
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.
A new study sheds light on the quantity and type of microplastics present in clouds. The researchers analyzed cloud water samples from high-altitude mountains in Japan to ascertain the amount of microplastics in them. Microplastics in the free troposphere are transported and contribute to global pollution,” said Okochi.
Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens. It can lead to consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
A new report attempts to provide a diagnostic of the scale of the ocean pollution challenge facing humanity. The Invisible Wave: Getting to zero chemical pollution in the ocean has been prodeuced by Back to Blue, an initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation.
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 microplasticpollution in the ocean and rivers, according to scientists.
A new briefing paper from Imperial College London attempts a deep dive on the pollution produced by the particles sloughed off from vehicle tyres. Even if all our vehicles eventually become powered by electricity instead of fossil fuels, we will still have harmful pollution from vehicles because of tyre wear. “We
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.
Nanoplastic pollution has been detected in polar regions for the first time, indicating that the tiny particles are now pervasive around the world. 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. We don’t know yet.”.
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.
The scientists say that enriching waters with particular species of bacteria could be a natural way to remove plastic pollution from the environment. The effect is pronounced: the rate of bacterial growth more than doubled when plastic pollution raised the overall carbon level in lake water by just 4%.
The goo from that fruit and other plants, such as aloe, cactus and psylium, can also clean water and wastewater of some types of solid pollutants, as well as some that are dissolved. Now, researchers say they have demonstrated that combinations of these food-grade plant extracts can remove microplastics from wastewater.
When you think of plastic pollution, you might imagine ocean “ garbage patches ” swirling with tens of millions of plastic bottles and shopping bags. But unfolding alongside the “macroplastic” pollution crisis is another threat caused by much smaller particles: microplastics. So where do microplastics come in?
Microplastics are everywhere: We know that much. Even the definition of “microplastics” is slippery. And not all rivers carry the same load of microplastics. Road run-off is another source – and vehicle tyres are a particular contributor to this pollution. But should we be worried? What can we do about it?
The fashion industry has been accused of being "blind" to the risks of water pollution by a new report from investor-backed environmental disclosure platform CDP. Yet, of 136 businesses whose investors requested impact assessments on water pollution, only 62 - or 46 per cent - provided data in 2019.
Almost 2,000 times more particle pollution is produced by tire wear than is pumped out of the exhausts of modern cars, tests have shown. Air pollution causes millions of early deaths a year globally. Tailpipes are now so clean for pollutants that, if you were starting out afresh, you wouldn’t even bother regulating them.”.
The government needs to make an immediate decision on banning plastic in wet wipes in order to help tackle this sewage-based pollution ending up in the River Thames, environmental charity Thames21 has urged. When they end up on the foreshore, they eventually break down into microplastic and damage aquatic life and the Thames’ ecosystem.
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