Your glass of tap water may appear crystal clear and refreshing, presenting the optimistic half-full view that it is safe to drink. Yet this perspective ignores the unseen threats lurking within, making the glass profoundly half empty when it comes to true health safety. Microparticles and chemical culprits invisible to the naked eye accumulate over […]
The Plastic You Drink: Shocking Revelations About Microplastics Lurking in Your Bottled Water
In an era where convenience often trumps caution, bottled water has become a staple for millions seeking hydration on the go. Yet, beneath the allure of crystal-clear packaging lies a pervasive threat: microplastics. These minuscule particles, born from the degradation of larger plastics and industrial processes, have infiltrated our daily lives, turning what should be […]
Recycled plastic is a toxic cocktail: Over 80 chemicals found in a single pellet
A single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals. A new study with researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig shows that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae. The plastic pollution crisis has reached global levels, threatening both […]
Study links micro- and nanoplastics to Parkinson’s and dementia
Nanoplastics interact with a particular protein that is naturally found in the brain, creating changes linked to Parkinson’s disease and some types of dementia. In a Duke-led study appearing Nov. 17 in Science Advances, the researchers report that the findings create a foundation for a new area of investigation, fueled by the timely impact of environmental […]
Billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving baby food containers
The fastest way to heat food and drink might also rank as the fastest route to ingesting massive quantities of minuscule plastic particles, says new research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Experiments have shown that microwaving plastic baby food containers available on the shelves of U.S. stores can release huge numbers of plastic particles — […]
Microplastics found deep in the lungs of living humans for the first time
A team of researchers from the University of Hull and Castle Hill Hospital, both in the U.K., has identified minute particles of plastic in lung tissue removed from live human patients, marking the first time such materials have been observed in living human patients. The group has published a paper describing their findings in the […]
Microplastics can be harmful to farm crops
A Kansas State University crop physiologist has found that plastic products – which are well known to cause negative impacts on fish and other aquatic animals – also have an adverse effect on land-based organisms, such as farm crops. Mary Beth Kirkham, University Distinguished Professor in agronomy who specializes in the relationship between soil, plants […]
Highest levels of microplastics found in molluscs
Mussels, oysters and scallops have the highest levels of microplastic contamination among seafood, a new study reveals. The research — led by researchers at Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull — looked at more than 50 studies between 2014 and 2020 to investigate the levels of microplastic contamination globally in fish and […]
Micro- and nanoplastics detectable in human tissues
Plastic pollution of land, water and air is a global problem. Even when plastic bags or water bottles break down to the point at which they are no longer an eyesore, tiny fragments can still contaminate the environment. Animals and humans can ingest the particles, with uncertain health consequences. Now, scientists report that they are […]
Plastic teabags release microscopic particles into tea
Many people are trying to reduce their plastic use, but some tea manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction: replacing traditional paper teabags with plastic ones. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology have discovered that a soothing cup of the brewed beverage may come with a dose of micro- and nano-sized plastics shed from […]