By Andrew Turner, University of Plymouth The blocking of the Suez Canal in March by a megaship named Ever Given delayed over 200 vessels laden with thousands of containers, serving as a reminder of the scale of the shipping industry and the global repercussions when…
By Kathleen Haughney Pollution from minuscule pieces of plastic, or microplastics, has been a growing concern for scientists, public health advocates and environmentalists as these nondegradable items have increasingly made their way into waterways and even the air we breathe. Now, a team of Florida…
By Mayukh Saha What are microplastics? How are they generated? What impact do they have on the environment and human health? Can it be eradicated from the planet? These questions have started haunting the human mind and we need immediate answers to them. Consequently, well-organized,…
Underwater seagrass meadows may trap, extract and carry marine plastic debris to shore, thereby helping to remove plastic litter from the sea, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Previous research suggested that most plastics end up in the seafloor and that some are…
By Anthony McLennan Italian researchers have made a worrying discovery – the presence of microplastics in the placentas of unborn babies. The tests were carried out on the placentas of four healthy women who had normal pregnancies and births. Approximately 4% of each placenta was…
“If you eat mussels, you eat microplastics.” This was already known to a limited extent about mussels from individual ocean regions. A new study by the University of Bayreuth, led by Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch, reveals that this claim holds true globally. The Bayreuth team…
Emerging environmental contaminants, both chemicals and particulates, have been a concern for risk scientists for many years. Methods for reducing health and environmental risks from particles are still evolving. Micro/nanoplastic particles are one environmental contaminant that has recently received research and media attention, and scientists…
Scientists have identified the highest recorded microplastics ever found on Earth – at an altitude of more than 8,000 metres, close to the summit of Mount Everest. Samples collected on the mountain and in the valley below it revealed substantial quantities of polyester, acrylic, nylon,…
Microplastics (plastics <5mm) and their negative health impacts have been studied in oceans, rivers, and even soils, and scientists are beginning to grapple with the myriad human health impacts their presence might have. One understudied, but critical, link in the cycle is groundwater, which is…
New research shows that high levels of microplastics (MPs) are released from infant-feeding bottles (IFBs) during formula preparation. The research also indicates a strong relationship between heat and MP release, such that warmer liquids (formula or water used to sterilise bottles) result in far greater…
By John Vibes According to a new study published in the journal Science, researchers recently discovered 1.9 million pieces of microplastic in an area of about 11 square feet. The sample was taken in the Mediterranean Sea, and researchers say that its the highest concentration…
In a sampling of fish from a creek that flows into San Diego Bay, nearly a quarter contain microplastics, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE. The study, which examined plastics in coastal sediments and three species of fish, showed that…
By Hilda Oltean Over time, the evolution of consumerism has driven big companies into looking for cheaper ways for producing basic items like packaging, cleaning products, cookware and in some cases, even cosmetics. This means that the materials used are often combined with toxic chemicals…
Tiny threads of plastics are showing up in Pacific oysters and razor clams along the Oregon coast — and the yoga pants, fleece jackets, and sweat-wicking clothing that Pacific Northwesterners love to wear are a source of that pollution, according to a new Portland State…
By Elias Marat The story is all too common: sea creatures washing ashore, emaciated and starved with their bellies filled with plastic waste. The latest tragic victim raising awareness of plastic pollution is a baby turtle that washed ashore in Boca Raton, Florida. The tiny…
By Mayukh Saha This is one waste problem that could instead be turned into a boon for our energy-starved planet. We are drowning in plastic and have already produced 8.3 billion tons of plastics in just 65 years, equivalent in weight to 25,000 Empire State…
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…
By Mayukh Saha Our water and air – the two most essential things that human life depends on – have become polluted on a global scale. And our generation is privy to the devastating news that plastic has covered the polar region, a place once…
From the Great Pacific garbage patch to inland rivers, plastics are among the most widespread contaminants on Earth. Microplastics — particles of plastic smaller than five millimeters — are especially pervasive. As they build up in Earth’s waters, microplastics are also becoming a permanent part…
Plastics in our waste streams are breaking down into tiny particles, causing potentially catastrophic consequences for human health and our aquatic systems, finds research from the University of Surrey and Deakin’s Institute for Frontier Materials. Led by Dr Judy Lee and Marie Enfrin from the…
