Tag: microplastics

All aquatic species inhabiting river mouths flowing into the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are contaminated with microplastics, according to a recent study. The study, in which the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) plays a key role, exposes the severity of pollution in estuaries and coastal regions, particularly affecting molluscs.

In an era where the infiltration of microplastics into human bodies is gaining attention, researchers from Duke and Appalachian State, led by Joana Sipe and Christine Hendren, have delved into an unexpected origin: sex toys. The revelation of this study, initially disclosed in the March 2023 edition of Microplastics and Nanoplastics, will be further explored at the 2023 Society for Risk Analysis Annual Conference.

A new report reveals that in 2022, 21 million tonnes of macroplastics leaked into the environment, marking a nearly one-third increase from a decade earlier. Plastics, contributing to 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, pose significant threats to the environment, climate, and health. The interim report explores policy scenarios, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive international strategies to eliminate plastic pollution by 2040.

A study led by scientists at the University of Gothenburg reveals alarming findings about recycled plastics. Over 600 toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals, were identified in plastic pellets from 13 countries. As delegates gather for the Plastics Treaty Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting in Nairobi, scientists emphasize the urgent need to phase out harmful chemicals for the sake of human health and the environment.

In a groundbreaking discovery, Japanese researchers have identified microplastics within clouds, shedding light on a disconcerting environmental issue. The implications of this finding extend to potential repercussions for ocean ecosystems, climate change, and human health.

In a groundbreaking development, scientists have genetically modified a marine microorganism with the capability to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic in...

Paper cups, believed to be benign, harbour toxic chemicals that can inflict harm on ecosystems and living organisms much like their plastic counterparts, according to a latest study.

Humans might inhale about 16.2 bits of microplastic every hour, which is equivalent to a credit card over an entire week. A group of researchers point out that inhaled microplasticspose cause serious health risks and the understanding how it travels in the respiratory system is essential for prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.

The discovery of synthetic plastic fibres in air, seawater, sediment and sea ice sampled in the Antarctic Weddell Sea has once again...

Right from water to the seafloor, remote beaches to rivers and even in ice and snow, high concentrations of plastic can be...