Search results for: microplastics

Microplastics Are Becoming Superbug Highways — New Study Warns Beachgoers to Wear Gloves

Prof. Pennie Lindeque added that microplastics “act as carriers for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, enhancing their survival and spread… each particle becomes a tiny vehicle capable of transporting pathogens from sewage works to beaches, swimming areas and shellfish-growing sites.”

Glass Bottles May Contain More Microplastics Than Plastic or Cans, New French Study Finds

Even beverages like wine and bottled water—often seen as “cleaner” when packaged in glass—showed measurable microplastic contamination. Water in glass bottles had 4.5 particles per litre, compared to 1.6 in plastic bottles and cartons. Wine sealed with corks contained minimal microplastics.

Microplastics in Your Food Links Nanoplastics to Liver Damage and Glucose Imbalance

Next time you reach for a plastic-wrapped snack or sip from a disposable cup, remember: the real cost may not show up on the price tag, but in your liver enzymes or your glucose test.

These glasses see microplastics on the farm

Conventional detection methods, such as sample taken and looking under a microscope to count the bits is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and often ineffective at identifying small particles, making them impractical for large-scale monitoring. 

Chewing gum releases thousands of bits of microplastics in your mouth

While chewing gum may seem like a harmless habit, recent studies have revealed a concerning reality: microplastics are a part of our daily lives, even in the things we put in our mouths. As we transition further into a world dominated by synthetic materials, it's crucial to stay informed about the potential risks of microplastics. As Mohanty and his team continue to explore this issue, we must remain cautious and mindful of the products we consume, taking steps to reduce our exposure to plastics and advocating for more sustainable alternatives.

Microplastics have invaded our brains

A recent study in Nature by toxicologist Matthew Campen at the University of New Mexico found that human brain tissue contains significant amounts of microplastics. By dissolving brain tissue samples, Campen’s team was able to isolate up to 10 grams of microplastics per brain—about the weight of a crayon.

People with dementia have up to 5 times more microplastics in their brains

The research reveals that human brains contain approximately a spoon's worth of microplastics and nanoplastics - MNPs -  with levels 3 to 5 times higher in individuals with documented dementia diagnoses.

Microplastics from brushing your teeth and wearing plastic aligners?

A new study suggests it's time to look at microplastic exposure from brushing our teeth with plastic toothbrushes.

These micro robots clean up microplastics

To construct the bots, the team linked strands of a positively charged polymer to magnetic microparticles, which only move when exposed to a magnetic field. The polymer strands, which radiate from the surface of the beads, attract both plastics and microbes.

How to make the world microplastics free

Inspiring projects to help us reduce and reuse microplastics.

Two tons of microplastics on Israel’s Mediterranean Sea coast

A new study shows that the Israeli part of the Levantine coastline of the Mediterranean Sea is contaminated with over two tons of micro-plastics

Microplastics are pairing up with pollutants. This is bad news.

More worrying is that microplastics themselves are not inert, and they have the ability to pull along other environmental toxins with them, amplifying the toxicity effect, finds a new research study.