Tag

Microplastics

All articles tagged with #microplastics

technology7 days ago•5 min saved

Teen Builds Turtle-Inspired AI Underwater Robot That Detects Ocean Threats

Fifteen-year-old Evan Budz built BURT, a turtle‑inspired autonomous underwater robot that uses AI to scan for ecological threats (like coral bleaching and microplastics) with 96% accuracy; tested in a backyard pool and Lake Ontario, BURT uses four flippers instead of propellers to minimize habitat disturbance, runs on a Raspberry Pi, and includes holographic imaging for microplastics. The project won first prize at the EU Contest for Young Scientists (€7,000) after earlier success at the Canada‑Wide Science Fair.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#ai #conservation #microplastics

science10 days ago•5 min saved

Boiling in Plastic Kettles Could Dump Billions of Microplastics Into Your Tea

Australian researchers find that the first boil in new polypropylene kettles can release up to 12 million nanoparticles per milliliter, equating to about 3 billion microplastics per cup. Hard tap water and repeated boiling reduce release (limescale coating; drops after about 10-50 boils), but particles persist even after many cycles. The study calls for clearer warnings on kettle labels and more testing across kettle types to assess health risks, which remain uncertain.

via ScienceAlert|

#exposure #hard-water #kettles

climate-change13 days ago•58 min saved

Atmospheric microplastics may be warming the planet more than they cool

A Nature Climate Change study finds microplastics and nanoplastics in the air absorb sunlight and radiation, producing a net warming effect that outweighs their cooling. The warming is estimated to be a few percent of CO2’s warming—roughly five times the cooling impact from scattering—though the overall contribution is small compared with fossil fuels and depends on uncertain atmospheric levels of plastic.

via Live Science|

#atmosphere #climate-change #global-warming

environment15 days ago•4 min saved

Teen inventor wins Earth Prize with enzyme-releasing bioplastic to fight microplastics

Ayra Satheesh, an 18-year-old, was named Europe’s winner of the 2026 Earth Prize for Eco Purge, a plant-based biodegradable plastic that embeds enzymes to break down microplastics in soil, freshwater and seawater. Developed with researchers from University College Dublin, ATU Letterkenny and the BiOrbic Bioeconomy Centre, the project aims to scale up for real-world use in packaging and compost bags using a $100,000 prize ($85,000). The approach relies on releasing enzymes as the plastic degrades, potentially via engineered bacteria to produce the enzyme, a costly but long-term strategy. Satheesh advocates reducing plastic use in the EU, arguing recycling alone won’t solve the crisis, as only about 9% of plastics are recycled. A global Earth Prize winner will be announced May 29.

via Euronews.com|

#biodegradable-plastics #earth-prize #environment

health15 days ago•22 min saved

Ultra-processed foods may seed microplastics in the brain, study suggests

A BrainHealth study links brain microplastics to everyday ultra-processed foods (UPFs), noting UPFs account for about 60% of Americans’ calories and may carry plastic fragments into the brain; observational data associate higher brain microplastics with dementia and worsened brain health, while UPF consumption correlates with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death (about fourfold for the combined risk). Preliminary work on therapeutic apheresis to remove plastics from plasma exists, but its effectiveness and scalability are unclear.

via New York Post|

#brain #dementia #health

environment22 days ago•18 min saved

Microplastics may be nudging Earth’s climate warmer, new study suggests

A Nature Climate Change study finds microplastics, especially colored pieces, absorb more heat than they reflect, potentially contributing to atmospheric warming; while their impact is not as large as major pollutants, the particles’ near-ubiquitous presence across ecosystems calls for more research into their climate effects.

via The Washington Post|

#climate-change #climate-science #environment

environment22 days ago•3 min saved

Tiny Plastics in the Sky May Be Warming the Planet

A Nature Climate Change study finds colored micro- and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere have a net warming effect. While the global impact remains small, the warming can exceed that of black carbon in regions with high plastic concentrations, such as the North Pacific Gyre, by up to about fivefold. The researchers used high-resolution spectroscopy and atmospheric transport simulations to refine estimates of direct radiative forcing, but they emphasize the need for more world-wide measurements to accurately map airborne microplastics.

via Gizmodo|

#air-pollution #black-carbon #climate-change

science22 days ago•181 min saved

Airborne microplastics may warm the planet, new study shows

New research shows microplastics and nanoplastics suspended in the atmosphere—originating from sources like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—absorb sunlight and heat the air, with colored pigments making them far more effective at warming than clear plastics. The warming effect is likely small globally but could be pronounced in regions with higher atmospheric plastic, and scientists caution that uncertainties in measuring airborne plastics mean climate models should be updated as more data become available.

via CNN|

#air-pollution #climate-change #great-pacific-garbage-patch

health23 days ago•3 min saved

Daily Microplastics: Repeated Exposure Risks We Can't Ignore

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in water, air, food and packaging and have been detected in human tissues. The health concern is about long-term, repeated exposure from multiple sources—not a single bottle—which may drive inflammation and cellular stress via both particles and their carried chemicals. Bottled water is a visible source, especially when bottles are heated or stored long, but exposure is widespread. Reducing plastic use and avoiding heat exposure can lower body burden, though it cannot be eliminated, as researchers continue to study potential long-term health effects.

via Iowa Park Leader|

#bottled-water #exposure #health

science26 days ago•5 min saved

Nature’s Filter: Moringa Seeds Pull 98% of Microplastics from Water in Minutes

Moringa seed extracts can coagulate and remove about 98% of microplastics from water within minutes, offering a low-cost, biodegradable alternative to chemical coagulants with potential added benefits for water clarity and safety.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#coagulation #microplastics #moringa-seeds

science26 days ago•180 min saved

Moringa seeds clean tap water by removing nearly all microplastics in lab study

Researchers in Brazil and the UK found moringa seed extracts act as a natural coagulant that removed about 98.5% of PVC microplastics from tap water in filtration tests, performing similarly to or better than alum and offering renewable, biodegradable advantages. Yet each seed treats only about 10 liters, raising scalability questions for large plants and leaving open questions about residues and effectiveness on other plastics or nanoplastics, necessitating further study especially for small communities.

via CNN|

#filtration #microplastics #moringa

health27 days ago•4 min saved

Columbia Study Reveals Nanoplastic Load in Everyday Bottled Water

A Columbia University study using advanced imaging found hundreds of thousands of plastic particles per liter in widely sold bottled water, including nanoplastics small enough to cross cellular barriers. Brands weren’t named, but the findings raise health and regulatory questions and call for transparency and better testing. Practical takeaways include using glass or stainless steel, improving filtration, avoiding heat, and storing water cool; currently, US bottled water is FDA-regulated with no federal microplastic limits. The research emphasizes that “clear” water may not be truly clean and highlights the need for industry and policy updates.

via Iowa Park Leader|

#bottled-water #columbia-university #consumer-tips

environment1 month ago•4 min saved

Moringa seed extract cleans drinking water of 98% microplastics, beating traditional coagulants

A Brazilian study finds a salt-based extract from moringa seeds removes over 98% of PVC microplastics from drinking water, matching or outperforming aluminum sulfate (alum) and potentially simplifying treatment by enabling inline filtration. The moringa option offers greener benefits and lower sludge but raises questions about dissolved organic carbon leaching and requires scaling tests before widespread use.

via Euronews.com|

#alum #environment #microplastics

science1 month ago•10 min saved

Microplastics in the Body: Uncertain Risks Prompt Calls for Precaution

Despite mounting evidence that microplastics accumulate in human tissues (including the brain), scientists say the health impacts are not yet clear. Studies face measurement challenges and conflicting results, fueling a debate between taking precautionary action to reduce exposure and waiting for a stronger evidence base. U.S. agencies are moving toward research and potential regulation (eg, EPA’s drinking water plan and HHS’s STOMP initiative), while experts caution against premature policy moves and stress improving methods to better understand risks.

via The Dispatch|

#brain #health-effects #measurement

health1 month ago•20 min saved

Breathing Easy: Simple Steps to Cut Microplastics at Home

BBC reports that indoor air is filled with microplastics shed from synthetic textiles, and inhalation may be a major exposure route. Adults could inhale about 28,000–108,000 particles daily and babies 19,000–75,000, with indoor air often eight times more concentrated than outdoor air. Sources include clothing, furnishings, carpets, and laundry. Practical reductions include using washing-machine filters and drying outside when possible, opting for natural-fibre clothing, vacuuming with HEPA-filter vacuums and ventilating well, wiping surfaces with damp cloth, and employing multi-stage air filters; air conditioning can disperse particles. While cleaning helps, it won’t eliminate microplastics, and measuring them remains challenging, highlighting the need for broader systemic action to reduce plastic production.

via BBC|

#air-filters #health #indoor-air