Tag

Nanoplastics

All articles tagged with #nanoplastics

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

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

health28 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

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Kimchi-Derived Probiotic May Help Gut Eliminate Nanoplastics

A kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, binds nanoplastics in the gut and retains high adsorption under intestinal-like conditions, with mouse studies showing increased fecal excretion of nanoplastics, suggesting a probiotic approach to reducing plastic buildup in the gastrointestinal tract.

via SciTechDaily|

#gut #kimchi #lacticacidbacteria

science1 month ago•17 min saved

Kimchi bacteria may help flush nanoplastics from the gut

Scientists identified a kimchi-derived bacterium that can bind nanoplastics in a gut-like environment, capturing about 57% of particles versus 3% for a comparison strain and about 87% binding before digestion. In germ-free mice, those given the kimchi bacterium excreted more nanoplastics in feces, suggesting the gut could serve as an initial barrier to plastic exposure. The finding is promising but preliminary—human relevance remains unproven, and longer studies plus human trials are needed; next steps include screening other fermented foods for stronger binders and pursuing clinical testing.

via earth.com|

#bacteria #biosorption #kimchi

science2 months ago•2 min saved

Kimchi Bacteria Could Help Flush Nanoplastics From the Gut

A study in Bioresource Technology reports that a lactic acid bacterium found in kimchi can bind nanoplastics in the intestine and be excreted in feces, with mice fed kimchi-derived bacteria showing higher nanoplastic levels in stool, suggesting fermented foods may help reduce bodily microplastics.

via Delish|

#gut-health #kimchi #microplastics

science2 months ago•33 min saved

Kimchi Probiotic May Help Flush Microplastics from the Body

A study in Bioresource Technology suggests kimchi’s lactic-acid bacteria can bind nanoplastics in the intestine and boost their excretion in feces, indicating a potential way to remove microplastics from the body; mouse experiments showed increased nanoplastics in feces, and researchers note other foods like okra may have similar effects.

via Yahoo|

#kimchi #lactic-acid-bacterium #leuconostoc-mesenteroides

environment2 months ago•2 min saved

Nanoplastics flood U.S. drinking water at levels far higher than previously thought

A new study using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy finds nanoplastics in U.S. drinking water—both tap and bottled—at 10–100x higher concentrations than prior estimates, with bottled water containing about three times more nanoplastics. Health impacts are not well understood, but researchers caution that reducing exposure is prudent.

via Mongabay|

#bottled-water #drinking-water #environment

health2 months ago•23 min saved

Kimchi Bacteria May Help Flush Nanoplastics From the Gut

A kimchi-derived lactic acid bacterium (CBA3656) appears to bind nanoplastics in the gut, increasing their excretion in mice and suggesting fermented foods could help reduce plastic toxins in humans, though more research is needed to confirm effects in people and to understand where the plastics go after excretion.

via New York Post|

#gut-health #health #kimchi

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Brewing May Release Billions of Plastic Particles From Tea Bags

A review in Food Chemistry finds teabags—often made with plastic mesh or mixed materials—are a leading source of microplastics and nanoplastics in tea. When exposed to boiling water, some bags can release more than a billion particles into the brew, with studies reporting up to 14.7 billion particles per bag depending on methods and detection. Results vary due to testing techniques and contamination risks, and researchers also note possible leaching of plastic additives, though health implications for humans remain unproven. The takeaway is that familiar tea packaging can be a major source of plastic contamination in tea, though exact quantities are not uniform across brands or studies.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#food-chemistry #microplastics #nanoplastics

science3 months ago•35 min saved

Tiny plastics in bottled water exceed prior estimates, study finds

A peer‑reviewed study in Science of the Total Environment found bottled water contains higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics than treated tap water, with nanoplastics making up more than 50% of detected particles. Using advanced techniques like scanning electron microscopy and optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, researchers warn that nanoplastics can cross cellular barriers and potentially reach organs, underscoring the need for better detection and consideration of alternatives to bottled water (e.g., filtered tap water or reusable bottles).

via Yahoo|

#bottled-water #detection-methods #microplastics

science4 months ago•69 min saved

Microplastics: new scrutiny shakes up claims of rampant health risks

A wave of critique questions whether microplastics pose the health risks often reported. A Nature Medicine letter argues detection methods are flawed and that fats in the body could cause false positives, while other researchers point to contamination and methodological gaps in many studies. Although some experts still warn microplastics can enter the body and be biologically active, there is no consensus on harm; advances like new imaging techniques aim to reduce contamination and better link plastics to disease, but it may take years to standardise methods and reach firm conclusions.

via The Telegraph|

#detection-methods #environmental-impact #health-risks

environment7 months ago•2 min saved

Microplastics and Pesticides Found in Everyday Foods: How to Reduce Your Exposure

New research from the University of Plymouth reveals that nanoplastics can penetrate vegetables' edible parts, raising concerns about microplastic contamination in our food and potential health risks, as these tiny particles can bypass natural plant barriers and accumulate in crops.

via Yahoo|

#environment #microplastics #nanoplastics

health7 months ago•3 min saved

The Hidden Risks of Bottled Water: What Science Reveals

A scientist warns that daily consumption of bottled water introduces tens of thousands of micro- and nanoplastics into the body, which may cause chronic health issues such as inflammation, hormone disruption, and neurological damage, though long-term effects are still not fully understood. Education and awareness are crucial to mitigate these risks.

via SciTechDaily|

#bottled-water #health #health-risks

environment8 months ago•7 min saved

The Hidden Microplastics in Your Kitchen and Food

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, with nanoplastics smaller than 1 micrometer that can penetrate cells, posing health risks. They are comparable in size to grains of sand or human hair and are ubiquitous in the environment, raising concerns about their impact on human health and ecosystems.

via Visual Capitalist|

#environment #health-risks #microplastics