Microplastics News and Research

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Defective epithelial barrier responsible for up to two billion chronic diseases

Humans are exposed to a variety of toxins and chemicals every day. According to the epithelial barrier hypothesis, exposure to many of these substances damages the epithelium, the thin layer of cells that covers the surface of our skin, lungs and intestine. Defective epithelial barriers have been linked to a rise in almost two billion allergic, autoimmune, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

6 May 2021

New European research network addresses the effects of plastic particles on human health

Researching the effects of plastic particles on the human body and developing a health policy strategy for assessing the resulting risks is the goal of the new European research network PlasticsFatE. The University of Bayreuth, together with 26 other universities, institutes, and organizations from ten EU member states, is participating in the project.

29 Apr 2021

HORIBA Launches New Website Resource Centre Dedicated to Supporting Academia

HORIBA UK Limited announces that it has reinforced its provision to Academia by launching a new dedicated resource center on its website.

From HORIBA Scientific UK 22 Mar 2021

Ubiquitous microplastics can become 'hubs' for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

It's estimated that an average-sized wastewater treatment plant serving roughly 400,000 residents will discharge up to 2,000,000 microplastic particles into the environment each day.

22 Mar 2021

Researchers explore mutational signatures associated with exposure to microplastic pollutants

According to the World Health Organization, plastic products and their chemical derivatives present in the environment present public health concerns on a global scale and more exploration on the potential impact to human health is needed.

3 Mar 2021

Scientists assess the concentration of microplastics in table salt

Microplastics (MPs) everywhere and pose a serious threat to human health. Although the concentration of MPs in table salt has been quantified several times, studies have reported vastly different results.

26 Feb 2021

The Future of Environmental and Food Monitoring

NewsMed interviews Professor Antje Baeumner about the future of food and environmental monitoring, the subject of her 2021 Pittcon presentation.

From Pittcon 12 Feb 2021

New review summarises effect of aquatic pollution on cancer prevalence in wild animals

The recent review, published in Environment International and led by the University of Tartu, summarises the effect of aquatic pollution on cancer prevalence in wild animals with the help of more than 300 reviewed studies.

11 Feb 2021

A handy reference on pollution

Pollution is one among the serious cases which needs to be taken care of. Pollution is broadly classified as air, land, water and earth pollution.

28 Dec 2020

Nanoplastics affect composition and diversity of human intestinal microbiome

We live in a world invaded by plastic. Its role as a chemically stable, versatile and multi-purpose fostered its massive use, which has finally translated into our current situation of planetary pollution.

22 Dec 2020

Hazardous chemicals in plastics threaten human health

Plastics contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health.

15 Dec 2020

Microplastic particles find their way into living cells if exposed to natural aquatic environments

The environment is polluted by microplastics worldwide. The tiny particles enter food chains, and thereby the digestive systems of animals and humans; moreover, they can be inhaled. Instead of being excreted, small microplastics can be incorporated into the body tissue.

10 Dec 2020

Drinking hot beverages from paper cups poses health risks, shows study

Drinking hot beverages from paper cups poses health risks, a study has found.

19 Nov 2020

Plastic baby feeding bottles shed microplastic particles, say researchers

This new study from researchers at Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, and the Medical University of Vienna shows that an average of 1 million microplastic particles per day are consumed by infants drinking from these feeding bottles. The study results are published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Food.

20 Oct 2020

Coronavirus pandemic perceived as the greatest health risk

Next on the list of concerns, though notably less frequently mentioned, are unhealthy or wrong diet as well as climate and environmental pollution - these were the most frequently mentioned concerns in February's survey.

20 Oct 2020

Preventing emissions at source can mitigate microfiber pollution, shows study

The amount of synthetic microfiber we shed into our waterways has been of great concern over the last few years, and for good reason: Every laundry cycle releases in its wastewater tens of thousands of tiny, near-invisible plastic fibers whose persistence and accumulation can affect aquatic habitats and food systems, and ultimately our own bodies in ways we have yet to discover.

17 Sep 2020

Are micro and nanoplastics accumulating in human organs and tissues?

A team of researchers spoke to News-Medical about their latest research investigating whether micro and nanoplastics are accumulating in human tissues.

10 Sep 2020

Nano and microplastics found in all human organs and tissues

Recently, a team of researchers from Arizona State University has discovered micro and nanoplastics in human tissues and organs. The study was presented at the American Chemical Society's virtual expo.

18 Aug 2020

Critical questions remain about the role of microplastics in carrying pathogens

Key knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of how ocean microplastics transport bacteria and viruses - and whether this affects the health of humans and animals, researchers say.

13 Aug 2020

Novel method identifies traces of plastic in seafood samples

A study of five different seafoods has found traces of plastic in every sample tested.Researchers bought oysters, prawns, squid, crabs and sardines from a market in Australia and analysed them using a newly developed method that identifies and measures five different plastic types simultaneously.

13 Aug 2020