Microplastics News and Research

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Exposure to micro- and nanoplastics linked to rising number of people with chronic IBD

A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna has investigated a possible link between the rising number of people with chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the increasing exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).

8 Jan 2026

Paternal microplastic exposure alters metabolic health in offspring

A study led by biomedical scientists at the University of California, Riverside, has shown for the first time that a father's exposure to microplastics (MPs) can trigger metabolic dysfunctions in his offspring.

23 Dec 2025

Indoor environments expose people to a growing mix of new contaminants

Indoor dust, air and everyday products are exposing people to a growing mix of "new contaminants" inside homes, schools and workplaces, according to a new perspective published in the journal New Contaminants.

13 Dec 2025

Researchers highlight five pathways through which microplastics can harm the brain

Microplastics could be fueling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with a new study highlighting five ways microplastics can trigger inflammation and damage in the brain.

5 Dec 2025

Milestone introduces GREENNOVATION for laboratories: pioneering sustainable laboratory practices

Milestone's commitment to sustainability in laboratories drives the adoption of greener practices, optimizing performance while minimizing environmental impact.

From Milestone 4 Dec 2025

Understanding tea's health benefits and risks

The review confirms that tea, particularly green tea, plays a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

1 Dec 2025

Researchers use organoids to study the earliest moments of electrical activity in the brain

Humans have long wondered when and how we begin to form thoughts. Are we born with a pre-configured brain, or do thought patterns only begin to emerge in response to our sensory experiences of the world around us? Now, science is getting closer to answering the questions philosophers have pondered for centuries.

24 Nov 2025

Scientists develop innovative technique to locate microplastics

While microplastic pollution continues to advance, research into its possible effects on health remains hampered by technical hurdles: to date, there are no suitable methods for precisely identifying the particles in the body without destroying tissue.

13 Nov 2025

Hard water drives a surge in microplastic shedding from polyester, study finds

Researchers found that hand-washing in mineral-rich water dramatically increases microplastic fibre shedding from polyester fabrics, fragmenting fibres into shorter pieces. A two-layer PDMS coating sharply reduced shedding from green polyester but was far less effective on black polyester due to pre-existing surface finishes.

12 Nov 2025

Tiny airborne plastics may facilitate virus spread

As plastic pollution worsens worldwide, scientists are uncovering a new and unsettling possibility. Tiny airborne fragments of plastic, known as micro- and nanoplastics, may do more than pollute the air we breathe.

11 Nov 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Nurses urged to ditch gloves for IV antibiotics

A scoping review reveals non-sterile glove use during IV antibiotic preparation lacks evidence, potentially harming infection control and increasing costs.

13 Oct 2025

Health risks of consuming unboiled raw milk often underestimated

Raw milk (untreated milk) enjoys a certain popularity, but poses health risks. To avoid food poisoning, it should be boiled before drinking.

10 Oct 2025

Microplastics can alter the human gut microbiome, research shows

New research presented today at UEG Week 2025 shows that microplastics – plastic particles smaller than 5mm commonly found in the environment – can alter the human gut microbiome, with some changes resembling patterns linked to depression and colorectal cancer.

6 Oct 2025

Scientists study how nanoplastics transfer across generations

You can't see nanoplastics with the naked eye, but they're everywhere - including your body.

23 Sep 2025

Childhood exposure to plastic chemicals linked to long-term health risks

Childhood exposure to chemicals used to make plastic household items presents growing health risks that can extend long into adulthood, experts from NYU Langone Health report.

21 Sep 2025

UNM researcher develops new model for characterizing different forms of vascular dementia

Vascular dementia - cognitive impairment caused by disease in the brain's small blood vessels - is a widespread problem, but it has not been as thoroughly studied as Alzheimer's disease, in which abnormal plaques and protein tangles are deposited in neural tissue.

19 Sep 2025

Microplastics pose potential risks to bone health

The production and use of over 400 million tons of plastic each year has polluted beaches, rivers, and even the deepest parts of the ocean, reaching depths of up to 11,000 meters.

18 Sep 2025

The 15th AACR cancer progress report highlights scientific advances

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) released the 15th edition of its annual Cancer Progress Report. A cornerstone of the AACR's educational and advocacy efforts, this comprehensive report provides the latest statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and survivorship and highlights how federal investments in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research and cancer-related population sciences have led to impressive scientific advances that are improving health and saving lives.

17 Sep 2025

Experts warn tiny plastics in arteries may raise heart attack risk

Experts caution that nanoplastics and microplastics may constitute an emerging cardiovascular risk factor, with particles identified in arterial plaques associated with a 4.5-fold increase in major adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental evidence points to inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular injury as key mechanisms.

10 Sep 2025