Microplastic Pollution May Be Generated Simply by Opening Plastic Bags and Bottles
Opening plastic packaging, such as plastic bags and bottles may contribute to the generation of small amounts of microplastics — small plastic particles less than…
Microplastics News
LEGO Bricks Could Survive in the Ocean for Up to 1,300 Years
A LEGO brick could survive in the ocean for as many as 1,300 years, according to new research. A study led by the University of…
Revealing the Structure of Bacterial Hitchhikers on Plastic Trash in the Ocean
Millions of tons of plastic trash are fouling the world’s oceans, most of them tiny pieces of microplastic less than a quarter-inch in size. Even…
98% of Plastics Entering the Oceans Go Missing Each Year – Here’s the Likely Culprit
Trillions of plastic fragments are afloat at sea, which cause large “garbage patches” to form in rotating ocean currents called subtropical gyres. As a result,…
Microplastics in the Great Lakes: 1,941 Particles Per Pound of Sediment
From the Great Pacific garbage patch to inland rivers, plastics are among the most widespread contaminants on Earth. Microplastics—particles of plastic smaller than five millimeters—are…
Help Save the Oceans by Ditching the Delicate Wash Cycle
Delicate wash cycles in washing machines were found to release more plastic microfibers than other cycles. New research led by Newcastle University has shown that…
Warning: Plastic Teabags Release Microscopic Particles Into Tea
Many people are trying to reduce their plastic use, but some tea manufacturers are moving in the opposite direction: replacing traditional paper teabags with plastic…
Four Billion Microplastic Particles Discovered in the Waters of Tampa Bay
While collecting water samples and plankton in Tampa Bay, researchers discovered a high concentration of microplastics, which are known to disrupt the marine food chain….
Major Environmental Challenge As Microplastics Harm Our Drinking Water
Plastics in our waste streams are breaking down into tiny particles, causing potentially catastrophic consequences for human health and our aquatic systems, finds research from…
