Microplastics
To learn more about microplastics, click on the following topics.
Jump to: Government Regulations | Food Contamination | Water Contamination | Climate Change | Health Effects | Remediation
Intro to Microplastics
Soar Optics is a winner at the fourth Pitch Elk Grove competition
The City of Elk Grove successfully hosted its fourth annual Pitch Elk Grove competition on September 4th, bringing together the brightest minds and most innovative startups from
Plastic People Documentary
(3/9/2024 – plasticpeopledoc.com) The ground-breaking feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every
Comstock’s Startup of the Month: Soar Optics
Since the 1950s, plastic has been a staple due to its durability, but an unseen byproduct of this material is microplastics. These microscopic particles can
SOAR presentation to California Group
SOAR presentation to the January 2024 meeting of the Microplastics Subcommittee of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council.
Lake Tahoe has higher concentration of microplastics than ocean trash heap
(LA Times July 14, 2023) Sparkling Lake Tahoe may appear pristine, but its blue surface waters contain microplastic concentrations higher than those observed in ocean
A Poison Like No Other
How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies Review from 5Gyres 11/18/2022 In A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our
Government Regulations
Canada aims to track plastic use in food and agriculture
(The Packer – Jan 17, 2024) A government agency in Canada wants to establish a plastics registry to monitor and track plastic, including plastic used
With Microplastic Pollution Skyrocketing, the EU Takes Action
Pew Trusts 2/8/2023 The world is awash in plastic, far too much of which is polluting the environment worldwide. And a lot of this pollution
FDA
The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic found in many health and beauty products, including soap and body scrubs. On December
California to Clean Up Microplastics
New York Times, Livia Albeck-Ripka 3/7/22 In a First, California Plans to Clean Up Microplastics The state has adopted a strategy to monitor and reduce
California First for Microplastics
From the San Francisco Chronicle, Kurtis Alexander, Sep. 7, 2022 California becomes first state to test drinking water for microplastics Microplastics are everywhere. The tiny
Food Contamination
Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here’s how to eat less of them
BBC.com 9/22/2025 Microplastics gush out of our taps and flake off cookware. They find their way into the yolks of eggs, and deep into meat
Plastics are seeping into farm fields, food and eventually human bodies. Can they be stopped?
From AP News. March 29, 2025 KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — In Uganda’s Mbale district, famous for its production of arabica coffee, a plague of plastic
Microplastics: Are we facing a new health crisis – and what can be done about it?
From World Economic Forum. Feb 19, 2025 There’s a growing body of evidence about how widespread microplastics have become – across land, sea and air – and the impact they
Plastic People Documentary
(3/9/2024 – plasticpeopledoc.com) The ground-breaking feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every
Microplastic contamination in your kitchen
(8/15/2024: Hellion) Given that a substantial amount of time is spent in kitchens preparing food, the kitchen equipment used may be relevant in determining the
Study Finds Microplastics in Nearly 90% of Proteins Sampled, Including Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
(Jan 8, 2024: Ocean Conservancy) Portland, Ore. – A new study led by researchers at Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto and published today
Water Contamination
Tire wear particles in the Rhine river: How microplastics are changing river ecology
September 1, 2025 – University of Duisburg-Essen The tiny particles of various sizes from new and old car and truck tires did not turn out
Microplastics in Texas Bays Are Being Swept Out to Sea
Texas Geosciences. May 14, 2025 From tiny pellets to creepy wave-battered baby dolls, the Texas coast is a notable hot spot for plastic debris. But when
Bottled water contains thousands of nanoplastics
(CNN – 1/8/2024) In a trailblazing new study, researchers have discovered bottled water sold in stores can contain 10 to 100 times more bits of
Lake Tahoe has higher concentration of microplastics than ocean trash heap
(LA Times July 14, 2023) Sparkling Lake Tahoe may appear pristine, but its blue surface waters contain microplastic concentrations higher than those observed in ocean
Is the “plastisphere” spreading infectious disease?
(PNAS July 26, 2023) In 2010, a team of marine scientists based in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, began dipping fine mesh nets into the sea in
How much plastic is in our oceans?
(Al Jazeera 6/19/2023) Every year, about 400 million tonnes of plastic products are produced around the world. About half are used to make single-use items
Climate Change
Plastics are seeping into farm fields, food and eventually human bodies. Can they be stopped?
From AP News. March 29, 2025 KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — In Uganda’s Mbale district, famous for its production of arabica coffee, a plague of plastic
Plastics are really driving our climate crisis
(KCRA3 2/8/2023) Plastic pollution and climate change related to fossil fuel emissions are two of humanity’s biggest global challenges. And while the two are not
Microplastics in Antarctic snow
Scientists find microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time (CNBC.com) Scientists have found microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time, highlighting
Microplastics and Snow
Understanding Microplastics’ True Contribution to Snowmelt and Climate Change (Surf Rider Foundation) It is well understood and studied that black carbon particles from gasoline, diesel fuel, coal,
Microplastics May Be Cooling—and Heating—Earth’s Climate
Tiny bits of plastic are swirling in the sky, and a new model suggests they could be subtly affecting the climate (Wired.com) Like the ash spewed
Plastic and Climate Change
6 reasons to blame plastic pollution for climate change (World Bank Blogs) What is the link between plastics and hurricanes Sandy and Katrina in the
Health Effects
Tiny shards of plastic are increasingly infiltrating our brains, study says
CNN – August 25, 2025 Human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years
The Hidden Danger Of Plastic Zip Bags — And The Safer, Smarter Alternative
Note from Soar Optics. This is a promotional release from Cleanomic.com but the product looks very interesting. July 25th, 2025 Cleanomic.com Here’s what you need
Microplastics: Are we facing a new health crisis – and what can be done about it?
From World Economic Forum. Feb 19, 2025 There’s a growing body of evidence about how widespread microplastics have become – across land, sea and air – and the impact they
Disease burden from chemicals added to plastics
Journal of the Endocrine Society – Feb 2024 The disease burden directly attributable to plastic production and consumption is substantial, and runs across the entire
Plastic People Documentary
(3/9/2024 – plasticpeopledoc.com) The ground-breaking feature documentary Plastic People investigates our addiction to plastic and the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every
Microplastic contamination in your kitchen
(8/15/2024: Hellion) Given that a substantial amount of time is spent in kitchens preparing food, the kitchen equipment used may be relevant in determining the
Remediation
Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here’s how to eat less of them
BBC.com 9/22/2025 Microplastics gush out of our taps and flake off cookware. They find their way into the yolks of eggs, and deep into meat
The Hidden Danger Of Plastic Zip Bags — And The Safer, Smarter Alternative
Note from Soar Optics. This is a promotional release from Cleanomic.com but the product looks very interesting. July 25th, 2025 Cleanomic.com Here’s what you need
Tackling microplastic pollution with a cross-society approach
From European Commission DG Environment News Alert Service. Jan 16, 2025 Our reliance on plastic products, coupled with their longevity in the environment, where they
Scientists at Hawaiʻi Pacific University analyze stormwater runoff from state’s first plastic road
7/8/2023 – Kaua’i Now In a multi-year collaborative project, Hawai’i Pacific University research scientists and students have simulated rainfall on Hawai‘i’s first plastic road to
Plastic Eating Enzyme
(KVUE 5/23/2023) A new discovery by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin could be a game-changer for recycling plastic. Scientists call it a
Company making whirlpools to clean microplastics from water
(CNN) — Microplastics contaminate the whole planet, from Arctic ice to Mount Everest. The tiny particles, less than 5 millimeters in diameter, are in the air we