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
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
Why microplastics should keep us up at night and what we can do about them
World Economic Forum 3/8/2023 With every new piece of scientific research, the scale and impact of plastic pollution become ever more glaring. We are eating,
Microplastics and Health Risks: What Do We Really Know?
(Web MD 10/28/22) You eat a credit card’s worth of plastic in a week. That may bother you. But does it harm you? The answer
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
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
Why are there microplastics in meat?
(Aim Plastic Free) Did you know that there are microplastics in meat, and they’re coming from many different sources? Whether you’re eating land animal meat
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
Microplastics in Nearly 90% of Proteins
(Ocean Conservancy – January 8, 2024) Researchers at Ocean Conservancy and University of Toronto estimate that American adults could be consuming up to 3.8 million
Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics
(NPR – 10/19/2020) Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, often too small for the eye to see. They’re created as plastic degrades. And they’re everywhere.
Irrigating with Microplastics May Sprout Antimicrobial Resistance
(USDA July 13, 2023) Treating and recycling used municipal water for irrigation is not a new concept, but there may be an unforeseen consequence with
Water Contamination
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
Microplastics are infiltrating food
(BBC.com 1/3/2023) Plastic pollution is one of the defining legacies of our modern way of life, but it is now so widespread it is even
Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer, Aquatic Organisms Database
This fantastic database is a repository for microplastics toxicity data for the California Microplastics Health Effects Workshop. The web application allows users to explore toxicity
Climate Change
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
Airborne Microplastics & Climate Change
How Airborne Microplastics Affect Climate Change (Scientific American) Like other aerosols, these tiny particles scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing Earth’s temperature. Microplastics—minuscule bits of bottles,
Health Effects
Microplastics in Nearly 90% of Proteins
(Ocean Conservancy – January 8, 2024) Researchers at Ocean Conservancy and University of Toronto estimate that American adults could be consuming up to 3.8 million
Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics
(NPR – 10/19/2020) Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, often too small for the eye to see. They’re created as plastic degrades. And they’re everywhere.
Are Microplastics Increasing the Need for Assisted Reproduction?
(Technology Networks – July 28, 2023) The prevalence of microplastics throughout our environment has been well reported in recent years, with researchers even finding the
Irrigating with Microplastics May Sprout Antimicrobial Resistance
(USDA July 13, 2023) Treating and recycling used municipal water for irrigation is not a new concept, but there may be an unforeseen consequence with
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
Plasticosis: a new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds
(Natural History Museum 3/3/2023) Plastic is everywhere, and has become so common that it is impacting the health of animals and people. New research now
Remediation
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
How Do We Clean Up All That Ocean Plastic?
(Columbia Climate School) There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, according to the World Economic Forum. This is a result
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