From oceans to organs: The growing danger of microplastics revealed
4 days, 8 hours ago

From oceans to organs: The growing danger of microplastics revealed

India Today  

A new review published in the journal Science has sounded the alarm on the rising dangers of microplastics, two decades after the term was first introduced. The study offers an in-depth look at the sources of microplastics, their widespread presence, and their troubling impacts on ecosystems and human health. Primary microplastics are manufactured for specific uses, such as in cosmetics or industrial processes, while secondary microplastics form through the degradation of larger plastic items like bottles and bags. Disturbingly, microplastics have also been detected in human tissues and organs, raising urgent questions about their long-term effects on human health. The study also calls for expanded research into the environmental and health impacts of microplastics.

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Study links microplastics from vehicle tyres leading to lung and colon cancer
2 days, 8 hours ago

Study links microplastics from vehicle tyres leading to lung and colon cancer

India Today  

Microplastics have dominated our space and how. Tiny plastic particles, shed from tyres and degrading plastic waste, are becoming a significant air pollution concern and may be linked to serious health risks, according to a recent study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, reviewed around 3,000 research papers …

Microplastics linked to organ lesions while scientists may have found how to clean them from nature
1 week, 1 day ago

Microplastics linked to organ lesions while scientists may have found how to clean them from nature

Salon  

Plastic pollution is a scourge on Earth because it doesn’t naturally degrade for decades or even centuries. "The alarming link between occurrence to human tissue lesions and even cancer has attracted scientists’ attention." The authors noted that microplastics and nanoplastics “were also detected in human thrombi, and the abundance was positively correlated with platelet levels.” Platelets are tiny cell fragments …

Microplastics in our organs could be tied to disease, Chinese researchers say
1 week, 2 days ago

Microplastics in our organs could be tied to disease, Chinese researchers say

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Microplastics that have been found in human organs have “alarming links” to adverse health impacts, …

Doctors being trained to tackle health issues due to excessive microplastic use
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Doctors being trained to tackle health issues due to excessive microplastic use

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: The Union government has started training clinical researchers and other experts in identifying and managing health conditions arising out of excessive use of microplastics. This project is to answer those questions and initiate that kind of research.” He added, “there are not enough researchers in India, for a country which has a huge amount of human population that …

Plastic production to hit 1.1 billion tons by 2050: Study raises alarm on health risks from microplastics
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Plastic production to hit 1.1 billion tons by 2050: Study raises alarm on health risks from microplastics

Hindustan Times  

Tiny plastic particles may be lurking in the air we breathe, and experts are raising alarms about their potential health risks. Rising plastic pollution and its health risks After analysing 3,000 studies, researchers from UC San Francisco suspect that microplastics may negatively impact reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health, possibly linking them to colon and lung cancer. "Microplastics are essentially particulate …

Forever and ever?: A timeline of how microplastics got everywhere
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Forever and ever?: A timeline of how microplastics got everywhere

Hindustan Times  

1907: In Belgium, an inventive chemist named Leo Baekeland combines the fossil-fuel derivatives phenol and formaldehyde to produce a hard, mouldable substance that will change the course of manufacturing. EEA estimates, at the time, that 2 lakh to 5 lakh tonnes of microplastics from textiles are entering the global marine environment each year. 2019: A study published in the journal …

Paying with plastic: How microplastics are changing our world
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Paying with plastic: How microplastics are changing our world

Hindustan Times  

There are microplastics in our sugar and salt. They were first categorised as a pollutant 20 years ago, by marine biologist Richard Thompson, who noticed such fragments in the debris washing up on the shores of the remote Isle of Man.. “There were bits that were too small to see, but it was pretty obvious that the big bits were …

Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. What are they doing to us?
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. What are they doing to us?

NPR  

Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. "It seemed like nobody wanted to touch it," says Leslie, a microplastics researcher in the Netherlands whose team was the first to detect these particles in the human bloodstream several years ago. Sponsor Message Scientists can isolate microplastics, pull them out of human tissue and take pictures, but seeing where they are …

Microplastics are choking our waters. Could a sponge made of squid bones help remove them?
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Microplastics are choking our waters. Could a sponge made of squid bones help remove them?

CNN  

CNN — Microplastics are everywhere. “Even under a variety of policies, including plastic product reduction, waste management, and environmental recycling, microplastic pollution is irreversible and escalating.” The microplastics problem Microplastics are tiny shards of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters. The low cost and wide availability of both cotton and squid bones mean the sponge created in Wuhan “has great potential …

Microplastics found in human blood. It could lead to heart attack, stroke
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Microplastics found in human blood. It could lead to heart attack, stroke

India Today  

A recent study has highlighted an unsettling connection between tiny plastic particles or microplastics in human blood and the potential health risks. Researchers from South Korea found evidence that these particles could disrupt blood clotting processes and potentially increase the risk of heart diseases. Lifestyle habits, such as frequent use of plastic food containers, appeared to be a key factor …

Microplastics are everywhere. 5 tips to cut your exposure
1 month ago

Microplastics are everywhere. 5 tips to cut your exposure

CNN  

Editor’s note: The podcast Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life’s mysteries big and small. “We think of the crinkly polyvinyl chloride plastic that we’re so used to in food packaging, as coming that way just on its own, but phthalates are added to polyvinyl chloride to make it softer.” The additives that …

Microplastics are everywhere. 5 tips to cut your exposure
1 month ago

Microplastics are everywhere. 5 tips to cut your exposure

CNN  

Editor’s note: The podcast Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life’s mysteries big and small. “We think of the crinkly polyvinyl chloride plastic that we’re so used to in food packaging, as coming that way just on its own, but phthalates are added to polyvinyl chloride to make it softer.” The additives that …

Worried about microplastics? You should fear lead way more for your health
1 month, 1 week ago

Worried about microplastics? You should fear lead way more for your health

Firstpost  

Lead exposure poses a more immediate and well-documented threat to human health compared to microplastics. Activities like mining, smelting, and the recycling of lead-acid batteries have significantly increased lead levels in the environment, especially near industrial sites. There is no identified safe blood lead level; even low exposures can cause significant health issues. They argue that if the UN is …

Understanding the Hidden Dangers of Microplastics in Your Skincare Routine
4 months, 1 week ago

Understanding the Hidden Dangers of Microplastics in Your Skincare Routine

News 18  

In the quest for flawless skin, many of us reach for the latest skincare products, often unaware of the hidden dangers lurking within. Health Risks Associated with Microplastics Mansi Sharma, Founder of The Honest Tree by Boddess Beauty, adds, “While the beauty industry has seen a significant shift towards more natural and sustainable products, microplastics continue to be a hidden …

Microplastics found in human brain: Should we be worried?
4 months, 1 week ago

Microplastics found in human brain: Should we be worried?

India Today  

Scientists are discovering microplastics accumulating in several human organs, including the brain. With microplastics present in the placenta, it is feared that these tiny shards could enter newborns as well. The study, which shows the presence of microplastics in the human brain tissue, was published in the National Institutes of Health in the preprint version. With such alarming amounts of …

Microplastics finally found in human brains, but that’s not the full picture
4 months, 1 week ago

Microplastics finally found in human brains, but that’s not the full picture

The Hindu  

Plastic is in our clothes, cars, mobile phones, water bottles and food containers. A study from the United States has, for the first time, found microplastics in human brains. Some laboratory experiments suggest microplastics increase brain inflammation and cell damage, alter gene expression and change brain structure. Aside from the effects of the microplastic particles themselves, microplastics might also pose …

Interview|'Bells are ringing for the generation of homo plasticus': Microplastics expert Sedat Gündoğdu
4 months, 1 week ago

Interview|'Bells are ringing for the generation of homo plasticus': Microplastics expert Sedat Gündoğdu

New Indian Express  

Microplastics have garnered global attention as a growing environmental and health concern in recent years. While the majority of discussions have focused on their presence in air, water, and food, new studies suggest that these tiny plastic particles are infiltrating critical human organs, such as the brain, lungs, and even the placenta. To understand the severity of the situation, The …

Microplastics found in human brains: Scientists urge global action
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Microplastics found in human brains: Scientists urge global action

New Indian Express  

The widespread use of plastics has led to severe environmental contamination, with microplastics now infiltrating vital human organs, including the brain. A growing body of evidence reveals that these tiny plastic particles—less than 5 millimeters in size—are accumulating in the air, water, food, and even within human tissues. In a recent study, soon to be peer-reviewed and published by the …

Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?
5 months ago

Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dr. Marya Zlatnik, a San …

New research suggests that microplastics could be affecting male fertility
7 months, 2 weeks ago

New research suggests that microplastics could be affecting male fertility

NPR  

New research suggests that microplastics could be affecting male fertility It's the latest corner of the human body where tiny bits of plastic have turned up — the testicles. Now, new research adds to concerns that they could be affecting male fertility. Shanna Swan, a reproductive epidemiologist at Mount Sinai in New York, says microplastics in the testicles may not …

Microplastics found in every dog and human testicle examined by scientists
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Microplastics found in every dog and human testicle examined by scientists

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Microplastics are breaching the “most intimate aspects of human health” as scientists find the dangerous …

You Can't Totally Avoid Microplastics, But These 7 Things Can Help
9 months ago

You Can't Totally Avoid Microplastics, But These 7 Things Can Help

Huff Post  

adamkaz via Getty Images Microplastics are found in plastic containers, water bottles and even in our seafood and tap water. “If you think about fish and things like that, there’s a lot of microplastics in our oceans, and the fish are eating these, and when we consume the fish, we’re consuming microplastics from them,” Alan said. “And we worry about …

What can microplastics do to the human body? | In Focus podcast
9 months, 2 weeks ago

What can microplastics do to the human body? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

It’s hard to imagine a world without plastic now – plastic exists in almost every sphere of our life. Microplastics, the tiny toxic particles that plastics shed and that are scattered across the environment have been found everywhere – from clouds, to the bottom of the ocean, in Antarctica and even in our bodies – we swallow them and we …

Vantage | How do microplastics end up in the arteries of people?
10 months ago

Vantage | How do microplastics end up in the arteries of people?

Firstpost  

Microplastics are so small that they can invade our cells and enter human blood vessels as well Microscopic plastics are tiny polymer fragments, about a thousandth the width of a human hair. They are so small that they can invade our cells and enter human blood vessels as well. People with microplastics in their arteries are twice as likely to …

Microplastics could raise your risk of a heart attack: Scientists discover tiny fragments inside more than 50% of plaques from clogged arteries
10 months ago

Microplastics could raise your risk of a heart attack: Scientists discover tiny fragments inside more than 50% of plaques from clogged arteries

Daily Mail  

From the 6.8-mile-deep Mariana Trench to the top of Mount Everest, microplastics have been found almost everyone on Earth. Researchers from the University of Campania found small pieces of plastic in more than half of patients undergoing procedures to clear a major artery in the neck. Researchers from the University of Campania found small pieces of plastic in more than …

Microplastics may be new risk factor for cardiovascular disease, researchers say
10 months ago

Microplastics may be new risk factor for cardiovascular disease, researchers say

LA Times  

Add one more likely culprit to the long list of known cardiovascular risk factors including red meat, butter, smoking and stress: microplastics. In a study released Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, an international team of physicians and researchers showed that surgical patients who had a build-up of micro and nanoplastics in their arterial plaque had a 2.1 …

Study raises questions about plastic pollution’s effect on heart health
10 months ago

Study raises questions about plastic pollution’s effect on heart health

Associated Press  

We breathe, eat and drink tiny particles of plastic. A small study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine raises more questions than it answers about how these bits — microplastics and the smaller nanoplastics — might affect the heart. “I hope that the alarming message from our study will raise the consciousness of citizens, especially governments, to …

Just keep drinking! Bottled water industry attempts to downplay shock study that found hundreds of thousands of cancer-causing microplastics in their products
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Just keep drinking! Bottled water industry attempts to downplay shock study that found hundreds of thousands of cancer-causing microplastics in their products

Daily Mail  

Bottled water companies are hitting back against reports of nano and microplastics in bottled water. A recent study conducted by Columbia University revealed that the average liter of store-bought bottled water contains more than 240,000 nanoplastics which were connected to cancer, birth defects, and infertility. The International Bottled Water Association acknowledged that it hasn’t closely reviewed the study, yet still …

Almost all burgers, steaks and chicken contain microplastics
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Almost all burgers, steaks and chicken contain microplastics

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While the prolific presence of microplastics in fish and shellfish has long been known, there has been less exploration …

Microplastics are everywhere: Is it possible to reduce our exposure?
1 year ago

Microplastics are everywhere: Is it possible to reduce our exposure?

BBC  

Microplastics are everywhere: Is it possible to reduce our exposure? Getty Images Bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of nanoplastic fragments in every litre, according to a new study A new study has found that bottled water contains hundreds of thousands of nanoplastics. The average litre of bottled water contains almost a quarter of a million nanoplastic fragments, according …

Microplastic menace in Antarctica: UN to analyse penguin droppings, water
1 year ago

Microplastic menace in Antarctica: UN to analyse penguin droppings, water

India Today  

Scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Argentine Antarctic Institute have embarked on an expedition to Antarctica to investigate the extent of microplastic pollution in this remote region. Utilizing nuclear science techniques, the team aims to analyse samples from the icy waters, seabed sediment, and even penguin droppings to gain insights into the presence and origins of these …

Clouds now contain plastic, risking contamination of ‘everything we eat and drink’
1 year, 3 months ago

Clouds now contain plastic, risking contamination of ‘everything we eat and drink’

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “If the issue of ‘plastic air pollution’ is not addressed proactively, climate change and ecological risks may become a …

Scientists detect ‘microplastics’ in human heart for first time: Report
1 year, 4 months ago

Scientists detect ‘microplastics’ in human heart for first time: Report

Hindustan Times  

Plastics have been causing grave problems on planet Earth. Human heart with heart vessles inside human body and ECG, 3D illustration According to the latest study published by the American Chemical Society, team of scientists in China have found microplastics in the human heart for the first time. Scientists from Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China made the discovery while analysing …

World Environment Day 2023: How microplastics are affecting your child's health
1 year, 7 months ago

World Environment Day 2023: How microplastics are affecting your child's health

Hindustan Times  

Microplastics, the tiny fragments of plastics less than 5 millimetres in size, are becoming a threat to not just our environment and surroundings but also our health. Microplastics tend to invite a plethora of health problems in children. These chemicals are associated with various health problems such as reproductive and obesity, organ problems, and even developmental delays in children. "Microplastics …

Microplastics Are Polluting the Ocean at a Shocking Rate
1 year, 10 months ago

Microplastics Are Polluting the Ocean at a Shocking Rate

Wired  

If you throw a polyester sweatshirt in the washing machine, it doesn’t emerge as quite its former self. An international team of researchers calculates that between 82 and 358 trillion plastic particles—a collective 2.4 to 10.8 billion pounds—are floating across the world … and that’s only in the top foot of seawater. “We're talking about quintillions, probably, that's out there, …

What is plastic rain? All you need to know
2 years ago

What is plastic rain? All you need to know

India Today  

The detrimental effects of a plastic mist or rain of microplastics on the human body are a reality, not the subject of research or hypothesis. According to a study done by a group of experts from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, every square metre of urban rooftops in Auckland receives an average of 5,000 pieces of microplastic every …

Antibiotics from plastics! Study reveals use of microplastics in water bodies
2 years, 6 months ago

Antibiotics from plastics! Study reveals use of microplastics in water bodies

Live Mint  

As the world struggles to combat pollution in various aspects-- soil, air, water, noise-- a recent study published in the journal, 'American Society for Microbiology' have found that plastic pollution may after all serve as the source for antibiotics in ocean. Scientists and experts who conducted the study have pointed out that at least 5-13 million tonnes of plastic waste …

Scientists now detect microplastics in lungs after cosmetics, blood
2 years, 9 months ago

Scientists now detect microplastics in lungs after cosmetics, blood

India TV News  

Highlights A team of scientists have for the first time discovered microplastics in live human lungs This finding indicates that we are inhaling the dangerous substances without knowledge It can have a major impact on our respiratory health A team of scientists have for the first time discovered microplastics in live human lungs, a finding that indicates we are inhaling …

Microplastics discovered deep in lungs of living people for first time
2 years, 9 months ago

Microplastics discovered deep in lungs of living people for first time

Live Mint  

Days after discovering microplastics in human blood, researchers have now found the plastic particles stuck in the lungs of living people for the very first time. Microplastics in human blood Tiny particles of plastics were detected in human blood for the first time in March. The study had found that 17 out of the 22 healthy people the researchers took …

Scientists discover microplastic stuck deep inside lungs of living people
2 years, 9 months ago

Scientists discover microplastic stuck deep inside lungs of living people

India Today  

Scientists have for the first time discovered microplastics stuck in the lungs of living people in a major study indicating that we are inhaling these dangerous substances without even knowing. A team of scientists from Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull found 39 microplastics in 11 of the 13 lung tissue samples tested, higher than any previous …

Scientists find microplastics in blood for first time
2 years, 9 months ago

Scientists find microplastics in blood for first time

The Hindu  

Scientists have discovered microplastics in human blood for the first time, warning that the ubiquitous particles could also be making their way into organs. "This is the first time we have actually been able to detect and quantify" such microplastics in human blood, said Dick Vethaak, an ecotoxicologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The study said the microplastics could have entered …

Scientists find microplastics in human blood for first time
2 years, 9 months ago

Scientists find microplastics in human blood for first time

India TV News  

Highlights Scientists' team demonstrated that plastic particles such as bottles can end up in our bloodstream The research was published in the scientific journal Environment International It shows that miniscule pieces of plastic from our living environment are absorbed into bloodstream A team of scientists have for the first time demonstrated that plastic particles from our day-to-day lives such as …

‘High levels’ of atmospheric microplastics found near busy trunk road
2 years, 9 months ago

‘High levels’ of atmospheric microplastics found near busy trunk road

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy “High levels” of atmospheric microplastics have been found by scientists during a year-long study at …

Microplastics found in human blood for the first time. How it can affect you
2 years, 9 months ago

Microplastics found in human blood for the first time. How it can affect you

Live Mint  

Tiny particles of plastics, called microplastics, were detected in human blood for the first time, according to a study by a group of scientists in the Netherlands. Published in the journal Environment International, the study found that 17 out of the 22 healthy people the researchers took samples from had quantifiable amounts of plastic particles in their blood. The results …

Microplastics may be linked to inflammatory bowel disease
3 years ago

Microplastics may be linked to inflammatory bowel disease

The Telegraph  

Scientists from Nanjing Medical University in China, who conducted the study, said it is the first of its kind to demonstrate a link between microplastics and an illness. "However, it's still unclear whether this exposure could cause or contribute to IBD, or whether people with IBD accumulate more faecal microplastics as a result of their disease." “It is estimated that …

Microplastics are found in the blood of farm animals including cows and pigs for the first time
3 years, 2 months ago

Microplastics are found in the blood of farm animals including cows and pigs for the first time

Daily Mail  

Microplastics have been found in the blood of cows and pigs for the first time, sparking concern about how the particles might move through the food chain. New discovery: Microplastics have been found in the blood of cows and pigs for the first time, sparking concern about how the particles might move through the food chain WHAT CAN MICROPLASTICS DO …

Study finds microplastics pollution in the Ganga
3 years, 5 months ago

Study finds microplastics pollution in the Ganga

The Hindu  

An analysis of the stretches of the river Ganga by Delhi-based environment NGO Toxics Link has revealed pollution by microplastics, defined as synthetic solid particles sized ranging 1 micrometre to 5 millimetre, which are insoluble in water. Untreated sewage from many cities along the river’s course, industrial waste and religious offerings wrapped in non-degradable plastics pile pollutants into the river …

Opinion: Microplastics are getting into our bodies. We need to understand what that means
3 years, 5 months ago

Opinion: Microplastics are getting into our bodies. We need to understand what that means

LA Times  

Nobody wants to snack on plastic bags or soda rings, but according to a 2019 study from the University of Newcastle, we could be consuming roughly a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. “We started to realize that we have exposure that’s much greater than just a fish at the grocery store,” said Dr. Chelsea Rochman, a University of …

Scientists track ocean movement of deadly microplastics from space
3 years, 6 months ago

Scientists track ocean movement of deadly microplastics from space

India Today  

The oceans have been a vast resource for countries across the world, with various industries and communities depending on them for survival. Now scientists have devised a new way to identify and track the movement of microplastics in the ocean, a form of tiny plastic that poses a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. They found "microplastics tended to be …

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