🔬 A new study by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam scientists used a 3D human placental cell model to show that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the placental barrier and potentially affect steroid hormone production during pregnancy.

🔬 In their 72-hour experiment, most tested plastic types passed through the model, with polyamide being the only exception. Polystyrene exposure, for instance, was found to affect estrogen levels.

🔬 Researchers emphasize that while this study doesn't prove harm to pregnant humans, it highlights an urgent need to understand the mechanisms by which these particles might impact fetal development.

#Microplastics #Pregnancy #Health

New Evidence That Microplastics Can Cross Placental Barrier And Alter Hormone Production. Study in mice showed that tiny plastic fragments inhaled by a mother mouse during pregnancy may be present in the organs of her offspring up to two weeks after birth

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#Microplastics #PlacentalBarrier #EnvironmentalHealth

🔬 New Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam study reveals certain micro- and nanoplastics can cross a human placental model and potentially affect steroid hormone production during pregnancy.

🔬 Researchers utilized a unique 3-layer human cell model mimicking the placental barrier and hormone-producing organ, observing particle translocation and hormonal shifts within 72 hours.

🔬 Polystyrene exposure notably affected estrogen levels, while multiple plastic types decreased etiocholanolone, highlighting potential impacts on crucial pregnancy hormones.

#Microplastics #PregnancyHealth #EnvironmentalScience

Microplastics have been discovered in one of the most remote, inhospitable, and unexplored parts of our planet. Microplastics were found in 92% of all animals examined (11 out of 12) living around deep-sea hydrothermal vents some 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) below the ocean surface.

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#Microplastics #DeepSea #OceanPollution

🔬 Microplastics have been discovered in snails and mussels living around deep-sea hydrothermal vents, 2,000 meters below the ocean surface.

🔬 In a study published in Water Research, plastic fragments were found in 92% of animals examined across the North Fiji Basin and the Central Indian Ridge.

🔬 An average of 3.42 plastic pieces were found per animal, with polystyrene being the most common type. Concentrations were higher in the Indian Ocean samples.

#Microplastics #OceanPollution #Science

Cleaning cholesterol from blood also lowered forever chemicals and plastics. Physicians at the largest apheresis center in the world report that PFAS and microplastic levels fell in patient blood after treatment, and that plastic particles sit inside human tissue. The mechanism remains unknown.

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#PFAS #Microplastics #Apheresis

Common microplastic may increase risk of fatty liver disease. Research found people who ate a more Western-style diet, including foods like burgers and sodas, may have a greater chance of progressing to fatty liver disease if they are also exposed to polyethylene

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#Microplastics #FattyLiverDisease #WesternDiet

* 🦠 A study by Texas A&M University found that polyethylene, a common plastic, may increase the risk of fatty liver disease, particularly when combined with an unhealthy diet.

* 🔬 Researchers discovered that polyethylene can activate PPAR-alpha, a protein involved in liver fat production, and ANXA2, a gene related to tissue repair, potentially explaining its impact on liver health.

* 💡 The findings suggest that everyday plastic exposure and dietary habits may combine to accelerate liver damage, prompting further research into other microplastics and therapeutic strategies.

#Microplastics #LiverHealth #PlasticPollution

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Cholesterol Treatment May Also Remove PFAS And Microplastics From Blood. Therapeutic apheresis passes blood through machine that filters out targeted substances and returns blood to the body. This was unexpected as PFAS and microplastics are chemically distinct from lipoproteins and not the targets.

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#PFAS #Microplastics #TherapeuticApheresis

Takeaway cups release microplastics into your coffee: 12 times more plastic particles leached from single-use cups lined with biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), compared to fossil-based polyethylene (PE).

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#Microplastics #PLA #BioplasticsScience

☕ Single-use paper coffee cups release millions of microplastic particles into hot drinks.

🔬 PLA (biodegradable) lined cups released 12 times more plastic particles than fossil-based PE lined cups.

📊 Researchers measured approximately 4.3 million nanoparticles/ml from PLA-lined cups vs. 2.7 million/ml from PE-lined cups.

⚠️ Researchers suggest regulators consider safety guidelines and product warnings for microplastic release from these cups.

#Microplastics #CoffeeCups #PlasticPollution

A study found single-use paper cups release millions of micro- and nanoplastic particles when exposed to hot water, with biodegradable PLA-lined cups releasing about 12 times more plastic by mass than conventional polyethylene-lined cups.

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#Microplastics #PlasticPollution #SustainableMaterials

Abandoned Oil And Gas Pipes Are Still Contributing TONS of Microplastics Into The Ocean Each Year

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#Microplastics #OceanPollution #EnvironmentalImpact

🔬 Decades after oil and gas projects end, underwater pipelines on the UK continental shelf are releasing an estimated 500 metric tons of microplastics annually into the ocean.

🌊 This overlooked pollution source, detailed in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, could be comparable to or even exceed microplastic releases from other sources like UK rivers and former cosmetic microbeads.

🚢 The study, led by Freija Mendrik of the University of Plymouth, estimates over 120,000 metric tons of plastic may remain on the North Sea floor after decommissioning, posing potential harm to marine life.

#OceanPollution #Microplastics #EnvironmentalImpact

Microplastics may act as pollutant shuttles, carrying chemicals, pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. Conventional microplastics generally deliver contaminants through the gastrointestinal tract, while nanoplastics smaller than about 1 micrometer may cross biological membranes

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#Microplastics #Pollution #AntibioticResistance

New semiconductor nanomaterial that can detect microplastic pollutants in complex water samples.

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#Microplastics #Semiconductor #WaterPollutionDetection

Plastic tea bags released 555–2,498 microplastic particles per cup versus 0.3–2.4 in loose tea in a 28-brand brewing study

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#Microplastics #TeaStudy #PlasticFreeLifestyle

Plastic isn't as inert as we'd thought: Scientists found that tiny everyday microplastics sitting in plain water spontaneously make reactive oxygen, a damaging chemical that made proteins clump and burst red blood cells in lab tests. The more water-repelling the plastic, the stronger it was.

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#Microplastics #EnvironmentalScience #OxidativeStress

Scientists found that indoor air contains significantly higher concentrations of microplastics than outdoor air, mostly shedding from our clothes and carpets. Outside, cloud formation is being altered by microplastics in the air.

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#Microplastics #IndoorAirQuality #ClimateImpact

✨ Most synthetic clothing like polyester and nylon are petroleum-based products, not just simple fabrics.

✨ Chemical additives like flame retardants, PFAS, and formaldehyde can transfer from clothing to skin, especially with heat, sweat, and prolonged wear.

✨ Synthetic clothing sheds microplastic fibers during washing and wear. These particles have been found in human blood, lungs, and other tissues.

✨ Making informed swaps for underwear, sleepwear, children's clothing, and activewear are the most impactful changes, as these items have the longest and closest skin contact.

#TextileHealth #Microplastics #SustainableFashion