Latest news with #nanoplastics
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How nanoplastics may be impacting our long-term health
Albuquerque, New Mexico — Dr. Matt Campen studies the health effects of environmental pollutants. His lab at the University of New Mexico has, for the first time, found plastics in human brain tissue. He says his research estimates that the amount of plastic in the brain could be roughly equal to the size of a plastic spoon. "That is a lot," Campen explains to CBS News. "...The fact that it's getting worse over time is really the issue." Scientists believe these microscopic particles, called nanoplastics, come from all the plastic people use and throw away. When plastic breaks down over time, it winds up in the food supply, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. A study last month in the Journal of the American Heart Association finds that people living near nanoplastic-polluted oceans are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke compared to those that lived near waters that have low levels of nanoplastics. Campen's lab has found more plastic in the brains of people with dementia than those without dementia. Now, research on these nanoplastics is moving out of the lab and into long-term clinical studies. "We have more evidence now for the effects of plastic on children's chronic disease then we do on food dyes," said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine. "And if we use the same evidence standard, we should be acting as fiercely on plastics in the food supply as we are on food dyes." Trasande is tracking plastics' impact on over 64,000 children, from pregnancy to adolescence, including on 8-year-old Jack Glaser. "The amount of information that they're collecting is remarkable," Glaser's mother, Tammy Fried-Glaser, said. "They did cognitive studies on Jack, you know, height and weight and sonograms, and beyond." So far, Trasande's research has linked plastics to health problems like hormonal issues with fertility, premature birth, cognitive abnormalities and cardiovascular disease. "Literally the particle is a problem — because it's a foreign body in a tissue," Trasande said. "It might thrash the lining of the coronary artery, contributing to are toxic drug delivery systems." While the details are still emerging, experts agree that less plastic is the way forward. While many believe 10,000 steps a day is optimal, new study suggests different DOJ's closed-door meetings with Ghislaine Maxwell fuels pardon speculation The impact of nanoplastics on long-term health Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
How nanoplastics may be impacting our long-term health
Albuquerque, New Mexico — Dr. Matt Campen studies the health effects of environmental pollutants. His lab at the University of New Mexico has, for the first time, found plastics in human brain tissue. He says his research estimates that the amount of plastic in the brain could be roughly equal to the size of a plastic spoon. "That is a lot," Campen explains to CBS News. "...The fact that it's getting worse over time is really the issue." Scientists believe these microscopic particles, called nanoplastics, come from all the plastic people use and throw away. When plastic breaks down over time, it winds up in the food supply, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. A study last month in the Journal of the American Heart Association finds that people living near nanoplastic-polluted oceans are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke compared to those that lived near waters that have low levels of nanoplastics. Campen's lab has found more plastic in the brains of people with dementia than those without dementia. Now, research on these nanoplastics is moving out of the lab and into long-term clinical studies. "We have more evidence now for the effects of plastic on children's chronic disease then we do on food dyes," said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine. "And if we use the same evidence standard, we should be acting as fiercely on plastics in the food supply as we are on food dyes." Trasande is tracking plastics' impact on over 64,000 children, from pregnancy to adolescence, including on 8-year-old Jack Glaser. "The amount of information that they're collecting is remarkable," Glaser's mother, Tammy Fried-Glaser, said. "They did cognitive studies on Jack, you know, height and weight and sonograms, and beyond." So far, Trasande's research has linked plastics to health problems like hormonal issues with fertility, premature birth, cognitive abnormalities and cardiovascular disease. "Literally the particle is a problem — because it's a foreign body in a tissue," Trasande said. "It might thrash the lining of the coronary artery, contributing to are toxic drug delivery systems." While the details are still emerging, experts agree that less plastic is the way forward.
Gizmodo
22-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
You Don't Want to Know Where Scientists Just Found 27 Million Tons of Plastic
Despite the hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastic floating in our oceans—not to mention the microplastics in our saliva, blood, breast milk, and semen—researchers have been unable to account for all the plastic ever produced. A new study has just tracked down a large portion of it. Researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University claim to be the first to provide a real estimate of ocean-polluting nanoplastics. Their research indicates that the North Atlantic Ocean alone hosts 27 million tons of floating plastic particles less than 1 micrometer (μm) in size. 'Plastic pollution of the marine realm is widespread, with most scientific attention given to macroplastics and microplastics. By contrast, ocean nanoplastics (<1 μm) remain largely unquantified, leaving gaps in our understanding of the mass budget of this plastic size class,' they explained in a study published earlier this month in the journal Nature. 'Our findings suggest that nanoplastics comprise the dominant fraction of marine plastic pollution.' To reach these conclusions, Utrecht graduate student and study co-author Sophie ten Hietbrink collected water samples from 12 locations while working aboard a research vessel traveling from the Azores to the continental shelf of Europe. She filtered the samples of anything larger than one micrometer and conducted a molecular analysis on what was left behind. The team then extrapolated its results to the entire North Atlantic Ocean. 27 million tons is 'a shocking amount,' Ten Hietbrink said in a NIOZ statement. 'But with this we do have an important answer to the paradox of the missing plastic.' Namely, that a large part of it is floating in our oceans, invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, there are a number of ways nanoparticles can end up in the oceans. While some likely arrive via rivers, others fall out of the sky with rain or on their own as 'dry deposition.' (Yes, we've even found plastic pollution in the sky). Nanoparticles can also form when large pieces of plastic already in the ocean are broken down by waves and/or sunlight, according to the researchers. The question now is how this pollution is impacting the world and its creatures—including us. 'It is already known that nanoplastics can penetrate deep into our bodies. They are even found in brain tissue. Now that we know they are so ubiquitous in the oceans, it's also obvious that they penetrate the entire ecosystem; from bacteria and other microorganisms to fish and top predators like humans,' said Helge Niemann, a geochemist at NIOZ and another co-author of the study. 'How that pollution affects the ecosystem needs further investigation.' The missing plastic paradox, however, is not completely solved, because not all plastics were represented in the samples. The team didn't find polyethylene or polypropylene, for example. 'It may well be that those were masked by other molecules in the study. We also want to know if nanoplastics are as abundant in the other oceans. It is to be feared that they do, but that remains to be proven,' Niemann added. 'The nanoplastics that are there, can never be cleaned up. So an important message from this research is that we should at least prevent the further pollution of our environment with plastics.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists stunned after finding one of Earth's most remote places blanketed in dangerous material: 'Is it snowing plastic … ?'
Scientists stunned after finding one of Earth's most remote places blanketed in dangerous material: 'Is it snowing plastic … ?' Early findings from an ambitious global research project show that microplastics might truly be everywhere on our planet — even in the world's most remote locations. What's happening? Alan Chambers has gained acclaim for exploring some of the world's most extreme locations. He has skied across Iceland and led a team that walked from Canada to the North Pole. His latest mission, CNN reported, is for an important scientific cause. Chambers is heading up Mission Spiritus, an initiative aimed at assessing the global spread of microplastics and nanoplastics. His goal is to gather samples from remote locations on every continent. "Mission Spiritus aims to deliver evidence-based insights that enable impactful solutions, driving meaningful transformational change on one of humanity's most pressing environmental crises," the organization says on its website. The first journey took place last year, as Chambers and a fellow explorer spent two months skiing from the Antarctic coast to the geographic South Pole. Over the 715-mile journey, the pair filled tins with snow, which were eventually tested by a scientist in Chile. Although the research into those samples is ongoing, initial results have raised some eyebrows. "The researchers found some traces of plastic in (samples from) the middle of Antarctica. The only way it can get there is the wind system," Chambers told CNN. "Is it snowing plastic in Antarctica?" Chambers retrieved samples earlier this year from the world's largest sand desert in Oman's Empty Quarter. This summer, he'll do the same in the Faroe Islands. If the project receives enough funding, Chambers also plans to explore remote locations in Chile, the Comoros Islands, Canada, and Western Australia. Why are microplastics important? Microplastics are tiny, sometimes imperceptible pieces of plastic that are no bigger than 5 millimeters, or the size of a pencil eraser. Tiny pieces of plastic can be manufactured for various uses, such as beads and microfibers, or they can break off from larger pieces of plastic. No matter how they are created, however, microplastics are everywhere. Along with Antarctica, they're found commonly in our oceans, drinking water, soil, and the air we breathe. They're even in human brains. Do you think Americans use too much plastic? Absolutely Only in some states We're getting better We're doing fine Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The health effects of microplastic pollution are still largely unknown, but new research frequently emerges that paints a worrying picture. Recent studies have linked the issue to health problems such as diabetes, digestive issues, and multiple cancers. What's being done about microplastics? Chambers told CNN his goal is to raise awareness for plastic recycling in an attempt to keep microplastics out of the atmosphere and water. And although reusing and recycling plastic will help (while also promoting the circular economy), so will using less of the material. Whether it's by choosing natural cleaning products or reusable shopping bags and food-storage containers, every time we choose to avoid plastic, we create fewer opportunities for plastic waste. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make concerning discoveries while studying mice guts: 'Took a turn for the worse'
Microplastics have infiltrated our bodies, including our brains and blood, and now one new study asserts that they could be wreaking havoc on our guts. The research, summarized on Science Alert, found that the smallest type of microplastics, nanoplastics, led to changes in protein production, gene activity, bacteria levels, and the microRNA coding inside cells when fed to mice. "Overall, the integrity and health of the guts of the mice took a turn for the worse," Science Alert wrote. For instance, the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus decreased while a potentially harmful one, Ruminococcaceae, increased. And two proteins that normally seal and protect the gut became less abundant. "Given the current limitations in nanoplastic detection technologies and the uncertainties associated with extrapolating animal model results to humans, continued research is critical to accurately evaluate the potential long-term health effects of nanoplastics in humans," immunologist Yueh-Hsia Luo, who wasn't involved in the study, told the site. We already know that microplastics are accumulating inside our bodies. One study, for example, found them in all 23 semen samples examined. Another piece of research discovered that we can absorb microplastics directly into our brains as we breathe. Meanwhile, this new study adds to a body of research investigating the effects of microplastic exposure. For instance, one study on pigs suggested that these tiny plastic pieces can affect the functioning of the nervous system connected to digestion. Another paper found a link between microplastics and chronic kidney disease in mice. Although we are already exposed to microplastics through our air, water, soil, and food, we can help limit the number of new ones entering the environment by reducing our plastic use. You can help by reducing your dependence on plastic. For instance, invest in a reusable water bottle and shopping bag, and bring your own to-go containers when you dine out. Meanwhile, one group of researchers has found a way to remove microplastics from farm soil using a type of processed farm waste, and scientists are also working on ways to remove them from our water. Do you worry about the quality of the air inside your home? Yes — often Yes — but only sometimes Only when it's bad outside No — I never do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
