Faculty of Science and Engineering

♻️Micropolastic: A threat to health and the environment♻️

In a first-of-its-kind study, a group of scientists at the EcoLab in the School of Agricultural and Life Sciences in Toulouse have recorded the daily rate of microplastic particles falling from the sky in the Pyrenees Mountains.

The study found that more than 50 percent of the microplastics found at the station were fragments less than ⚠️25 microns in size⚠️; size at which it can enter the human body through the nose or mouth.

Although there is no study that evaluates the health risk of microplastic particles it is known that they tend to be sticky and can accumulate heavy metals like mercury and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), ⚠️which are known to have health impacts⚠️

Even less is known about ❗️nanoparticles❗️, which are harder to detect. They can have markedly different chemical and physical properties than the same materials at micro or larger sizes. For instance, they tend to be more chemically reactive.

Lab studies have shown adverse impacts of nanoplastics on aquatic organisms, affecting their endocrine function and behaviour. It has also been shown that ⚠️nanoplastics cross cell walls in samples of human intestines⚠️

For sure something to be discussed during the Ecology course.

To read more: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/microplastics-pollution-falls-from-air-even-mountains/