Microplastics can increase the toxicity and toxicity of organic pollutants by 10

A new study from Tel Aviv University found that microplastics in marine environments can absorb and concentrate toxic substances, increasing their toxicity by 10 to 1 which could have a serious impact on human health. Dr. Ines Zierloft of the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Tel Aviv University conducted the study with Andrey Eitan Rubin, a Ph.D. student.

The study was published in the journal recently. Chemosphere.

Microplastic is a generic term for plastic materials made up of microscopic fibers and microparticles that have a size range of a few millimeters to tens or hundreds of microns. Microplastics can be found in almost everything: wells, soil, food products, water bottles, and even the North Pole glaciers. The researchers explained that plastic is not natural material. It decomposes slowly in nature, sometimes lasting for thousands of year. As a result, the same microplastics are created. The microplastic particles may encounter environmental pollutants as they attach to their surfaces. This can pose a risk to the environment and humans.

The researchers studied the entire microplastic manufacturing process, from its interactions with environmental pollutants to the release and creation of increased toxicities. Researchers discovered that the microplastics’ adsorption of organic pollutants increases toxicity by a factor 10 and can have severe effects on people who are exposed.

Dr. Zucker explained that “even very low concentrations environmental pollutants, which are not toxic to people, once they adsorb on to the microplastic resulted in significant increase in toxicity.” This is because microplastics act as a magnet for environmental pollutants, concentrating them on their surfaces and releasing them in concentrated forms in certain areas.

Ph. Andrey Eitan Rubin is a Ph.D. student. He adds, “for the first-time we are presenting an entire ‘lifecycle of microplastics’: from their release into nature, through their adsorption of environmental contaminants and up to their combined toxicity in humans. The oceans are awash with waste every year. The most well-known example is the 80-foot plastic island in the Pacific Ocean. It is 80 times larger than Israel. This is not a distant problem. Our preliminary monitoring data shows that Israel’s shores have the highest levels of microplastic waste. Each microplastic particle found in these areas is highly susceptible to harm because they provide a stable and effective platform for any pollutant they may encounter on the way to the human body.

Dr. Zucker says that they have “found that the adsorption ability of an oxidized micrplastic particle (the structure of the microplastic after it has been exposed to environmental weathering is significantly higher than that of a non-oxidized particles. The pre-loaded particles can be absorbed by the microplastic and then absorbed by the environment. This may lead to the particle reaching the digestive system through ingestion of contaminated foods or water. It will then release the toxins into the body, increasing their toxicity. This is yet another reminder of the terrible consequences of polluting the terrestrial and marine environment with hazardous industrial refuse, which has unfortunately become saturated with plastic in recent years. These dangers are more real than ever and are not only theoretical. Although there is a lot of awareness about this problem, preventive measures in this field are still far from making a significant impact.