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 Zucker, of the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences of Tel Aviv University, conducted the study with Andrey Eitan Rubin, a Ph.D. student.
The journal published the study recently. Chemosphere.
Microplastic refers to plastic materials with microscopic fibers and particles that are a few millimeters in size. Microplastics are found in wells, soils, food products and even glaciers at North Pole. 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 explains that even very low levels of environmental pollutant, which are safe for humans, can adsorb to microplastics and cause significant toxicity increases. 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, a doctoral student, adds that “for the first time we present a complete life cycle’ for microplastics: from their release into the environment through their adsorption by environmental pollutants and their combined toxicity to humans. The amount of waste that is dumped into the ocean each year is huge. The best-known example is the Pacific Ocean plastic island, which is 80 times larger than Israel. This isn’t a trivial problem. Our preliminary monitoring data has shown 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 concludes that “We have found that an oxidized microplastic particles (the microplastic’s configuration after environmental weathering) has a significantly higher adsorption capability than a nonoxidized particle. The pre-loaded particles can be absorbed by the microplastic and may then reach the digestive system through ingestion of contaminated foods or water. This could lead to the release of toxins within the cells of the stomach, 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 more awareness of the problem, the preventive actions in the field are still far from making a significant impact.
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