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Microplastics

This page provides educational resources, events, news and products related to microplastics. Content will cover aspects from microplastic detection techniques and remediation, to the issues they cause for the environment and health.

Microplastics – Highlights

The Evolving Problem of Microplastics in a PPE Era content piece image

Industry Insight

The Evolving Problem of Microplastics in a PPE Era

Microplastics are now ubiquitous in our lives and environment. To compound the problem, the advent of COVID-19 has seen uptake of single-use plastics in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) skyrocket. We spoke to Kathleen A. Young about how the microplastics issue has evolved in light of COVID-19, particularly around PPE waste and what gains are being made in the areas of testing and analysis standards.

Microplastic Detection

Once heralded as a wonder material, plastics have become a problem issue for society, in particular microplastics. Download this infographic to learn what microplastics are and where they come from, what harm they do and how we can detect them.

Unraveling the Macro Problem of Microplastics

In honor of Earth Day 2020, we have created this list which shares some techniques to identify microplastics in the environment.

Microplastic Detection

This article highlights the adverse impact of microplastics (MPs) on our environment, detection methods for MPs and the challenges in the detection of MPs.

An Expert Insight Into the Issue of Microplastics

We spoke to Dr Andrew Mayes Senior Lecturer at the University of East Anglia, about the growing problem of microplastics, their source, impact and what can be done in the future.

Microplastics – News and Features

Nanoplastics Create an Environment for Parkinson’s To Develop, Study Suggests

The way in which nanoplastics and a specific brain protein, α-synuclein, interact could create changes in the body that give rise to Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other related dementias, a new study suggests.

Most Animals Living in River Mouths Have Ingested Microplastics

All aquatic species in the river mouths flowing into the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are contaminated with microplastics, with molluscs being the most affected due to their ability to filter water.

Microplastics Found in Clouds Could Be Affecting the Weather

Researchers have analyzed microplastics in clouds above mountains. They suggest that these tiny particles could play a role in cloud formation and, in turn, affect weather.

Zooplankton Can Chew Microplastics Down to Nanoplastics

Rotifers, a kind of microscopic zooplankton common in both fresh and ocean water around the world, are able to chew apart microplastics, breaking them down into nanoplastics.

Plastic-Eating Bacteria Turn Waste Into Useful Materials

Researchers have engineered a strain of E. coli that can digest polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics and transform them into adipic acid – a useful feedstock for nylon materials, drugs and fragrances.

Microplastics’ Shape Determines How Far They Travel in the Atmosphere

Researchers have developed a model to simulate the atmospheric transport of microplastic fibers and found that their shape plays a crucial role in how far they travel.

Microplastics – Multimedia

Illustration of a hand holding a sperm cell.

The Essential Ingredients of Semen

Underwater shot of microplastics surrounding fish.

Microplastics: How Do They Spread?

The Microplastic Emergency With Professor Éva Valsami-Jones content piece image

The Microplastic Emergency With Professor Éva Valsami-Jones

Microplastics – Webinars and Online Events

From Powders to Paint Chips: Modern Microspectroscopy Draws Big Information From Tiny Samples content piece image

From Powders to Paint Chips: Modern Microspectroscopy Draws Big Information From Tiny Samples

Related Products

Thermo Fisher Scientific Introduces Invitrogen DynaGreen Magnetic Beads

Agilent Announces Enhanced 8700 LDIR Chemical Imaging System for Microplastics Analysis

App Note / Case Study

Single Particle ICP-MS for Microplastic Detection

App Note / Case Study

Advances in Food Testing and Environmental Analysis

Identification of Microplastics by FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy

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