Tootfinder

The black shit covering the snow? That's from #cars. But importantly, it's not just exhaust soot - it's also pieces of tire (as they wear down). Eg, #microplastics that will end up in the ocean and in our drinking water.

"Oceans struggle to absorb Earth's carbon dioxide as microplastics invade their waters"
#Oceans #Microplastics #Plastic

Oceans struggle to absorb Earth's carbon dioxide as microplastics invade their waters
A new study reveals that microplastics are impairing the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a process scientists find crucial for regulating Earth's temperature.

Every few years, the tires on your car wear thin and need to be replaced.
But where does that lost tire material go?
The answer, unfortunately, is often waterways,
where the tiny microplastic particles from the tires’ synthetic rubber carry several chemicals that can transfer into fish, crabs and perhaps even the people who eat them.
Millions of metric tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans every year.
In recent times, tire wear particles have been found t…

One of the biggest microplastic pollution sources revealed – and it’s not straws or bags
Tire wear particles have been found to account for about 45 per cent of all microplastics in both terrestrial and aquatic systems

Some bottled water is worse than tap for microplastics, study shows #environment

Some bottled water is worse than tap for microplastics, study shows
Some brands of bottled water contain significantly higher levels of microplastics than tap water, according to new research by scientists who have developed a novel method for detecting these tiny particles.

"Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater
Wastewater from washing machines is considered a major source of microplastics—tiny plastic particles that are suspected of harming human and animal health. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now developed a filter to curb this problem. Their invention was inspired by the gill arch system in fish.

🧋 Microbubbles can release microplastics into our water
#plastics

Microbubbles can release microplastics into our water
Microbubbles in the tap water you just poured into a plastic glass are strong enough to create tiny abrasions on the inner layer of the plastic—quietly adding to our growing microplastic problem.

Microplastics found in a third of surveyed fish off the coasts of remote Pacific Islands https://phys.org/news/2026-01-microplastics-surveyed-fish-coasts-remote.html

Microplastics found in a third of surveyed fish off the coasts of remote Pacific Islands
A third of fish living in the remote coastal waters of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories are contaminated with microplastics, with especially high rates in Fiji, according to an analysis published in PLOS One by Jasha Dehm at the University of the South Pacific and colleagues.

"Another threat to reefs: Microplastic chemicals may harm coral reproduction"
#CoralReef #Microplastics #Plastic

Another threat to reefs: Microplastic chemicals may harm coral reproduction
As the sliver of a new moon shines over Kāneʻohe Bay, Oʻahu, millions of tiny orbs ascend from a reef and swirl in the water column. These spheres are bundles of coral eggs and sperm responding to lunar cycles and chemical cues in the water that tell them when to fertilize and where to settle […]

💔 Biodegradable electronics can break down into harmful microplastics
#electronics

Biodegradable electronics can break down into harmful microplastics
Northeastern University researchers have discovered that materials used in the development of transient electronics—devices designed to biodegrade at the end of their life—can break down into microplastics, casting doubt on the true dissolvability of these devices over time.

Worth noting - and a cautionary tale (for me, at least) about relying on press reports about complex problems.
‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/20

Worth noting - and a cautionary tale (for me, at least) about relying on press reports about complex problems.
‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/20

Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach #environment

Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied how polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) applied to fields ends up on beaches and in the sea. They studied PCF deposits on beaches around Japan, finding that only 0.2% of used PCFs are washed into rivers and returned to the coastline. When there are canals connecting fields to the sea, this rises to 28%.

"Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Scientists trace microplastics in fertilizer from fields to the beach
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have studied how polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) applied to fields ends up on beaches and in the sea. They studied PCF deposits on beaches around Japan, finding that only 0.2% of used PCFs are washed into rivers and returned to the coastline. When there are canals connecting fields to the sea, this rises to 28%.

Typhoons vacuum microplastics from ocean and deposit them on land, study finds #environment

Typhoons vacuum microplastics from ocean and deposit them on land, study finds
Tropical storms such as typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones are Earth's most powerful weather systems. Born over warm oceans, they travel thousands of kilometers to land, traversing waters now polluted with plastics, from coastal runoff to the vast oceanic garbage patches.

"Microplastics found in rural woodland at higher levels than in city centers"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Microplastics found in rural woodland at higher levels than in city centers
Air-polluting microplastics have been found in rural environments in greater quantities than in urban locations, researchers say. Scientists led by the University of Leeds detected up to 500 microscopic particles of plastic per square meter per day in an area of woodland during the three-month study—almost twice as much as in a sample collected in a city center. The findings are published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

"Cutting-Edge Plant-Based Plastic Bag Dissolves In Seawater Leaving No Microplastics"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics

Cutting-Edge Plant-Based Plastic Bag Dissolves In Seawater Leaving No Microplastics
A team of researchers has demonstrated a cutting-edge plant-based plastic bag that can dissolve in water without producing microplastics

🫗 The perfect polymer? Plant-based plastic is fully saltwater degradable and leaves behind zero microplastics
https://phys.org/news/2025-12-polymer-based-plastic-fully-saltwater.html

The perfect polymer? Plant-based plastic is fully saltwater degradable and leaves behind zero microplastics
Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem.

"Surprising number of foods contain microplastics. Here’s how to reduce the amount you consume"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Surprising number of foods contain microplastics. Here’s how to reduce the amount you consume
Microwaving food in glass containers is a good idea to prevent microplastics leaching into your food.

Everyday microplastics could be fueling heart disease #health

Everyday microplastics could be fueling heart disease
Microplastics—tiny particles now found in food, water, air, and even human tissues—may directly accelerate artery-clogging disease, and new research shows the danger may be far greater for males. In mice, environmentally realistic doses of microplastics dramatically worsened plaque buildup, altered key vascular cells, and activated harmful genes linked to inflammation and atherosclerosis, all without changes to weight or cholesterol.

"One-Third of Pacific Island Fish Contaminated With Microplastics"
#Microplastics #Plastic #Plastics #Fish

One-Third of Pacific Island Fish Contaminated With Microplastics - Inside Climate News
From the coral-covered coastlines of Tonga to the remote sandy atolls of Tuvalu, microscopic synthetic fibers are infiltrating the region’s species and food systems. One-third of fish living in Pacific island waters—like Fiji’s thumbprint emperor or Vanuatu’s dash-and-dot goatfish—are contaminated with microplastics, according to data published Wednesday by researchers at the University of the South […]

"Tiny Fiddler crabs are hoovering up and breaking down microplastics, study finds"
#Crabs #Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Fiddler crabs are hoovering up and breaking down microplastics - study
Despite being the size of a Post-It note, these tiny fiddler crabs can ingest and break down microplastic particles, researchers say.

"Crickets munch on microplastics—especially if they have a big mouth"
#Crickets #Animals #Plastic #Microplastics

Crickets munch on microplastics—especially if they have a big mouth
To a human, microplastics are very small at less than 5 millimeters (mm) wide. But to an insect, microplastics might be the same size as the food they usually eat. Researchers reporting in the journal Environmental Science & Technology have shown that crickets can and will consume polyethylene microplastics if their mouth is larger than the plastic particle. The study suggests that crickets—and likely many other insects—cannot distinguish plastic from food.

"Success! EU Microplastic Ban Regulation Drives Innovation in Biodegradable Alternatives"
#EU #EuropeanUnion #Plastic

Success! EU Microplastic Ban Regulation Drives Innovation in Biodegradable Alternatives | Happy Eco News
EU microplastic ban regulations introduced through REACH in 2023 are transforming how industries use plastics. The comprehensive rules phase out microplastics from cosmetics, detergents, and agricultural products by 2035, pushing companies to develop biodegradable alternatives. Major corporations and startups are responding with innovative solutions that break down naturally while maintaining performance.

"Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals"
#Plastic #Plastics #Microplastics

Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals
It's 7:45am. You grab a takeout coffee from your local café, wrap your hands around the warm cup, take a sip, and head to the office.