Nanonplstics not just in seafood, new study finds small plastic particles penetrate crops

  Your laundry is shedding more than just lint. Washing machine wastewater is one of the top sources of microplastics, with a single unit in a four-person household producing up to 500 grams a year as synthetic fabrics break down. Those pesky particles — smaller than a grain of rice — make their way into everything from makeup and cleaning products to the food on our plates , eventually winding up in our bodies and posing potential health risks. Now, German scientists have   developed a filter   that traps nearly all the microplastics escaping our spin cycles, and it takes inspiration from a surprising source: fish. “We took a closer look at the construction of this system and used it as the model for developing a filter that can be used in washing machines,” Dr. Alexander Blanke , one of the lead researchers, said in a press release . These fish have a gill-arch system shaped like a funnel — wide at the mouth and tapering toward the throat. It has comb-like structures ...

  When tossing a load of laundry into the washer, the last thing on your mind is likely the amount of plastic washing out of your clothes or detergent. Yet, our clothing and the way we do laundry contribute to plastic pollution. For one, synthetic textiles, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, shed microfibers during washing , which function as microplastics once they reach waterways. Ariana Aspuru explains in the Wall Street Journal Bold Names podcast in an episode titled “From Laundry to the Ocean” that these fibers are so small, “we’re talking about nanometers … a million times smaller than a millimeter,” making them impossible to see with the naked eye. “Around 60% of our clothes have some kind of synthetic material like polyester or nylon,” she adds, meaning most wardrobes shed plastic every wash cycle. Those particles being shed off during every wash cycle have to go somewhere. “In the ocean, microplastics coming from laundry make up almost 35% of primary microplastics,” A...

  The household cleaning market is in the middle of a major shift. Consumers want products that work well, cost less, and create less waste.  At the same time, brands are under pressure to rethink the materials they use; not just for formulas, but for the packaging those formulas come in. It’s a tall order for brands. And one product line that feels this shift the most acutely is dishwasher pods.  For years, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film has been the go-to material for pod packaging. It dissolves in water, protects ingredients, and makes dosing simple. But with growing questions around how PVA behaves in real-world wastewater conditions, brands are now exploring options that support plastic free dishwasher pods , stronger sustainability stories, and safer product experiences. Consumers are ready for this shift too. According to PwC’s 2024 survey , 80% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainably produced or sourced goods. With the shift in consumer prefere...

  These little pieces of plastic are everywhere — in the air, in your drinking water, in the ocean, in streams and lakes, in the soil, in all kinds of animal and plant-based proteins including chicken, beef, seafo od, tofu, and more, in beer, in bottled water, in table salt, in your dryer’s lint filter, in sea birds’ stomachs, and in the human heart, lungs, kidneys, placenta, blood, and more. Unfortunately, a growing body of research indicates that these teeny particles may pose a big risk to your health. If you’re concerned about your microplastic exposure, here are some immediate steps you can take to reduce microplastics in your everyday life: Get rid of plastic cutting boards; use a 100% wooden or bamboo cutting board, instead. Do not store food in plastic containers or use plastic cling wrap; switch to glass, metal, or ceramic food storage containers. Beeswax wrap and aluminum foil are both good alternatives to plastic cling wrap. Stop microwaving your food in plastic; instead...