How to Reduce Plastic Pollution in the Environment

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Microplastics and nano plastics in the environment are too low to affect human health, researchers think. But their numbers will increase if they aren't dealt with now. Leneran colleagues prepared fluorescent nano sized plastic particles under tissue built from human intestinal lining cells. The cells did absorb the particles but did not show signs of sito toxicity.

Scientists are trying to figure out whether these pervasive plastic specks are dangerous.

Wherever they look – from the bottom of oceans to the top of mountains – researchers are uncovering tiny specks of plastic, known as microplastics.

Scientists are trying to understand the potential impacts of ingesting these pervasive plastics but early results are ambiguous, as some experiments might not reflect the diversity of microplastics that exist in the real world.

This is an audio version of our feature: Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful?

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