Floating microplastic is broken down into ever smaller, invisible nano plastic particles that spread throughout the entire water column, as well as compounds that bacteria can then completely degrade.
Cardiff University researchers calculated that between 31,000 and 42,000 tons of microplastic particles (or 86-710 trillion microplastic particles) are introduced to European soils each year, reflecting the quantity of microplastics detected in ocean surface waters
Earthworms prefer soil with particular types of microplastics, according to a new study published in the American Chemical Society's journal Environmental Science & Technology, although they metabolize the polymers differently, the team believes might have an influence on the animals' health and the ecosystem
A novel technique can simultaneously break down the most commonly used form of plastic and synthesize valuable, widely used molecules, potentially making some plastic waste recycling more attractive and practical, a new study finds.