{"id":11099,"date":"2021-04-28T11:31:18","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T10:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=11099"},"modified":"2021-04-28T11:31:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T10:31:18","slug":"how-nanoscale-plastic-particles-move-through-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/how-nanoscale-plastic-particles-move-through-environment\/11099\/","title":{"rendered":"How nanoscale plastic particles move through the environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
The team found that a silica surface \u2013 like sand \u2013 has very little impact on decelerating the movement of plastics, while natural organic matter from decomposition of plant or animal remains are able to trap certain types of nanoscale plastic particles.<\/p>\n
The research, published in Water Research<\/em>, may be able to assist researchers in developing better methods of filtering out and cleaning up nanoscale plastic particles from the environment.<\/p>\n “We’re looking at developing a filter that can be more efficient at removing these plastics,” commented Indranil Chowdhury, assistant professor in WSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering<\/a>. “People have seen these plastics escaping into our drinking water, and our current drinking water system is not adequate enough to remove these micro and nanoscale plastics. This work is the first fundamental way to look at those mechanisms.”<\/p>\n Plastics have a wide range of useful applications and been ubiquitous in society for decades; they are cheap, water resistant and easy to produce. However, plastic pollution is a growing concern around the world.<\/p>\n “Plastics are a great invention and so easy to use, but they are so persistent in the environment,” Chowdhury commented.<\/p>\n After being used and discarded, plastics decompose through chemical, mechanical, and biological processes to micro- and then nano-sized particles less than 100 nanometres in size. In spite of attempts to eliminate them from wastewater treatment plants, huge quantities of micro and nanoscale plastics still make their way into the environment.<\/p>\n Research indicates that over 90% of tap water in the US contains nanoscale plastic particles, Chowdhury explained, and a study conducted in 2019 revealed that people eat about five grams of plastic a week.<\/p>\n