Microplastics in water aren't inert and make damaging chemicals on their own

A Nature study finds common microplastics in water can generate damaging reactive oxygen radicals.

A Nature study led by Columbia University chemist Wei Min reports that microplastics in water can generate reactive oxygen species, including hydroxyl radicals, rather than remaining chemically inert. Six common plastics were tested, and the most water-repellent materials produced the most radicals. Those radicals clumped a test protein and fragmented mouse red blood cells in proportion to radical output. The authors say impurities cannot be fully excluded and do not claim this proves microplastics cause human disease.