Microbubbles may spread microplastics through water, study finds

A study published in Science Advances reports that microbubbles forming on plastic surfaces in rivers and oceans can break off tiny plastic particles into surrounding water, and the article cites an estimate that about 130 million metric tons of plastic waste enter human bodies and the environment each year.

Scientists report new evidence about how tiny plastic particles can move through water and reach ecosystems and people. The study, published in Science Advances, examined how contact with water affects plastics already known to degrade from sunlight and physical weathering. Researchers observed that microbubbles can form on plastic surfaces in both marine and river settings. The work is framed as prompting further research into how plastic particles are released. Key findings: - The study reports that microbubbles can form on the surface of plastic in rivers and oceans. - Those bubbles can break the plastic and release very small microplastic and nanoplastic particles into surrounding water. - The article notes prior understanding that sunlight and mechanical weathering degrade plastics, and adds that water contact may also contribute to release of tiny particles. - The study's senior author, John Boland of Trinity College Dublin, described plastic degradation as an invisible threat to the environment and human health. Summary: The research suggests a previously underappreciated role for microbubbles in breaking down plastics and releasing micro- and nanoplastics into water. The authors say the results could inspire further research on how to understand and manage the release of these particles.