Microplastics shown to generate free radicals and bind copper, raising health and ecological risks

A new Nature study finds that microplastics produce free radicals when they contact water, a process linked to inflammation and disease in humans. Earlier research from Baylor University demonstrated that both aged and fresh polyethylene, PET and polypropylene microplastics absorb copper from water and soil, increasing toxicity to fish and amphibians. The studies also highlight wastewater treatment plants as major pathways for microplastics entering natural waters.