microplastic pollution – Aquarius-Systems

Water Hyacinths May Help Remove Microplastics From Water

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:15:16 +0000

Water hyacinth is often seen as a serious problem in lakes and rivers around the world. The fast-growing invasive plant can clog waterways, block sunlight, reduce oxygen levels, and harm native wildlife. Managing large infestations is difficult and expensive, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where the plant spreads quickly.

Now, researchers are exploring whether this problematic plant might also offer some benefits. A new study suggests that water hyacinths could help remove microplastics from freshwater. Scientists found that the plants trapped tiny plastic particles in their roots, potentially helping clean up polluted waterways.

In the experiment, researchers placed water hyacinths in tanks containing microplastics and observed how the particles clung to the plant roots. After just four days, the plants removed more than half of the microplastics from the water.

While more research is needed, this study adds to the growing interest in finding new ways to manage invasive aquatic plants and fight plastic pollution in lakes and rivers.

How Does Trash End Up in the Ocean?

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 16:56:18 +0000

Trash of all kinds exists in the ocean – clean-up crews have found cigarette butts, glass bottles and even mattresses. But the most common type of trash found in the ocean’s gyres (circular currents formed by wind patterns and the earth’s rotation) is tiny pieces of broken down plastics, known as microplastics.

Microplastics, as well as plastic products before they’re broken down into smaller bits, have a devastating impact on life in the ocean. Loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their favorite food, and microplastics and other trash can block sunlight from reaching plankton and algae, which are an integral part of the marine food web.

The New Plastic Threat to Marine Life

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:01:11 +0000

Microplastics are merging with bacteria and turning into large clumps in sea water, scientists have discovered.

Glue-like molecules emitted by bacteria – called biopolymers – join with the plastic particles to form large masses.

Scientists have warned that these ‘complex’ masses pose a threat to marine wildlife as they can easily mistake them for food.

They also warn that this clumping could divert the flow of food from the surface to the seafloor, potentially causing deep sea creatures to starve.

Microplastics in the Great Lakes: 1,941 Particles Per Pound of Sediment

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 21:32:42 +0000

From the Great Pacific garbage patch to inland rivers, plastics are among the most widespread contaminants on Earth. Microplastics—particles of plastic smaller than five millimeters—are especially pervasive. As they build up in Earth’s waters, microplastics are also becoming a permanent part of the planet’s sedimentary layers.

Now, using the Great Lakes as a laboratory, sedimentary petrologist Patricia Corcoran and her students at the University of Western Ontario are studying the behavior of microplastics as a geologic phenomenon.

Read More https://scitechdaily.com/microplastics-in-the-great-lakes-1941-particles-per-pound-of-sediment/