Microplastics in water generate damaging radicals at their surface

Columbia University researchers reported in Nature that microplastics are not chemically inert: at the water interface they produce hydroxyl radicals (ROS) that damage proteins and DNA. All six tested plastics generated radicals, with polyethylene and polypropylene the most active.

• Polystyrene in water broke down nearly 90% of methyl orange dye over 10 days
• All 6 plastics (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, acrylic) generated radicals; PE and PP were most active
• Radicals caused lysozyme aggregation and fragmentation of mouse red blood cells
• The effect is confined to the plastic surface and fades within a few microns