Study finds plastics in water generate highly reactive radicals

Research published in Nature shows common plastics exposed to water generate highly reactive hydroxyl radicals via an electrostatic effect. Polystyrene microplastics caused fatal damage to mouse red blood cells. The findings suggest at least three ways micro- and nanoplastics can harm organisms.

• Hydroxyl radicals HO• form at the plastic-water interface
• Effect is stronger for more hydrophobic microplastic types
• Polystyrene particles fatally damaged mouse red blood cells
• The study was published in Nature