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What happens to microplastics in nature
Summary
Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in the liver, kidney, and gills of wild freshwater turtles from a heavily polluted river, finding particles predominantly in liver tissue. Polymer types included polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon, consistent with the range of plastics found in the surrounding aquatic environment, and liver histopathology showed signs of chronic inflammation.
This work was focused on preparation of microplastic particles which correspond to microplastics in the environment. The five most used plastics (polyethylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene glycol terephthalate, and polystyrene) were used for preparation. Microplastics were prepared by grinding common used plastics to match the actual microplastics present in the environment as closely as possible. The shape and size of the prepared particles were obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Raman and infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the microplastic structures. Simultaneously, methodology to determine the amount of microplastic particles in simulated water samples was developed.