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Are our rock-climbing shoes shedding plastics?
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Environmental scientist Anya Sherman's research highlighted that rock-climbing shoe rubber sheds microplastic particles that can be taken up by crops and people, adding athletic footwear to the growing list of overlooked everyday microplastic sources. The finding broadens awareness that virtually any rubber or synthetic product subject to mechanical wear contributes to environmental microplastic loads that ultimately enter the human food supply.
Environmental scientist Anya Sherman studies how microplastics can be taken up by crops and people. Environmental scientist Anya Sherman studies how microplastics can be taken up by crops and people.
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Microplastics are everywhere — but are they harmful?
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Microplastics are now found in marine animals and the human body, prompting scientists to urgently investigate their potential health effects. While ubiquity is established, the extent of harm to human health remains an open and actively researched question with significant public health implications.
Are microplastics bad for your health? More rigorous science is needed
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Researchers and science journalists assess the state of evidence on microplastic health risks, noting that tiny plastic particles have been detected even in the human brain, but cautioning that the quality of scientific findings varies widely and that more rigorous research is needed before firm health conclusions can be drawn.
Reaching New Heights in Plastic Pollution—Preliminary Findings of Microplastics on Mount Everest
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers (microplastics) in snow and stream water near the top of Mount Everest, yes, even in one of the most remote places on Earth. This matters because it shows plastic pollution has spread virtually everywhere, including into water sources that eventually flow down to communities living below, raising concerns about how much of this plastic we're unknowingly breathing, drinking, and eating.
Have environmental microplastics levels been overestimated?
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Emerging research suggests that existing measurements of environmental microplastic levels may be inflated due to inconsistent and non-standardized measurement methods across studies. Harmonizing detection and quantification protocols is essential before reliable conclusions can be drawn about true human exposure levels and the actual health risks posed by microplastic pollution.
Getting a grip on microplastics’ risks
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Researchers and policy experts assessed the current state of microplastic risk evaluation, examining how scientific uncertainty and regulatory gaps complicate efforts to establish safe exposure thresholds and meaningful environmental standards for these pervasive contaminants.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.