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Contents of polyethylene microplastic in some selected personal care products in Denmark
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Researchers analyzed nine personal care products sold in Denmark and measured the concentration of polyethylene microplastic particles (larger than 40 micrometers) used as scrubbing agents. The findings, prompted by a national TV investigation, highlighted that these primary microplastics pass through wastewater treatment plants and likely accumulate in aquatic environments.
Some personal care products include primary microplastic particles as particulate material, which may not be efficiently removed in WWTPs and therefore they will probably end up in aquatic environments. Microplastics in personal care products were focus in a prime time program DR Kontant on national TV - April 30, 2013. For this program Aarhus University contributed with analyses of microplastic particles (>40 μm) in some selected products and in the field. The results for microplastic contents in the nine analysed personal care products are presented here.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.