Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

The microplastics react with water

The mechanism by which microplastics induce the formation of reactive oxygen species in aqueous media is clarified, and this mechanism may be one of the causes of tissue damage by these particles.

A study concluded that microplastics react with water when contacted. When plastics are fragmented, the surface in contact with water increases, and these plastic fragments can chemically transform water. Electron transfer occurs between the plastic and water, which can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species. These reactive species occur naturally in living organisms as by-products of metabolism, but if accumulated in large quantities they can cause tissue damage.

“Microplastics can react with water in many places, including water bottles, various food containers, even living bodies.”

The researchers have clarified that this process occurs under normal environmental conditions, that is, the reaction does not require the presence of agents that degrade the plastic, such as sunlight. This conclusion is particularly important because water is everywhere, including microplastics. Thus, microplastics can react with water in many places, including inside water bottles, inside various food containers, as well as in living bodies.

In addition, the results have shown that the more hydrophobic the plastic is, the easier the electron transfer occurs. In particular, polyethylene and polypropylene have been the polymers that have shown the greatest ability to react with water. These plastics are very hydrophobic, so they are used, among other uses, in food packaging.

Previous studies have shown that microplastics can cause tissue damage in living beings, and the authors have indicated that reactive oxygen species can cause such damage