Inside Climate News: Why Microplastics Are So Dangerous for Human Health

Microplastics are more chemically volatile than previously thought, a new study found. That could explain how they contribute to inflammation and disease. A recent study challenges the notion that plastics don't easily undergo chemical reactions when in contact with other substances. The study, published this month in the journal Nature, looked at several kinds of microplastics in a lab and found that when they came into contact with water, it essentially acted as a catalyst to create free radicals. Those are unstable molecules which in the human body are linked to inflammation and disease. Unlike larger, intact pieces of plastic, microplastics have far more surface area as compared to their volume, creating the conditions for chemical reactions to occur. More details HERE.