Microplastics in water aren’t inert and make damaging chemicals on their own

Microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic often found in drinking water, have long been considered chemically inert. This assumption, however, may not be accurate, according to new research from Columbia University. A team led by chemist Wei Min found that microplastics are capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microdroplets.

ROS are harmful molecules containing oxygen that can damage proteins, lipids, and DNA. This means that microplastics may not be as harmless as previously believed. "ROS will essentially bump into proteins, lipids, DNA, and cause damage," Min explained. This could potentially lead to DNA strand breaks, mutations, or misfolded proteins.

The study, published in Nature, highlights the need to reconsider the inert nature of microplastics and their potential impact on human health.