Environment

Bag- and bottle-opening shown to produce microplastics

Simply doing this could generate microplastic particles
nito103/Depositphotos
Simply doing this could generate microplastic particles
nito103/Depositphotos

Microplastic pollution is a growing problem, as tiny fragments of plastic enter the environment from sources like aging tires, personal care products, and synthetic fabrics. A new study now suggests that even activities such as opening plastic bags may be a contributing factor.

Led by Dr. Cheng Fang, scientists at Australia's University of Newcastle recently performed lab tests in which plastic packaging for chocolates was torn open, plastic sealing tape was cut, and plastic bottle caps were twisted off. Both chemical analysis and microscopy were used to measure the size and amount of sub-5mm plastic particles that were generated in the course of these activities.

The microplastics that were found took the form of fibers, fragments and triangles, ranging in size from nanometers (billionths of a meter) to millimeters. It was estimated that during tape-cutting or cap-twisting, 10 to 30 nanograms (billionths of a gram) of microplastics may be generated per 300 cm (118 in) of plastic. The figure varies, however, based on the opening technique used, and on factors such as the thickness, stiffness and density of the plastic.

While such relatively small amounts may not seem like much on their own, they could certainly add up to being a significant source of pollution. Additionally, it's possible that the particles could prove toxic if ingested by the people performing the activities, although more research needs to be conducted on that front.

A paper on the study was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Source: Scientific Reports via EurekAlert

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5 comments
guzmanchinky
We just need to develop biodegradeable plastics, because plastics themselves are too useful and ubiquitous to ever disappear...
paul314
If those fragments were toxic in any significant way to people opening bottle, bags or wrapping, it seems likely we would have noticed, with billions of people every year performing these acts hundreds to thousands of times.
aksdad
Wondering why minuscule flakes of plastic bits is a problem. Apparently the article can't identify a reason either: "although more research needs to be conducted on that front..." What are the plastic-eating microbes going to dine on if we don't provide a little food? Be kind to your plastic-eating friends. Feed an Ideonella sakaiensis.
Eddy
Guess humanity will have to mutate to learn to live with it because plastic will not be going away any time soon.
Douglas Rogers
This is interesting but it is a vanishingly small contributor to particulate plastic. Stuff like tires, carpet cleaning and fabrication, plastic sewer pipe, and waste shredding would dwarf it.