Epoch Biodesign’s Post

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 I am thrilled to announce that our latest research paper on the occurrence of microplastics in humans and food was published! 🌍🔬 📄 Title: Mapping Microplastics in Humans: Analysis of Polymer Types, and Shapes in Food and Drinking Water—A Systematic Review Through a systematic literature analysis, we've identified that the most common microplastics found in humans are: 🔹 Polyester 🔹 Polyamide 🔹 Polyurethane Interestingly, we observed that the predominant shape of microplastics found in humans is fibres, which is particularly concerning as it suggests a significant level of contamination from the textile industry. These findings highlight the urgent need for further research and action to mitigate the impact of microplastics on human health. I am grateful for the support and guidance of my co-author and mentor Prof Marina Resmini and looking forward to continue research in this crucial area. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eWxAAFDu #Microplastics #Nanoplastics #EnvironmentalHealth #HumanHealth #PlasticPollution #Sustainability #FoodContamination #ToxicityOfNanoparticles

Congratulations to Team Veridis on their recently published article, “Thermal analysis for the detection of plastic contaminants,” published last week in the Wiley Analytical Science magazine. #proud 🙌 Veridis has developed MADSCAN analysis technology, which accurately distinguishes between different polymer fractions in high-volume and complex plastic batches with 99% accuracy. What does this mean? Knowing the quality, composition and degradation of #recycled plastics is crucial for a #circulareconomy. Veridis’ technology gives plastic recyclers a unique material “fingerprint” of their polymers that’s representative of larger batches of materials. This gives recyclers an accurate assessment of their batches, which increases the commercial value up to 25%. Low-value plastic waste streams become high-value plastic streams. ♻ This article details their validation project as Veridis sets a new standard for recycling quality. Read the article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqPHJYE5 Get in touch with our team members Marie-José Wolters or Mathijs Kuil to discuss the opportunity to partner on a project or receive additional information. #plasticrecycling #thermalanalysis #circularity #deeptech #venturebuilding Nigel Floris Jeroen Pia Jan-Hendrik Fraunhofer LBF Techleapnl Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) John Earl Polymer Science Park High Tech Campus Eindhoven

We've heard that microbes🦠 are present almost everywhere, from the bottom of the ocean to the inside of our intestines. Seems like they have a new competitor: PLASTIC!🏓 A new study by scientists at Columbia University has finally unveiled the amount of nanoplastic in bottled water. According to the study, an average 1L bottle contains🔎 some 240,000 plastic fragments, which is 10-100 times the previous estimates. It's indeed scary to know that even unscrewing the cap of a bottle, can release several plastic particles into the fluid. The study🔬 used a newly refined technology called Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy, which was co-invented by the study co-author himself. Nanoplastics pose a great threat to human health, as they can pass through the bloodstream 🩸and invade cells, and eventually cause diseases like cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions🧠. It can also pass through the placenta and reach the unborn babies. Although it's very hard for us to avoid these nano plastic exposures, experts suggest some of the basic things that we can do: # Don't microwave food in plastics❌ # Use glass/ stainless steel refillable water bottles🍶. # Use tap water🚰. So next time, be reminded about this before quenching your thirst!🗣️

It can be a challenge to identify what is real news versus what is hype, but this trending story is tied to a new study that is opening many people’s eyes to the harm that nanoparticles of plastic can have on the body. “According to a new study, bottled water contains hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic nanoparticles. With the health effects of ingested plastics remaining unclear but worrying, the study suggests a far larger problem than previously understood. Similarly, a second new report finds far greater microplastic levels than expected in nearly every food tested.” Learn more in this article from Medical News Today: https://lnkd.in/gtaEUH-R

Breaking News: Shocking Levels of Nanoplastic Found in Bottled Water! A recent groundbreaking study has unveiled a startling revelation: bottled water contains an astonishing number of tiny plastic nanoparticles, measuring less than a thousandth of the width of a human hair. These minuscule particles, measured in billionths of a meter, were detected using an innovative nanoplastic detection method, marking a significant leap in our understanding of the plastics crisis. The study, employing hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, identified between 110,000 and 370,000 nanoparticles, predominantly nanoplastics, in three popular bottled water brands. This discovery raises grave concerns about the potential health impacts of ingesting these microscopic plastic particles. This news follows closely on the heels of a separate report by Consumer Reports’ lab, which found elevated microplastic levels in 84 out of 85 tested foods, indicating a pervasive infiltration of plastics into the human food chain. While the health effects of #nanoplastics remain complex and unclear, this study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action to address the plastic crisis. DO NOT let this type of news get buried. Join the call for a robust #GlobalPlasticsTreaty to safeguard our health and the environment. Take action now: https://lnkd.in/eyePEmRj Article link: https://lnkd.in/edgHr9ju #PlanetvsPlastics #EndPlastic #EarthDay

Systems for Research would like to highlight Nathalie Tufenkji, professor of Chemical Engineering at McGill University on her recent contribution to the article titled " The Nanoplastics Puzzle" by Nina Notman. For many that didn't know, nanoplastics were first catapulted into the public consciousness by press coverage of the 2019 paper by Nathalie Tufenkji, that described their release in high numbers from plastic teabags into our cups. This recent paper focuses on the need to stop being reliant on single-use plastic and design (the plastic that we do need to use) with its end of use in consideration. To read the full paper, please visit: https://lnkd.in/dyaXjt-b To read more about SFR, please visit: https://sfr.ca/

A person drinks a bottle of water in the shade during a July 2023 heat wave in Phoenix, Ariz. Scientists analyzed bottled water from three different brands in the U.S. and found an average of 240,000 plastic particles per litre. The average litre of bottled water has nearly a quarter million pieces of ever-so-tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers. Scientists long figured there were lots of these microscopic plastic pieces, but until researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities did their calculations they never knew how many or what kind. Looking at five samples each of three common bottled water brands, researchers found particle levels ranged from 110,000 to 400,000 per litre, averaging at around 240,000, according to a study in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The average litre of bottled water has nearly a quarter million pieces of ever-so-tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers. #water #microplastics #science #research #nanoplastics #health https://lnkd.in/gDvX7mYE

The Introduction and research development of Plasticus

❓ Nanoplastics - Where do they come from?  Where do they go? What impact they have on the environment and human health?   💡 Imagine this: two decades back, Richard Thompson from the University of Plymouth coined the term 'microplastics' in a groundbreaking paper featured in Science magazine. Fast forward to today, the research field has flourished, and public awareness has soared, leading to pivotal bans on plastic microbeads in the UK, EU, and US. ➡ As scientists gained confidence in identifying and understanding visible microplastics, attention has shifted to nanoplastics….. 📑 Check out the article from Nina Notman in Chemistry World which discusses the analytical advances in chemistry to identify nanoplastics and the work going on by scientists to better understand the source and lifecycle of them. https://lnkd.in/dyaXjt-b   #nanoplastics #chemistry #innovation

UC Irvine researchers reveal a startling discovery in bottled water - an average of 240,000 nanoplastic particles per liter! 🧫 This groundbreaking study, utilizing advanced Stimulated Raman spectroscopy (SRS) microscopy, marks a significant leap in our understanding of nanoplastic pollution. The findings include: 1️⃣ Alarming levels of nanoplastics (240,000 pieces)  in bottled water.  2️⃣ Identification of seven different plastic polymers, including PET and PS. 3️⃣ A staggering 90% of these particles are nanoplastics.  4️⃣ Insights into the potential health implications, from toxicity to neurological impact.  5️⃣ Methodological advancements in environmental nanoplastics research.  6️⃣ Concerns about nanoplastics crossing critical barriers like the brain-blood barrier. The implications of this study are far-reaching, highlighting the urgent need for more research and better policies to protect our health. 🌍 It's time to reconsider our choices – let's #refillit with filtered tap water for a safer, plastic-free future. 💧 Stay informed and join the conversation on the impact of nanoplastic pollution. Learn more from PATH. https://lnkd.in/dGUYKr4b #environmentalcontent #plasticpollution #nanoplastics #contentmarketing #environmentalliteracy