Microplastics

Saturday, Apr 20, 2024 | Last Update : 04:23 AM IST

Scientists use NASA satellite data to track ocean microplastics from space

These small flecks of plastic are harmful to marine organisms and ecosystems

27 Jun 2021 10:18 AM

The scientists, who published their findings in peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Marine Science, said areas with more floating rubbish generally had more microplastic fragments on the sea floor. (Representational Image: AFP)

14 million tonnes of microplastics on sea floor: Australian study

The quantity of the tiny pollutants was 25 times greater than previous localised studies had shown

07 Oct 2020 11:38 AM

The hot weather is drifting across the country's arid centre toward the east. Parts of New South Wales are forecast to reach the mid-40s celsius. (Photo: AFP)

Australia witnesses hottest day ever, hotter days expected

Australia has its hottest day on record, more to come.

18 Dec 2019 6:45 PM

These companies are destroying our planet and our right to fair climate negotiations free from their influence. (Photo: AFP)

Fossil fuel groups try influencing climate change talks

Fossil fuel groups 'destroying' climate talks: NGOs.

07 Dec 2019 6:46 PM

Russia's weather service said temperatures in the region should fall from Saturday and that coastal ice should freeze by December 11. (Photo: AFP)

Polar bears move away from Arctic as ice weakens

Weak Arctic ice sees 56 polar bears descend on Russian village.

07 Dec 2019 1:53 PM

If a certain sheet mask is the holy grail to your skin care and you cannot do without it, balance out your habits by reducing carbon footprint elsewhere. (Photo: Instagram)

Sheet masks: The new plastic straws?

Research has proven that sheet masks are just as bad for the environment as plastic straws.

30 Oct 2019 8:27 PM

A landmark UN report to be unveiled next week will warn global warming and pollution are ravaging Earth's oceans and icy regions in ways that could unleash misery on a global scale. (Photo: AFP)

Thousands of activists conduct mass cleanup of world’s beaches

Environmental activists pluck plastic from world's beaches on mass cleanup day.

22 Sep 2019 12:54 PM

The presence of microplastics in the soil could cause long term damage to the worms and the soil quality. (Photo: Representational/Pixabay)

Microplastics are inhibiting earthworm growth, degrading agricultural soil

A study shows that the presence of microplastics in soil is not allowing worms to thrive, thus reducing soil quality.

12 Sep 2019 12:25 PM

WHO called for further analysis of microplastics in the environment and their potential health significance. (Photo: AP)

WHO says microplastics in water not harmful to health

UN: Don’t worry about drinking microplastics in water.

22 Aug 2019 11:47 AM

City beaches have most microplastics

Microplastics were segregated from the samples and they were identified for the study, which was published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

20 May 2019 6:28 AM

The first of its kind study was conducted with mayfly and caddis larvae (Photo: AFP)

Microplastics in freshwater insects raise global fears about plastic pollution

While eight to 12 million tonnes of plastic enters oceans each year, four million tonnes of it passes along rivers.

28 Sep 2018 5:24 PM

It further revealed that Indians were consuming about 117 micrograms (0.117 milligrams) of microplastic annually (Photo: AFP)

Microplastics found in table salt brands in study conducted by IIT-Bombay

The study stated that 63 per cent of the microplastic particles was in the form of fragments and 37 per cent were fibres.

03 Sep 2018 7:06 PM

Aquatic organisms can mistake microplastics for food and since plastics are indigestible, this dramatically affects the marine animals' digestive system (Photo: AFP)

Discarded contact lenses lead to rising microplastic pollution

When the plastic loses some of its structural strength, it will break down. This leads to smaller plastic particles forming microplastics.

20 Aug 2018 12:05 PM

Cancer has been found in all species where scientists have looked for it and human activities strongly influence cancer rate in humans. (Photo: Pixabay)

Study finds humans cause cancer in wild animals

This human impact on wild environments might strongly influence the prevalence of cancer in wild populations.

22 May 2018 6:19 PM

Many cosmetics in Indian market contain microplastics or microbeads: Study

Microbeads have been recognized as a pollutant globally and are being banned in many countries but there has been little action in India.

30 Apr 2018 6:22 PM

No one knows how much debris makes up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is too large for scientists to trawl.

Magnitude of the planetary crisis

Plastic not only takes years to decompose in our environment but rarely does it fully disappear.

17 Apr 2018 12:40 AM

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Shobhaa De