Whether in the urban air we breathe, in the drinking water we consume every day, or in the world’s oceans, whose ecosystems are increasingly polluted, microplastics are everywhere. And new research findings are emerging all the time.
- Microplastics in urban air from tyre and brake wear
A recent local study shows that the air in Hamburg is heavily polluted with microplastics. Researchers investigated the role of tyre and brake wear in the generation of urban particulate matter. Anyone who lives or walks along a busy road breathes in a significant amount of microplastics. ‘In Hamburg, an average of 12 percent of the particles in the air on main roads come from tyre and brake wear, most of which is microplastic,’ explains Mailin Samland, lead author of the study and PhD student in meteorology at the Centre for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) at the University of Hamburg. Microplastics are released into the air – and thus also into the respiratory tract – primarily through sudden braking and acceleration.
Samland M et al. Variability of aerosol particle concentrations from tyre and brake wear emissions in an urban area. Atmospheric Environment X. 2024.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162124000716
- Microplastics in drinking water: WHO assessment of health risks
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a comprehensive analysis dealing with the intake of microplastics via drinking water. The organisation’s conclusion: So far, there is no evidence that microplastics in drinking water are harmful. There is ample evidence that the particles simply pass through the digestive tract and are then excreted. However, the study is still too limited to rule out all risks. The WHO therefore recommends more research, particularly on how different sizes, shapes and chemical compositions of plastic particles affect the body.
World Health Organisation (ed.). Microplastics in drinking water. Geneva 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516198
- More microplastics in the oceans than previously estimated
According to another recent study, plastic pollution in the oceans could increase dramatically by 2060 – even with active waste management. Researchers expect up to 1,200 million tonnes of plastic in the sea, with a peak of 23 million tonnes per year by 2045. Microplastics in particular will increase significantly as existing plastic continues to decompose. The calculations are significantly higher than previous estimates.
Sonke JE et al. Global environmental plastic dispersal under OECD policy scenarios toward 2060. Sci Adv. 2025.
https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.adu2396
Microplastics and their potential health and environmental impacts will remain an important issue. There are now also tips on how we can at least slightly influence how much microplastic we consume. Check out our next blog for more on this!