University of Portsmouth/ Getty
What do we get wrong when we talk about ocean plastic? A lot, it turns out.
Business Insider producer Elizabeth McCauley dives into the scientific literature and talks to experts to find out how we actually solve this problem.
Microplastics have infiltrated our bodies, including the brain, blood, organs, and even penises. What are the health risks, and how can we avoid them?
Scientists first found microplastics, those tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters, on British beaches in 2004. In the 20 years since, the world has watched on in horror as microplastics began turning up in virtually every nook and cranny on the planet.
Society for Science/Chris Ayers
It seems that nobody—and no body part—is safe from microplastics. In a recent study, researchers found traces of plastic in the testicles of both dogs and humans. The potential health impacts of this discovery are not yet clear, but the team suggests it may help explain why men’s sperm counts have declined over time.
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.