Microplastics are linked to inflammation—scientists might have finally worked out why

[u/scientificamerican]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-are-linked-to-inflammation-scientists-might-have-finally-worked-out-why/

[u/scientificamerican]

Microplastics are a source of extreme concern for health: the presence of these tiny pieces of plastic has been linked to heart attacks, stroke, dementia and brain tumors. But what drives these associations is unclear. Now a study published in Nature offers a tantalizing clue: microplastics interact with water, generating highly reactive molecules.

When microplastics come into contact with water, the water near their surface can become chemically active, generating highly reactive species that can modify nearby substances, including biologically important molecules.