Microplastics Generate Cell-Damaging Molecules in Water, New Research Suggests

New research, published in the journal Nature, indicates that microplastics spontaneously generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) when they interact with water. These ROS are a type of free radical known to damage cells and promote inflammation, offering a potential hypothesis for how microplastics might negatively impact human health. The study builds on previous findings that showed high levels of nanoplastics in bottled drinking water.