Diving into the dangers of microplastics

Waves pushing plastic waste to the beach

Engineers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have launched a trailblazing project to study the impact of microplastics on respiratory health. The study is supported by a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation.

Worldwide, people use copious plastic products which break down into tiny particles known as microplastics. Though indistinguishable to the naked eye, microplastics last for centuries and are inadvertently consumed through food, drinks and air. 

Yi Zuo, PhD, who is a professor of mechanical engineering at the university’s College of Engineering and an adjunct professor of pediatrics in the John A. Burns School of Medicine, is leading the project.

“Our research is crucial because microplastics are everywhere in our environment, posing serious threats to water quality, marine wildlife and ecosystems and human health,” said Dr. Zuo in a university news release. “Microplastics have been found in the blood and lungs of healthy humans, highlighting an urgent need to understand their impact on our health, particularly our ability to breathe.”

The research team published its preliminary findings in Environmental Science and Technology. The early results illustrate how microplastics gather on the surface of pulmonary surfactant, thus compromising its natural ability to aid breathing. Foam packaging boxes proved to have the greatest adverse effect on the biophysical function.

Yi Zuo, PhD, University of HawaiiYi Zuo, PhDUniversity of HawaiiDr. Zuo said he hopes the project will demonstrate diversity in science and promote community engagement, in addition to revealing scientific outcomes. He and his colleagues plan to work with local organizations and underrepresented groups, such as native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and low-income families, to increase public awareness of the harmful effects of microplastics. He said that education people on limiting their exposure to plastics can profoundly impact children’s health and the environment. 

Hawaiʻi, with its plentiful beaches and open waters, ranks as one of the most polluted environments by microplastics in the world, and Kamilo Beach, which sits at the southeastern end of Hawaiʻi island, is often referred to as “Plastic Beach.” The set of islands is set among the North Pacific Gyre, or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — a formation of four ocean currents known for the growing amount of debris it collects. 

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