An international group of scientists, led by researchers from Pennsylvania State University in the United States, reports that microplastics can amplify erosion in river channels. This finding has implications for ecosystems and riparian habitats and is documented in Communications Earth & Environment.
Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters. Research indicates these particles can enter the bodies of humans and animals and may accumulate over time, posing potential health concerns.
The study shows that plastic fragments reduce the density of river sand, increasing particle mobility. This makes streams more effective at redistributing sand deposits and can raise the turbidity of the water.
The researchers warn that as polymer waste continues to rise globally, erosion processes in streams and estuaries could accelerate, altering channel shapes and sediment dynamics.
Roberto Fernandez, a member of the science team, notes that the data help establish a threshold for the minimum plastic amount capable of destabilizing sand deposits. The next phase of the project will examine ecological damage to river systems caused by plastic pollution.
In a related line of investigation, researchers are pioneering methods to model microplastic interactions with human heart tissue to understand potential health consequences more clearly, marking a new frontier in medical and environmental research.