University of Bayreuth, Press Release No 008/2022 – 18 January 2022
Learning from dust: microplastic researchers compare health risks of microparticles
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth want to find out the consequences of inhaled microplastics. In order to better understand them, they have conducted an interdisciplinary study to find out how the health risks of particles such as soot, grinding dust or asbestos are related to their physical properties. By comparing them with the properties of microplastic particles, more precise statements can be made about their potentially hazardous effects on health.
Properties such as size, shape and surface condition of microparticles influence their hazardous potential for humans. Shown here are electron micrographs of wood dust as it is produced during woodworking (top left), dust particles from hay (top right), diesel soot particles from combustion engine exhaust (bottom left), and for comparison, microplastic fragments (bottom right).
Simon Wieland, UBT
Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch, Prof. Dr. Holger Kress, and Simon Wieland M.Sc. (from left) discussing the pictures of microparticles.
UBT