12: Breaking down microplastics: 115

Microplastics are everywhere—tiny plastic particles that permeate our soil, water, food, drinking supplies, and even our bodies. But how much do we actually understand about their long-term effects on our health and the environment?

In this episode, Alice visits UKCEH labs in Wallingford to explore these questions. Pollution scientist Dr Richard Cross shares insights into how microplastics impact the environment, and Dr Gbotemi Adediran introduces the innovative CoreMis facility, which is pushing the boundaries by studying even smaller particles: nanoplastics, which are so tiny they're invisible to the naked eye.

Also, Sue discusses how microplastics are present in the air we breathe and what that could mean for human health with Dr Stephanie Wright, from the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London.

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.