Plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our ocean and Great Lakes. Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but those that are less than five millimeters in length (or about the size of a sesame seed) are called “microplastics.”
Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller pieces. In addition, microbeads, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes.
How is plastic made, and what kinds are there?
Various synthetic organic compounds can be considered plastic, and these can be manufactured by polymerization and can consist of repeating units (monomers) that are joined together to form copolymers. Plastic is a synthetic organic polymer made from petroleum and serves an extremely wide variety of purposes, including packaging, building and constructions household items, sports equipment, vehicles electronics and agriculture. The amount of plastic produced every year is more than 300 million tons, half of which is used for small single-use items like shopping bags, cups and straws.
Denne historien er fra November - December 2021-utgaven av Scientific India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November - December 2021-utgaven av Scientific India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Working for Farmer's Welfare
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centres) are the District level institution serving as an agriculture knowledge resource & capacity development centre which plays indispensable role in front line extension regarding agriculture system in scientific way.
Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology
We are in a transition towards a digital world, where everything will be dealt with in digital format.
Massive Underground Water Reservoir Found on Mars
Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water on Mars deep in the rocky outer crust of the planet.
Tofu: The Budget-Friendly Superfood for Vegetarians
Tofu is a plant-based protein-rich food item that can be easily prepared at the household level with limited resources.
Exploring the Marvels of Carbon Quantum Dots: A Leap into the Future of Nanotechnology
In the ever-changing world of nanotechnology, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as super tiny but incredibly powerful entities that have massive potential in various fields.
Sniffing Cancer- Honeybee, a potential cancer detector?
Imagine harnessing the super-sense of a honeybee to sniff out lung cancer.
From Ancient Roots to Modern Remedies: The Timeless Value of Turkey Berry in Nature's Healing Arsena
The Timeless Value of Turkey Berry in Traditional and Modern Medicine
Massive biomolecular shifts occur in our 40s and 60s
If it's ever felt like everything in your body is breaking down at once, that might not be your imagination.
Pectin: An Esteemed Plant-Derived Molecule in the Food Industry
This article provides a concise overview of the significance of pectin, a plant-derived molecule, in the food industry.
Skip the Antibacterial Soap: Use Plain Soap and Water
When you buy soaps and body washes, do you reach for products labeled \"antibacterial\" hoping they'll keep your family safer? Do you think those products will lower your risk of getting sick, spreading germs or being infected? According to the U.S.