Pacific gray whales facing ‘catastrophic’ die-off as climate crisis hits food supply

Trump administration urged to relist a species in ‘very, very serious trouble’ under Endangered Species Act…

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/10/pacific-gray-whales-population-climate-change 

 

EPA flags microplastics, pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water : NPR

Their inclusion on the list gives local regulators a tool to evaluate risks in their water supply, the EPA says, and it can set the stage for more research and regulatory action — but doesn't actually guarantee that will happen...

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/02/nx-s1-5771155/epa-microplastics-pharmaceuticals-drinking-water 

 

World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns

Plastics are a "grave, growing and under-recognised danger" to human and planetary health, a new expert review has warned. The world is in a "plastics crisis", it concluded, which is causing disease and death from infancy to old age and is responsible for at least $1.5tn (£1.1tn) a year in health-related damages...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/03/world-in-15tn-plastics-crisis-hitting-health-from-infancy-to-old-age-report-warns 

Microplastics hinder plant photosynthesis, study finds, threatening millions with starvation

Researchers say problem could increase number of people at risk of starvation by 400m in next two decades…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/microplastics-hinder-plant-photosynthesis-study-finds-threatening-millions-with-starvation 

 

Microplastics suspected of links to lung cancer, colon cancer, study shows - The Washington Post

"The conclusion about microplastic exposure being a 'suspected' hazard to human digestive, reproductive, and respiratory systems represents a stronger stance than many previous reviews in my opinion," said Amato-Lourenço...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/12/18/microplastics-colon-cancer-link-study/

Microplastics found in every human semen sample tested in study

Microplastic pollution has been found in all human semen samples tested in a study, and researchers say further research on the potential harm to reproduction is "imperative". Sperm counts in men have been falling for decades and 40% of low counts remain unexplained, although chemical pollution has been implicated by many studies...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/10/microplastics-found-in-every-human-semen-sample-tested-in-chinese-study

90% of Great Lakes water samples have unsafe microplastic levels – report

But experts say damage can be reversed if US and Canada act quickly to stop new plastics from entering lake system…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/great-lakes-water-microplastic-pollution-contamination

Microplastics found in living blood and lung tissue | Popular Science

…To mitigate microplastic pollution, manufacturers and policymakers must also do their part by reducing and regulating the production (and consumption) of plastic products. 

"When we get to the crux of the matter, the only way to prevent this problem from getting bigger than it already will be is to stop using plastic wherever possible," says Couceiro…

https://www.popsci.com/environment/microplastic-human-health/

Microplastics found deep in lungs of living people for first time

Huge amounts of plastic waste are dumped in the environment, and microplastics contaminate the entire planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. Microplastics have been found in the placentas of pregnant women, and in pregnant rats they pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains and other organs of the foetuses...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/06/microplastics-found-deep-in-lungs-of-living-people-for-first-time

Bottle-fed babies swallow millions of microplastics a day, study finds

Exposure is far higher than previously thought and also affects plastic food containers....
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/19/bottle-fed-babies-swallow-millions-microplastics-day-study

A plateful of plastic: Visualizing the microplastic we consume - Reuters

Microscopic pieces of plastic have been discovered in the most remote locations, from the depths of the ocean to Arctic ice - and in our bodies as we breathe in and eat microplastic, and drink plastic-infused water every day.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-plastic-diet-graphic/a-plateful-of-plastic-visualizing-the-microplastic-we-consume-idUSKBN1YZ08H

6 ways to limit your exposure to microplastics - The Washington Post

You can't avoid the tiny pieces. But small steps — such as drinking tap water, vacuuming and using nonplastic containers — will curtail the problem.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/youre-literally-eating-microplastics-how-you-can-cut-down-exposure-to-them/2019/10/04/22ebdfb6-e17a-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html

'Everywhere we looked': trillions of microplastics found in San Francisco bay

Most comprehensive study to date finds plastic in sediment collected from bay and tributaries and digestive tracts of fish....
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/04/san-francisco-microplastics-study-bay

Microplastics found in human stools for the first time - the guardian

Microplastics have been found in human stools for the first time, according to a study suggesting the tiny particles may be widespread in the human food chain. The small study examined eight participants from Europe, Japan and Russia. All of their stool samples were found to contain microplastic particles. .....
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/22/microplastics-found-in-human-stools-for-the-first-time

You’re Literally Sprinkling Plastic On Your Food - VICE

A study published this week in 'Environmental Science & Technology' sampled salt brands from across the globe and found 92 percent contained microplastics. .....
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj9a95/youre-literally-sprinkling-plastic-on-your-food