00:00A new study in Nature found that microplastics in water produce hydroxyl-free radicals.
00:05These reactive molecules can damage DNA.
00:08Researchers at Columbia University and the University of California,
00:12Berkeley, tested six commercial plastics.
00:15The radicals appear to form where the plastic surface meets the water.
00:19The most water-repelling plastics were the most reactive.
00:22In the lab, the process warped and fragmented mouse-red blood cells.
00:26A protein found in body fluids clumped in the presence of microplastics.
00:31Caffeine, an antioxidant, prevented that clumping in the lab.
00:35The work used powdered plastics in mouse cells.
00:37And it reports no human outcome data.
00:40A U.S. health program called STOMP has been launched with $144 million
00:45to address microplastics in the human body.
00:48The researchers say redesigning the chemistry of common plastics could be one solution.
00:53Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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