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Emerging Pollutants2 – Wastewater Microplastics as Vectors for Potent Drugs

People Involved

Project Description

It is estimated that more than 10 million tonnes of plastics enter our oceans annually. Plastic pieces less than 5mm in diameter, termed microplastics, travel far from their original source and are ingested by organisms. Wastewater effluents are a major source of microplastics which act as carriers for other potent pollutants with known health effects. In wastewater, microplastics are in contact with a cocktail of potent pharmaceutical drugs. Yet little remains known about drug/microplastic interactions. We will determine which microplastics carry potent drugs in wastewater and under what conditions.

In partnership with the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Status Project Complete
Funder(s) Royal Society of Edinburgh
Value £65,616.00
Project Dates Jan 4, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021

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