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Tag: microplastics

  • Bessie the Trash Monster Floated Down the Cuyahoga River to Raise Awareness of Plastic Pollution in Lake Erie – Cleveland Scene

    Around three o’clock on Wednesday, the Lake Erie Monster was seen by roughly two dozen observers floating down the Cuyahoga River, a so-called Bessie colored in reds, greens and blues.

    But at closer glance, this was a whole different Bess: one constructed not out of fins and gills, but a coating of Wilson volleyballs, water bottles and a neck full of Crocs.

    Wednesday afternoon’s Bessie sighting was a ploy by a coalition of statewide environmentalist organizations to call attention to what they see as the most pressing call-to-action for our Great Lake and Ohio’s rivers and tributaries—plastics.

    “One of the highest concentrations of microplastic in the world is in Lake Erie,” Cheryl Johncox, a member of People Over Petro, said through a mic at Settler’s Landing.

    “When you drink your water, beverages made with water, when you eat the fish, when you consume food that’s processed with water,” she said, “you’re almost certainly ingesting plastic.”

    Johncox joined representatives from three other organizations—Big Love Network, Third Act Ohio and the Climate Reality Project—to highlight the ubiquity of microplastics in nearby bodies of water and to raise awareness of chemical recycling, or what the protesters urge the public see as “waste-to-fuel plastic burning.”

    It’s what energy corporations call pyrolysis, or the cycle of burning shredded plastics at super high temps, then cooling such batter into liquified diesel or gasoline. 

    Beth Vild, a director at People Over Petro, spoke at the rally. Credit: Mark Oprea

    Activists have their eyes gazing on a handful of companies across the state they say are operating negligently of those living around their operations. Those include Alterra Energy in Akron; Freepoint Eco-Systems in Hebron; Eco Energy in Mansfield; and SOBE Energy in Lowellville.

    But the activist group seemingly chose Cleveland for their sea monster-aided protest to see if they could nudge the issue closer to Mayor Justin Bibb. Several handed out flyers at Settler’s Landing urging their recipients to reject the deception: “Tell Mayor Bibb: Reject Plastic Greenwashing!”

    As far as a national scope goes, Ohio is up there on the plastic production side, ranking in the top five states for both shipments and number of people employed in the industry. The Lake Erie Foundation also claims its namesake has one of the highest microplastics concentrations in the world.

    Beth Vild, an operations director for the Big Love Network, spoke critically about Alterra and its perceived shoulder shrug. Several residents of East Akron, where Alterra is headquarted, have blamed the company and its plastic-burning—mostly an excess of a chemical called 1,3-Butadiene—for an array of health issues, from respiratory to cardiovascular.

    “Some of the worst health disparities in the country in this area,” Vild told the crowd of 25. “And we have the gall, as the City of Akron, to then be trying to create a sustainable polymer hub.”

    “There’s nothing sustainable about either of these things,” she added. “It’s simply greenwashing.”

    “We do not burn or incinerate plastic,” a spokesperson for Alterra told the Beacon Journal in July. They claimed that the factory’s emission levels were “90 percent” lower than the Ohio EPA’s guidelines.  

    “In fact, it would be physically impossible to [incinerate] in our production process,” they said. “Our reactor operates in an oxygen-free, sealed environment, so no flame or combustion can occur.”

    Vild didn’t buy it. “When the Ohio EPA ran tests on their facility, combustion was continually happening,” she said. “Every. Single. Test.”

    Regardless, Bessie floated down the Cuyahoga on Wednesday, and a group of people saw her. Some waved. Some took photos. Even as Bessie disappeared as she headed towards Irishtown Bend, some continued to chant: “Go Bessie! Go Bessie! Go Bessie!”

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    Mark Oprea

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  • How to protect dogs and cats from microplastics | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Protect your dog or cat from harmful microplastics with these 12 practical tips. Reduce plastic exposure, choose safer products, and support natural detoxification.

    Plastic is a major environmental concern. It never fully decomposes but instead breaks down into microplastics. These tiny particles now contaminate our soil, water, and food – and end up in our animals’ bodies (and ours). Here’s how to protect dogs and cats from microplastics. These tips also help reduce plastic waste in the environment. 

    12 ways to help protect your dog or cat from plastic ingestion

    1. Use stainless steel bowls for water and food. Stainless steel is non-porous, easy to clean, and long lasting. It prevents bacterial growth and won’t rust or leach chemicals into food. 
    2. Feed your dog or cat the highest quality fresh food diet you can afford. Fruits and vegetables add fiber that keeps the GI tract working smoothly and may aid in the elimination of microplastics.
    3. Make sure he drinks plenty of water. Adequate hydration supports the kidneys and helps the body eliminate toxins. 
    4. Don’t use bottled water, which is a significant source of microplastics. Filtered tap water is a better choice for your dog or cat. Many reverse osmosis systems effectively remove microplastics from drinking water. 
    5. Adding antioxidants to your dog or cat’s diet can help combat the oxidative stress caused by microplastics in the body.
    6. Regular detoxing may help his body rid itself of microplastics (see page xx for more about detoxification).
    7. Buy toys made from natural materials. Many “indestructible” toys are made from hard plastic. These can wear down your dog’s teeth over time. A determined dog can even break off and swallow bits of plastic from these toys. Choose alternative toy materials such as hemp or rubber and supervise your dog or cat when he’s playing with them.  
    8. Look for more sustainable, plastic-free pet food packaging wherever possible. Manufacturers use phthalates, or plasticizers, to make plastic containers more flexible. Small tubs or food pouches are often made from this kind of plastic. Some pet food bags include plastic in the lining. Manufacturers often line dog food cans with BPA and cat food tins with PVC. If you’re having trouble finding plastic-free choices, voice your concerns to the pet food companies. Money talks. 
    9. Never heat food in plastic. It can lead to microplastic shedding. Use glass or ceramic instead. 
    10. If you’re home-preparing your dog or cat’s food, use a wooden or bamboo cutting board rather than plastic. 
    11. Keep garbage and recycling out of your dog or cat’s reach. Human trash can be attractive to animals who may lick, chew and sometimes swallow food wrappers. Secure them out of reach – from coated burger paper to shrink wrap on raw meat. The same goes for plastic bottles and jars. Even after washing, food or beverage traces often remain inside and may attract your dog or cat. 
    12. When redecorating your home, try opting for natural materials as much as possible. Carpets, in particular, often release microplastics. And our dogs and cats spend a lot of time on the floor. 

    What can we do about plastic waste in general?

    Consumers began widely using plastic in the 1950s. Since then, we’ve generated 5.8 billion metric tons of plastic waste. Only about 9% of it has been recycled. Most ends up in landfills or waterways. Here are some ways we can help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the environment:

    • Reduce plastics use in the home. Avoid single use plastics wherever possible. Wrap unused portions of food in foil or wax paper rather than clingfilm. Better yet, use glass storage containers. 
    • Clean recyclable containers before putting them into the bin. This prevents insects or animals from getting into them. Remove labels and adhesives while washing the containers so recyclers can process everything faster. One bin of dirty plastics can ruin a full batch of recyclables. 
    • Check with your municipal offices to see what recyclables they handle. Not all areas accept the same items for recycling. For example, some facilities take Styrofoam while others don’t. 
    • Speak up against plastic waste. Demand better packaging choices. Manufacturers listen when enough voices speak up. 
    • Make it worthwhile for companies to recycle. A study by the Container Recycling Institute found something interesting. People recycle deposit-bearing bottles three times more often than non-deposit ones. Recycling plastics often costs more than producing new items, however, so many companies avoid it. Make your voice heard. 

    While we can’t eliminate microplastics entirely, these proactive steps can make a meaningful difference. By understanding how to protect dogs and cats from microplastics, we not only support their long-term health but also contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for all living beings.

    What should you do if your dog or cat chews or swallows plastic? 

    • Check his mouth and remove the plastic pieces, if possible. 
    • Call the vet for advice. Explain the size of the item and the dog/cat’s condition. Do not induce vomiting – this can sometimes make the problem worse. 
    • Go straight to the vet or emergency clinic if your dog or cat is struggling to breathe, shows signs of lethargy, abdominal pain or other discomfort, or is vomiting and has no appetite.

    For hard to recycle items 

    TerraCycle is a recycling company that takes plastic items normally regarded as unrecyclable, such as food packaging, used toothbrushes, plastic pens, makeup containers, etc. They also work with some pet food and toy companies and take the plastic waste from these products for recycling (terracycle.com/en-US/brigades).


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    Sandra Murphy lives in St Louis, Missouri. When she’s not writing, she works as a pet sitter.

    Sandra Murphy

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  • Senate pushes plastic bag ban

    Senate pushes plastic bag ban

    BOSTON — Byproducts of a trip to the market and convenience store, plastic bags get a bad rap from environmentalists as wasteful consumables that litter oceans, parks and beaches and take hundreds of years to break down.

    Voters in at least 160 cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Gloucester, Manchester, Newburyport and Marblehead, have banned the bags or restricted their use.

    Others are considering limits, including lawmakers on Beacon Hill, who have revived a push for a statewide ban.

    The state Senate voted 38-2 Thursday to approve a bill that will ban single use plastic bags and require retailers to charge customers 10 cents for a paper bag, among other initiatives to reduce plastic waste.

    Supporters of the ban say single-use plastic bags clog the waste stream and litter oceans, parks and beaches.

    “They may sit in a landfill. They may be incinerated, both of which release microplastics and greenhouse gases back into the environment,” Sen. Becca Rausch, a Newton Democrat, the bill’s primary sponsor, said in remarks ahead of the bill’s passage. They probably won’t be recycled because less than 10% of plastics are actually recycled in the United States. And plastics can persist in the environment for decades to centuries to an entire millennium.”

    Members of the Senate’s Republican minority voted against the bill, arguing that a single use plastic ban will hurt the state’s small businesses while doing little to reduce pollution.

    “This is going to cost consumers more, in a state that already has an incredibly high cost of living and while we’re trying to increase affordability,” Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, said in remarks on Thursday. “I think this becomes too much, too much for us to bear. There are still solutions we can take to implement moving forward, but we have to look at the cost-benefit ratio.”

    Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, one of two Republicans who voted for the bill, filed an amendment that would have removed the paper bag fee from the bill, but it was rejected by the Democratic majority.

    “If we are going to, rightfully, ban plastic bags, then we should not be dictatorial about how the market responds to the consequences,” the Gloucester Republican said.

    Lawmakers withdrew a proposed amendment that would have banned plastic liquor “nips” following pushback from the state’s package store owners who argued it would hurt business and do too little to reduce plastic pollution.

    Efforts to phase out the bags are opposed by the plastics and paper industries, as well as some retail groups, who call the restrictions unnecessary and costly.

    Beacon Hill has wrestled with the issue for years. Attempts at a statewide ban have faltered amid industry pressure.

    In 2019, a similar proposal fell apart after a legislative committee, deliberating behind closed doors, stripped the fee and added a “preemption” clause that would effectively override local plastic bag bans, many of them voter-approved.

    “What we’re really trying to do is encourage reuse,” said Janet Domenitz, executive director of MassPIRG, said Thursday. “So the ban on single use plastics gets rid of the most deleterious material. The fee on paper is a way to incentivize people bring your own bag.”

    Then-Gov. Charlie Baker suspended local plastic bag bans in 2020 and banned the use of reusable bags as part of a raft of measures to stop spread of COVID-19. The state rescinded those limits a year later after it proceeded with reopening plans, citing research that the virus doesn’t survive well on plastic surfaces.

    Nationwide, Americans throw away some 100 billion plastic bags a year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which says the average bag takes up to 1,000 years to break down. Most bags are used an average of 12 minutes.

    The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which must approve it before sending it to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk for consideration.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com

    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Week In Review: May 21, 2023

    Week In Review: May 21, 2023

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  • Microplastics and Health Risks: What Do We Really Know?

    Microplastics and Health Risks: What Do We Really Know?

    Oct. 28, 2022 — You eat a credit card’s worth of plastic in a week. That may bother you. But does it harm you?

    The answer depends on who you ask. Awareness of microplastics in general is certainly increasing; the most recent news is the detection of microplastics in human breast milk. Other research has suggested that we may be consuming up to 5 grams of plastic each week from our food, water, and certain consumer products.

    The World Health Organization has been releasing reports on microplastics and human health since 2019. Their most recent report was released in late August 2022. 

    “Although the limited data provide little evidence that nano- and microplastic particles have adverse effects in humans, there is increasing public awareness and an overwhelming consensus among all stakeholders that plastics do not belong in the environment, and measures should be taken to mitigate exposure,” the WHO said at the time. 

    The WHO can’t go beyond what the data shows, of course. If microplastics are wreaking long-term havoc in our bodies as we speak, science hasn’t connected the dots enough to definitively say “this is the problem.” 

    But some researchers are willing to speculate — and, at the very least, the risks are becoming impossible to ignore. Dick Vethaak, PhD, a microplastics researcher and emeritus professor of ecotoxicology at Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is blunt, calling them “a plastic time bomb.”

    The Plastic Problem 

    Every piece of plastic that has ever been created is still on our planet today, apart from what has been burned. Past estimates show we only recycle about 9% of all plastic, leaving 9 billion tons in our landfills, oceans, and ecosystems. For context, that amount is 1,500 times heavier than the Great Pyramid of Khufu. 

    New data is even more dire. A 2022 report from Greenpeace showed a 5% U.S. recycling rate in 2021, with a large portion of what consumers think of as “recycled” still winding up in garbage piles or bodies of water.

    And this plastic doesn’t disappear. Instead, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces known as microplastics and nanoplastics.

    Microplastics have been confirmed in human blood, lung tissue, colons, placentas, stool, and breast milk. But how they impact our health is still unknown.

    To assess risk, we must ask, “How hazardous is the material?” says Flemming Cassee, PhD, professor of inhalation toxicology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and co-author of the WHO’s recent microplastics report. 

    There are three potential hazards of microplastics: their physical presence in our bodies, what they’re made of, and what they carry. To determine the extent of these risks, we need to know how much we’re exposed to, says Cassee. 

    The first initiative to research the impact of microplastics on human health came from the European Union in 2018. Although microplastics were around before then, we were unable to detect them, says Cassee. 

    That’s the real problem: Since the evidence is so new – and there hasn’t been enough of it — it’s not yet possible to draw definite conclusions.

    “But looking into the future, I believe that we are likely facing a public health emergency,” warns Vethaak.

    What, Exactly, are Microplastics?

    Microplastics are plastic particles between 5 millimeters and 100 nanometers in diameter, or the width of a pencil eraser and something 10 times thinner than a human hair. Anything smaller than that is known as a nanoplastic.

    “Microplastics include a wide range of different materials, different sizes, different shapes, different densities, and different colors,” says Evangelos Danopoulos, PhD, a microplastics researcher at Hull York Medical School in the United Kingdom. 

    “Primary” microplastics are manufactured to be small and used in things like cosmetics and paints. “Secondary” microplastics result from the breaking down of larger plastic materials, like water bottles and plastic bags.

    Secondary microplastics are more diverse than primary microplastics and can take forms ranging from fibers shed from synthetic clothing (like polyester) to pieces of a plastic spoon left in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Any plastic in the environment will eventually become a secondary microplastic as natural forces such as wind, water currents, and UV radiation break it down into smaller and smaller pieces.

    Plastic is a diverse material. Heather Leslie, PhD, senior researcher in Vrije Universiteit’s Department of Environment and Health, likens it to spaghetti with sauce. The noodles are the long polymer backbone that all plastic shares. The sauces are “the pigments, the antioxidants, the flame retardants, etc., that make it functional,” she says. 

    What Makes Microplastics Dangerous?

    There are more than 10,000 different chemicals, or “sauces,”  used to alter a plastic’s physical characteristics—making it softer, more rigid, or more flexible, says Hanna Dusza, PhD, of the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University.

    As plastics degrade and become microplastics, these chemicals likely remain. Recent research has shown that microplastics leach these chemicals locally in human tissues, or other areas of accumulation, says Dusza. Some 2,400 of the 10,000 chemical additives were classified as substances of potential concern, meeting the European Union’s criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation, or toxicity.

    Many of these chemicals also act as endocrine-disrupting compounds, or toxicants that imitate hormones when they enter the body. Hormones are active at very low concentrations in your bloodstream, explains Leslie. To your body, some chemical additives in plastic resemble hormones, so the body responds. 

    “Sometimes even a low dose of some of these additives can cause unwanted effects,” says Leslie.

    Bisphenol A (BPA), for example, is one of the more infamous endocrine disruptors. It is used as an additive to make plastics more rigid and can be found in any number of plastic products, though areas of concern have been plastic water bottles, baby bottles, and the protective coatings in canned foods. 

    BPA may mimic estrogen, the female sex hormone essential for reproduction, neurodevelopment, and bone density. In men, estrogen regulates sperm count, sex drive, and erectile function. BPA exposure has been linked with – but not proven to cause – multiple cancer types, ADHD, obesity, and low sperm count. Most everyone has some amount of BPA circulating within their blood, but microplastics may retain BPA as they degrade, potentially increasing our exposure, leading to its unwanted consequences, says Dusza. 

    And BPA is just one of those 2,400 substances of “potential concern.”

    The Inflammation Problem

    A potentially larger health issue emerges from our bodies yet again doing what they are supposed to do when encountering microplastics. Particles can trigger an immune response when they enter your bloodstream, explains Nienke Vrisekoop, PhD, assistant professor at UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands. 

    White blood cells have no issue breaking down things like bacteria,  but microplastics cannot be degraded. When a white blood cell engulfs a certain mass of microplastics — either many small particles or a singular large one — it dies, releasing its enzymes and causing local inflammation.

    Meanwhile, the plastic particle remains. So more white blood cells attack.

    “This triggers continual activation that can result in various adverse effects, including oxidative stress and the release of cytokines that trigger inflammatory reactions, says Vethaak.  

    And “chronic inflammation is the prelude to chronic diseases,” says Leslie. “Every chronic disease, like cancer, heart disease, and even neuropsychiatric diseases like Parkinson’s or major depression, begins with inflammation.” 

    Meanwhile, inhaling microplastic particles can lead to respiratory diseases and cancer. 

    “The smallest particles – less than one-tenth of a micrometer — penetrate deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream, causing damage to the heart, blood vessels and brain,” says Vetaak. “The only direct evidence comes from workers in the textile and plastic industries that had been exposed to very high amounts of plastic fibrous dust.” 

    Microplastics as Carriers

    Microplastics can also pick up harmful substances and deliver them into your body.

    “When they’re in an environment, they basically can suck up [chemicals] like a sponge,” says Dusza. “These chemicals are known environmental pollutants, like pesticides, fluorinated compounds, flame retardants, and so on.” 

    Once in the body, these chemicals can be released, potentially leading to cancer, chronic inflammation, or other unknown effects. 

    Particles can also act as a vector for microbes, bacteria, and viruses. A September 2022 study found that infectious viruses can survive for 3 days in fresh water by “hitchhiking” on microplastics. Their porous nature provides microbes with a perfect environment in which to live and reproduce, says Dusza. If you ingest the plastics, you ingest the microbes.

    How to Minimize Exposure

    There is no way to avoid microplastics. They’re in the air we breathe, the products we use, the water we drink, and the food we eat. 

    Danopoulos reviewed 72 studies to quantify our consumption of microplastics in drinking water, salt, and seafood. 

    “We are exposed to millions of microplastics every year, and I was only looking at three food sources, so there are really a lot more,” he says. “Once plastic waste is mismanaged and it enters the environment, there is very little we can do to extract it.” 

    That said, we can take steps to lower our exposure and keep the problem from getting worse.

    Water filtration is one option, though it is not perfect. Research has shown that municipal water treatment can be effective.  An October 2021 study found that two methods — electrocoagulation-electroflotation and membrane filtration — can be 100% effective in removing microplastics from treated water. The problem? Not all municipal water treatment uses these methods – and you would have to investigate to find out if your locality does.

    As for at-home filtration methods, they can be effective but can also be dicey. Some consumer brands claim they remove microplastics, but how well depends on not just the type of filter but the size of the particles in the water. Meanwhile, how do you know if a filter is working on your water without testing it, something few people will do? Best not to take a brand’s claims on face-value, but look for independent testing on at-home brands.

    A longer-term project: Reduce our risk by reusing and recycling plastic waste. Limiting our consumption of plastic, especially single use plastic, decreases the amount available to become micro- and nanoplastics. 

    We must all learn to not treat plastic as waste, but rather as a renewable material, says Cassee. But if that seems like a tall order, it’s because it is.

    “You’re a human being and you have a voice and there are a lot of other humans out there with voices,” says Leslie. 

    “You sign a petition in your community. You talk about it with your friends at the pub. If you’re a teacher, you discuss it in your class. You call your elected representatives and tell them what you think and how you want them to vote on bills.” 

    When people start working together, you can really amplify that voice, says Leslie.

    What’s the Bottom Line Right Now, Today?

    Numerous sources have declared microplastics do not impact human health. But that’s largely because no direct evidence of this exists yet.

    Even the WHO in its report suggests that progress must happen if we’re to fully understand the scope of the problem. 

    “Strengthening of the evidence necessary for reliable characterization and quantification of the risks to human health posed by NMP (nano- and microplastics) will require active participation by all stakeholders,” it says.

    All researchers interviewed for this article agree we don’t have enough evidence to draw any definite conclusions. But “if you look at the wrong endpoints, things will look safe, until you look at the endpoint where it’s really causing the problem,” says Leslie. 

    We must research our blind spots and continually ask, where could we be wrong?

    “It is a problem; it’s not going to go away,” says Danopoulos. “It’s going to get worse, and will continue to get worse, not by something that we are doing now but by something we did 5 years ago.”

    Perhaps the question to be asked, then, is the hardest to answer: Are we willing to wait for the science?

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  • Microplastics Found in Human Breast Milk

    Microplastics Found in Human Breast Milk

    Oct. 10, 2022 – Microplastics have been detected in human breast milk for the first time, according to a new study published in Polymers.

    While more studies are needed, the researchers said, they said they were worried about the potential health effects on babies.

    “The proof of microplastics’ presence in breast milk increases our great concern for the extremely vulnerable population of infants,” Valentina Notarstefano, PhD, one of the study authors at the Universita Politecnica della Marche in Italy, told The Guardian.

    “It will be crucial to assess ways to reduce exposure to these contaminants during pregnancy and lactation,” she said. “But it must be stressed that the advantages of breastfeeding are much greater than the disadvantages caused by the presence of polluting microplastics.”

    The research team analyzed breast milk samples from 34 healthy mothers, which were taken a week after giving birth in Rome. Microplastics were detected in 26 of the samples, or 76%.

    The researchers recorded how much food and drink the mothers consumed that used plastic packaging as well as their use of personal hygiene products with plastic. But they found no link with the presence of microplastics in breast milk, which suggests that the widespread presence of microplastics in the environment “makes human exposure inevitable,” the study authors wrote.

    The research team also found microplastics in human placentas in 2020, The Guardian reported. Other studies have found microplastics in human blood, cow’s milk, and polypropylene bottles that are often used to bottle-feed babies. Although previous studies have noted the toxic effects of microplastics in human cell lines, lab animals, and marine wildlife, the effects in living humans are still unknown.

    In the latest study, the researchers found microplastics were made up of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride, which are found in plastic packaging. The team couldn’t analyze particles that were smaller than 2 microns, but they said even smaller plastic particles were likely present in the breast milk.

    The research team couldn’t identify the risk factors linked to microplastics in breast milk. But Notarstefano advised pregnant women to pay attention to the food and drinks they consume in plastic packaging, clothes made with synthetic fabrics, and cosmetics that contain microplastics. 

    “Studies like ours must not reduce breastfeeding of children, but instead, raise public awareness to pressure politicians to promote laws that reduce pollution,” she said.

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  • Pollen Sense Introduces Revolutionary New Sensor

    Pollen Sense Introduces Revolutionary New Sensor

    Press Release
    –

    Dec 2, 2021


    PROVO, Utah, December 2, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Pollen Sense APS-400 sensor is the first fully-automated, real-time device that counts pollen, mold, crop fungal pathogens, microplastics, dog dander, smoke particles and more. The new APS-400 improves on the APS-300 series by adding to the catalog of identifiable particles as well as being more affordable, smaller, and lighter. Data generated by the APS-400 sensor will revolutionize how we interact with the air around us.

    Conventional air quality measures have only been capable of measuring particle size and quantity, while pollen counts are even more archaic–being generated through manual counts. The APS-400 breaks the particle data down into groups such as pollen, mold, and microplastics–and still further into types of pollen and mold (e.g., Elm Pollen, Oak Pollen, Aspergillus Mold Spores, Alternaria Mold Spores). The APS-400 pollen data is vitally important for those who suffer from seasonal allergies, but also a game-changer for the measurement of indoor mold and dander levels, crop diseases, and even overall air quality.

    Pollen Sense sensors and free app (Pollen Wise) provide needed data for individuals to make the best air quality-related decisions on an hour-by-hour basis. Learn more at www.pollensense.com

    Source: Pollen Sense

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