A recent study aimed to research potential particle release from domestic dishwashers using five different types of plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and nylon-6) to determine if these appliances could be a source of micro- and nanoparticles. By analyzing the wastewater collected directly after a cycle (i.e., no discharge to a wastewater treatment plant), conservative estimates identified release counts of up to approximately 920,000 particles per cycle and 33 million particles per household per year. However, based on these findings, the study found overall that dishwashers are likely not a significant source of microparticles, with an estimated global annual release rate of 6 milligrams per person. However, further investigation was recommended to understand the impact of factors on contributing to microparticles release, including plastic aging, dishwasher use frequency, and other varying conditions such as the type of plastics and dishwasher cycles. While the release from a single dishwashing cycle may seem small, the study highlights that routine dishwashing across millions of households could represent a source for micro- and nanoplastics to enter wastewater systems and the environment.
Researchers based in France compared microplastic release across common drinks purchased in France, including water, cola, iced tea, lemonade, beer, and wine, sold in multiple container types. They found that glass-bottled sodas, teas, lemonades, and beers contained around 100 microplastic particles per liter, while the same beverages in plastic bottles or cans were 5 to 50 times lower. Follow-up experiments showed the source was not the glass itself, but polyester and paint from metal caps, which shed fragments into the liquid. Wine, often sealed with cork, did not show the same effect, reinforcing the role of closures as the source of microplastics rather than bottle material. The study highlights closures and coatings as overlooked sources microplastics.
Researchers in India investigated whether landfill geomembrane liners made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) release microplastics into leachate. HDPE liner samples from a hazardous waste management facility were submerged in synthetic leachate for four months, and samples were collected and analyzed once a month. Results showed that over the course of four months, the release of microplastics increased from 475 to 1,689 microplastics per square meter, with higher releases at 50 °C than at 23 °C. In total, the study reported over 6,137 microplastics per square meter after four months, most of which were smaller than 20 µm. These findings show that HDPE geomembranes can generate microplastics, highlighting concerns on microplastic releases from landfills. However, the fate of microplastics released from landfill lines is unknown, as to if microplastics could end up in biosolids or if the landfill leachate is treated.
Researchers evaluated the decomposition of melamine-formaldehyde sponges and found that the abrasion of these sponges can release up to a trillion microplastic fibers into the environment globally each year. In the study, three different brands of sponges were rubbed against surfaces with varying roughness. The roughness of the counterpart surface was the most influential factor for microplastic generation, while the sponge’s cellular structure determined its overall capacity to produce fibers. The study highlighted alternatives sources of microplastics that may be generated from common household cleaning products.
A team of researchers in Toulouse, France recently published a study investigating airborne microplastics, with a focus on the smaller particles that previous research largely overlooked. Previous studies measured microplastics in the 20–200 micrometer (µm) size range, which are less likely to penetrate deeply into the lungs. In contrast, this study evaluated particles in the 1–10 µm range, which are assumed to be more likely to reach the lower respiratory system. By sampling indoor environments and car interiors, the researchers estimated that adults inhale about 3,200 microplastic particles per day in the 10–300 µm size range and roughly 68,000 particles per day in the 1–10 µm range — nearly 100 times more than previously assumed. These findings highlight the need for further research into the potential health impacts of inhaled microplastics
In June 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed Oregon Senate Bill 551, an expansion of the Oregon House Bill 2509, which established that Oregon retail stores and restaurants could not provide single-use plastic checkout bags beginning in January 2020. Senate Bill 551 established that all plastic bags (even reusable plastic bags) will no longer be available at checkout counters beginning in January 2027. Further, all single-use plastics used for toiletries, utensils, and/or condiment packages will only be provided based on request.
California is advancing Assembly Bill 823, which would extend environmental protection measures by banning plastic microbeads and glitter in personal care and household products. The Senate Judiciary Committee has endorsed the bill without opposition, positioning California to become the first U.S. state to restrict plastic glitter and “leave-on” products such as eyeshadows, nail polishes, lotions, and cleaners. Under the proposed timeline, the microbead prohibition would take effect on January 1, 2029, followed by the glitter ban on January 1, 2030, expanding upon a 2015 law that only covered rinse-off items.
Michigan lawmakers have introduced a package of bills (House Bill 4766 and Senate Bill 503) aimed at addressing microplastics. The first set proposes a phased ban on plastic microbeads, beginning in 2026 and expanding in 2027, to cover personal care and cleaning products unless concentrations are below one part per million by weight. Another proposed law would create a statewide drinking water testing program running from July 2027 to July 2030, with results on sources, polymer types, and toxicity due to the legislature by July 2031. The final bills call for a long-term research and monitoring plan focused on microplastics in the Great Lakes, to be developed by mid-2026 and put in place by 2028, pending funding.
In July 2025, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced the Microplastics Safety Act, directing the Food and Drug Administration to study the health impacts of microplastics in food and water. The proposal was prompted by research showing a sharp rise in microplastics found in human brains over the past decade. If passed, it would require the Department of Health and Human Services to examine exposure pathways and potential links to children’s health, hormones, cancer, chronic illness, and reproductive systems.
In August 2025, a bill (H.R. 4903) was introduced to allocate $10 million per fiscal year from 2026 to 2030 to advance research related to the health effects of plastic exposure. The bill proposes actions such as implementing programs, authorizing grants, and creating research centers dedicated to studying microplastics and their impacts on human health.