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This Plastic Dissolves in Seawater and Leaves Behind Zero Microplastics | Japanese scientists unveil a material that dissolves in hours in contact with salt, leaving no trace behind.


Experts say the new material breaks down quickly in around two to three hours, depending on its thickness and size. Find out more here.

Takuzo Aida, lead researcher at CEMS, explained: "Similarly, when tested in soil..a piece of plastic about 5 centimetres in size, it completely disappears after a little over 200 hours." Plastic pollution is a big global problem, with experts at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) saying the amount of waste is set to triple in the next 15 years. Recent studies have shown the damage microplastics cause as they pollute the environment and create health problems for animals, because they can be easily eaten.

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