How to fight microplastic pollution with magnets

The solution proposed uses the fact that oil attracts plastics in water: vegetable oil is mixed with iron oxide to create a ferroliquid, which then attracts plastics and is easy to remove using magnets.<p>Why does oil attract plastics, though? Because both are non polar. Here&#x27;s a good r&#x2F;askscience answer: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;askscience&#x2F;comments&#x2F;meqh0&#x2F;why_is_oilgrease_more_difficult_to_wash_from&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reddit.com&#x2F;r&#x2F;askscience&#x2F;comments&#x2F;meqh0&#x2F;why_is_oi...</a>

Next:<p>Adverse effects of the ferroliquid contamination of water ( used to remove microplastics ).

I am astonished every time I read the average plastic intake of an average person. I never noticed even the tiniest amount of plastic in my water or food. Can someone explain how plastics enter my body undetected by me?

Is there any credible evidence about harm caused by microplastics? I’ve seen a lot of stuff about how ubiquitous it is, but very little about its actual effects.

Here&#x27;s a video[0] compilation from a worker in an animal feed processing plant where they grind up waste from restaurants and grocery stores, but don&#x27;t completely remove all the plastic wrapping from the food. So large amounts of plastic gets fed to pigs. Shocking that this is allowed to happen<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;Xp0NSIrbu3Y" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;Xp0NSIrbu3Y</a>

In 100 years we will probably look like we are “terraforming” Earth with atmospheric processors removing CO2 and ocean water filtration plants removing both dissolved CO2 and plastics.<p>An extraterrestrial visiting might initially wonder if we came from another star. “They seem to be in the final stages of terraforming the third planet and are starting with the fourth.”

The article makes a throw-away reference to plastics attracting heavy metals. Does anyone have a feel for whether the same technique would work directly for cleaning up heavy metal contamination, or does it require plastics as a carrier?

I&#x27;ve been wondering about the plastic retainer I wear in my mouth every night. Could it be releasing microplastics?

How about we fight it by forcing Big Beverage to fight it.