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How to fight microplastic pollution with magnets - Coggle Diagram
How to fight microplastic pollution with magnets
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who: Fionn Ferreira
where: Ballydehob, south-west Ireland
data
humans produce 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year
at least 10 million tonnes end up in our oceans
Plastic production is expected to increase by 60% by 2030 and triple by 2050
MICROPLASTIC
concept: fragments smaller than five millimetres
where is it found: clothes, cosmetics and cleaning products
Why is it dangerous: these fibres make their way into rivers and oceans, where they are eaten by fish, corals and even humans
HUMAN IMPACTS
globally, people ingest an average of 5g of plastic every week, the equivalent of a credit card
Chemicals used in plastic are related to a range of health problems including cancer, heart disease and poor foetal development
human exposure to microplastics could cause oxidative stress, inflammation and respiratory problems.
plastics could help transport pathogens which bind themselves to the material
POSSIBLE SOLUTION
steps
Ferreira found out that oil could be used to attract plastic:
mix vegetable oil with iron oxide powder to create a magnetic liquid, also known as ferrofluid
blend in microplastics from a wide range of everyday items
use a magnet to remove the solution and leave behind only water
FUTURE PROJECT
designed by: Fionn Ferreira
ideas
a device which uses the magnetic extraction method to capture microplastics as water flows past it
a system that could be fitted to ships so they can extract plastics on the oceans.