Israel tests treatment of plastic particles in seawater using jellyfish

The study was led by Professor Dror Angel of the University of Haifa in northern Israel, in collaboration with researchers from Braude College in the city of Karmiel.

Professor Angel and his team believe jellyfish could be able to tackle microplastics in water. The experts will test the possibility of using jellyfish slime to capture and remove microplastics from recycled water from wastewater treatment plants.

Microplastics, including small plastic fragments and micro-beads, are often difficult to collect once mixed in water. In the ocean environment, these wastes can become food for fish, birds... and indirectly affect human health when catching and consuming these fish and birds.

A group of scientists said last year that about 40% of fish caught in lakes and seas in Japan contained microplastic particles in their digestive tracts.

According to experts, the total amount of plastic waste collected in the world's oceans each year is about 4.8 million to 12.7 million tons.

VNA