A recent study suggests that people eat five grams of nano and microplastics weekly. Microplastics have now invaded everywhere, front the depths of the oceans to the human lungs, including the gastrointestinal tract.
Understanding Microplastics
Since the 1950s, experts estimate that more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastics have been produced, wherein 79% have landed in landfills and the natural environment.
When plastics are discarded, they eventually break down into micro and nanoparticles that enter the various soil and waterways on the planets. Microplastics range in size from 0.001 and 5 millimeters, while nano plastics that are less than 0.001 millimeters eventually enter food chains via fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
Plastic particles can also enter a person's body via water when drunk from a plastic bottle. People that habitually drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water from plastic bottles daily are estimated to take in 90,000 plastic particles annually, reports EuroNews.
According to the study, people who can opt to drink tap water reduce the amount of ingested plastic particles by 40,000 particles.
Another source of the particles is microbeads commonly used in beauty and health products. Research shows that roughly 9 out of 10 leading cosmetic brands contain microplastic particles. These microplastics eventually find their way into the human body when they seep into waterways.
Researching the Health Risks of Microplastic Consumption
A study held by a team of researchers from the Medical University of Vienna was published in the journal Exposure & Health, titled "To Waste or Not to Waste: Questioning Potential Health Risks of Micro- and Nanoplastics with a Focus on Their Ingestion and Potential Carcinogenicity" summarised the scientific knowledge on the health risks of microplastic consumption.
Researchers wrote in the report that when the human body ingests microplastics, it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome.
Changes in the body's gastrointestinal tract have been linked to various metabolic diseases such as chronic liver disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Researchers wrote that the particles could trigger local inflammation and immune response when ingested, with nanoparticles observed to trigger chemical pathways involved in cancer cell formation.
Some solutions to reducing ingested microplastics are microwaving food using non-plastic dishes and containers and proper ventilation of houses. Likewise, avoiding plastic packaging when buying groceries and food can also help. Studies have found that plastic particles are present in pre-cooked rice and teabags.
Clothing also releases synthetic particles when washed. He4nce, using a fiber-catching filter when using the laundry machine helps keep microplastics from washing out. It's best to avoid synthetic fiber clothes and opt for natural materials, even in the laundry detergent.
More importantly, the best way is to support policies that seek to limit the use and dependence on single-use plastics.
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