There are 14 million tons of microplastics in the world’s oceans alone, according to scientists from the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) of Australia. These microplastics can also be found in rivers, soil, and even in the rain in some cities, ultimately reaching our food and the air we breathe. Today, on April 7th, International Health Day, let’s take a look at how microplastics affect human beings.
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are particles with a maximum diameter of 5 mm. They can be found in a wide range of cleaning products such as toothpaste, exfoliants, soaps, and more. They are also generated by the fragmentation of plastic waste (bags, fishing nets, packaging, etc.) after exposure to sunlight over time.
How Much Are Consumed?
Due to their small size, they can be ingested by species larger than themselves, bioaccumulating in various environments. In 2019, it was estimated that an average person consumes 182 microplastics in seafood, 10 in beer, 1,769 in water (including bottled and filtered water), and 11 in table salt, resulting in nearly 5 grams of plastic, equivalent to a credit card per week, according to a study by the University of Newcastle, Australia. The actual amount may vary depending on consumption habits and geographic location.
Where Are They Found?
Microplastics have been found in remote places, such as the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France, indicating that they have been transported through the atmosphere. They have also been discovered in 90% of all table salt brands analyzed worldwide, according to a study conducted by researchers from South Korea and Greenpeace in East Asia.
What Are the Effects on Human Health?
There are still relatively few studies on the effects of microplastics on health. However, phthalates—commonly used to improve plastic flexibility—have been shown to increase the growth of cancerous cells in breast tissue in petri dish studies.
In studies conducted on rats, it was found that microplastics were stored in the liver, kidneys, and intestines, increasing the levels of molecules that trigger oxidative stress in the liver, as well as an increase in a molecule that can be toxic to the brain.
Like most microparticles, microplastics have been shown to pass from the intestines into the bloodstream and from there, end up in other organs.
What Does the Immune System Do?
The immune system, in general, lacks the ability to get rid of synthetic (man-made) particles, and microplastics fall into that category. This is why they can lead to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of neoplasia, which is the abnormal formation of tumors in the body, according to a study by CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro in Portugal.
How Can We Contribute to Reducing Microplastics?
Above all, it’s important to remember that macroplastics, which later break down into microplastics, originate from the fishing industry and the large amount of other plastic waste generated in our daily lives. Preferring single-use plastic alternatives like bax®, taking recyclable plastics to recycling facilities, conscious consumption, and advocating for public policies that improve plastic management systems, complete substitution with single-use biodegradable materials, and changing practices contributing to this significant issue are the way forward.
#WithBaxLet’sSaveOurFuture
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