2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Most people use plastic every day. However, this material is usually not biodegradable. Over time, it disintegrates into small pieces called microplasticswhich may be harmful to the environment.
Moreover, recent studies show that microplastics are common in foods, especially seafood.
However, it is not clear whether these microplastics affect human health. This article will take an in-depth look at microplastics and whether they pose a threat to your health.
What is microplastic?
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are found in the environment. They are defined as plastic particles with a diameter of less than 0.2 inches (5 mm).
They are produced either as small plastics such as microspheres added to toothpaste and scrubs, or are created when larger plastics are destroyed in the environment.
Microplastics are common in oceans, rivers and soils and are often consumed by animals.
A number of studies in the 1970s began to study the levels of microplastics in the oceans and found high levels in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the United States.
Nowadays, due to the growing use of plastic in the world, there are many more plastics in rivers and oceans. About 8.8 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean each year.
Microplastics in food
Microplastics are increasingly found in many different environments, and food is no exception. A recent study examined 15 different brands of sea salt and found up to 273 microplastic particles per pound (600 particles per kilogram) of salt.
Other studies have found up to 300 microplastic fibers per pound (660 fiber per kilogram) of honey and up to about 109 microplastic fragments per liter of beer.
However, the most common source of microplastics in food is seafood.
Because microplastics are particularly common in seawater, they are commonly consumed by fish and other marine organisms.
Recent studies show that this can lead to the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the liver of the fish.
A recent study found that microplastics were present even in deep-sea organisms, suggesting that microplastics affect even the most remote species.
Moreover, mussels and oysters have a much higher risk of microplastic contamination than most other species.
Mussels and oysters collected for human consumption have 0.36–0.47 microplastic particles per gram, which means that shellfish users can absorb up to 11,000 microplastic particles per year.
Does microplasty affect your health?
Although a number of studies show the presence of microplastics in food, it is not yet clear what effect they can have on your health. So far, very few studies have examined how microplastics affect human health.
Phthalates, a type of chemical used to make flexible plastics, have been shown to increase cell growth in breast cancer. However, this study was performed in a petri dish, so the results cannot be summarized for humans.
A recent study examined the effects of microplastics in laboratory mice. In them, microplastics accumulate in the liver, kidneys and intestines and increase the levels of oxidative stress molecules in the liver. They also increase the level of the molecule, which can be toxic to the brain.
Microparticles, including microplastics, have been shown to pass from the gut into the bloodstream and potentially into other organs. They can remain in the lining of the gut or be transferred to our lymphatic system and end up in the lymph nodes, and there is a small chance that they will end up in the bloodstream and accumulate in the liver.
Plastics have also been found in humans. One study found that plastic fibers were present in 87% of human lungs studied. The researchers suggested that this was due to microplastics present in the air.
Some studies show that microplastics in the air can cause lung problems. However, this has only been proven as a result of tube studies.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the best studied chemicals in plastics. It is usually found in plastic packaging or food storage containers and can leak into food.
Some evidence suggests that BPA may affect reproductive hormones, especially in women.
How to avoid microplastics in food
Microplastics are found in many different human food sources. However, it is not yet clear how they affect human health.
The highest concentrations of microplastics in the food chain appear to be in fish, especially mussels.
Since little is known about how microplastics affect health, it is not necessary to completely avoid mussels. However, it may be helpful to consume high quality mussels from known sources.
In addition, some plastics may be contained in the packaging of some food products.
Limiting the use of plastic food packaging can limit the intake of microplastics and help the environment in the process.
Unfortunately, microplastics are present in the environment as a whole - including air, water and food.
How microplastics currently affect human health is not clear. However, the results of animal studies show that they can have negative effects.
Reducing the use of plastic food packaging is one of the most effective ways to reduce plastic in the environment and the food chain.
This is a step that will benefit both the environment and possibly your health.
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