Microplastic pollution has spread around the world

Where do microplastics come from? According to the source, microplastics can be divided into primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are small pieces of plastic or particles that, when manufactured, are soft beads found in daily necessities such as toothpaste and facial scrubs. Secondary microplastics, on the other hand, are pieces of plastic that are broken down by the combination of light, wind and ocean currents from exposed plastic waste.

Food or the main way microplastics enter the body

In recent years, many researchers have found microplastics in oysters, cuttlefish and drinking water, sea salt and even honey. Therefore, eating seafood, drinking bottled water and so on May be the main source of microplastic particles in the human body. In addition, we may inhale microplastics in our daily breath.

So, what harm do microplastics do to people? Scientists have proposed that when microplastics are small enough to blend into cells and tissues, they act like PM2.5 in the air and act as a foreign toxin, stimulating inflammation and even cancer in humans. At the same time, it is continuously deposited in organs, and can damage organ function when it reaches a certain concentration. In addition to direct effects, due to the strong adsorbability of microplastics, they can absorb many harmful substances, such as lead and other heavy metals and organic pollutants. When microplastics enter the human body, people will consume more pollutants.

Plasticizers, stabilizers, dyes and other substances are often added to plastics in the manufacturing process. Depending on their quality, these compounds are also toxic in different sizes, causing harm as microplastics blend into the body.

As the research on the toxicity of microplastics has not been started for a long time and the standards are different, there is still no unified consensus on the length of time it stays in the human body, the statistics of the number of particles and the size of the toxicity. But existing research has shown that small amounts of microplastics can cross the epithelial barriers of the lungs and intestines, and the smaller the particles, the more efficiently they can cross. Because plastic is so pervasive in our lives, even if it is chemically inert and only a small percentage is absorbed, the cumulative impact of modern life still needs to be taken seriously.

How can we reduce microplastic intake?

In addition to reducing the use of single-use plastic products and supporting recyclable materials, you can also pay attention to some details of plastic use, such as avoiding heating plastic products; Try to use glasses, porcelain bowls for drinking water and food; Choose more natural material fabric, reduce the number of washing polyester clothing.