– Sir, how many pieces of plastic will you eat for lunch? Madam, how are you? While this may sound like a line from a Saturday Night Live show, research shows it's much closer to reality.
According to research as of February 2024, 90% of animal and plant protein samples tested positive for microplastics, small polymer fragments smaller than 0.2 inch (5 mm) to 1/25,000 inch (1 microns). Anything smaller than 1 micron is nanoplastic and must be measured in hundredths of a meter.
Even vegetarians can't avoid it, according to a 2021 study. If there is little plastic, fruits and vegetables can absorb microplastics in their roots and transfer the substances to the stems, leaves, seeds and fruits of the plant.
Salt can be wrapped in plastic. A 2023 study found that kosher pink Himalayan salt mined from the ground contained the most microplastics, followed by black salt and sea salt. According to 2022 research, sugar is another important way for people to be exposed to these micropollutants.
Even tea bags (which are mostly plastic) release a lot of plastic. Researchers at McGill University in Quebec, Canada found that when plastic tea bags were produced, approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles were released into the water.
Rice is also to blame. A study at the University of Queensland found that people eat 3 to 4 milligrams of plastic for every 100 grams (1/2 cup) of rice they eat - for instant rice, skip this figure to 13 milligrams per serving. (Researchers say that washing rice can reduce plastic pollution by up to 40 percent. This also helps reduce the arsenic content in rice.)
Don't forget the bottled water. According to research in March 2024, one liter of water (equal to two standard water bottles) contains an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics, including nanoplastics.
Harmful to human health
Although microplastics have been found in human lungs, maternal and fetal tissue, breast milk, and human blood, to date, there has been little research on their impact. polymers to human organs and function.
A March 2024 study found that people with microplastics or nanoplastics in their mouths were less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause over a three-year period. next, those without microplastics or nanoplastics. Man has two seasons.
According to experts, nanoplastics are the most worrisome type of plastic pollution for human health. This is because small particles can attack single cells and tissues in large organs, may disrupt cellular processes and release endocrine-disrupting substances such as bisphenols, phthalates , flammable, and per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) as well as heavy metals.
"Because the body temperature is warmer than the outside world, these chemicals leach from the plastic and end up in our bodies," said Mason.
"These chemicals can be transported to the liver, kidneys and brain, as well as cross the placental barrier and end up in your womb," he said.
– There is currently no scientific consensus on the health effects of nanoparticles and microparticles. "Therefore, media reports based on accusations and accusations do nothing but scare the public," a spokesperson for the International Bottled Water Association, an industry group, previously told CNN.
All proteins contain microplastics
In a February study published in the journal Environmental Research, researchers looked at a dozen common proteins, including beef, breadcrumbs and other types of shrimp, chicken breast and pork, pork, seafood, tofu, and a variety of plant-based foods such as chicken. vote. , cuts on plants similar to ground beef, and fish fingers from plants. Tupperware Stores 2023
Breaded shrimp contains the smallest plastic particles, with an average of over 300 micro-particles per serving. Chicken nuggets came in second at less than 100 pieces per meal, followed by chicken nuggets, fish sticks, minimally processed white laurel crabs, Key West pink shrimp and fish sticks from plants.
The least contaminated protein was chicken breast, followed by pork and tofu.
After comparing the results to consumer dietary data, the researchers estimated that adults in the US may be exposed to between 11,000 and 29,000 microplastic particles per year, and that about 3.8 million microplastics per year.