Form of words:
wooHat if I told you that you consume about 5 grams of plastic every week? And drinking water is the biggest source of microplastics in our diet – 82.4 percent of Indian tap water is contaminated. It is in our salt, fish, beer, honey and sugar.
Our life is plastic. Microplastics have invaded our air, seas, drinking water and food. Although humans are not yet threatened by microplastic contamination, some interventions should be made to avoid future health hazards.
microplastics are plastics particles According to the latest research, the size of 1 nanometer to 5 millimeter which is contaminating not only marine life but also food and water.
In 2020, researchers from the University of Newcastle, Australia and the World Wide Fund for Nature took a closer look to find out what plastic contamination meant for human nutrition. he did a broad Review Further 52 studies reported that the average consumption of plastic fiber (0–1 ml) from common foods and beverages such as seafood, beer, salt, drinking water ranged from 0.1 g to 5 g per person per week.
microplastics in water
All sources of drinking water, including groundwater, surface water, tap and bottled, are the largest suppliers of microplastics in our daily diet. A 2019 WWF Report An average person consumes about 1,769 microplastic particles every week.
cited this report one plus one study which provides insight on the regional variation of the average percentage of tap water samples containing plastic fibers and the number of fibers per 500 ml of water. The results showed, 94 percent of tap water in the US and 72 percent in Europe was microplastic-contaminated. In India, 82.4 percent of tap water consists of plastic fiber, with 4 fibers per 500 ml. The report also showed that an average person consumes 5,800 particles of synthetic fiber annually, of which 88 percent comes from tap water.
a 2018 orb media study Sherri Mason and her colleagues analyzed the microplastic content of 259 bottled water from 11 brands purchased in nine different countries, including India. Microplastics such as polypropylene, nylon were found in 93 percent of bottled water in the study. Per gallon, 40 pieces of plastic were found, each larger than the width of a human hair. Bisleri, India’s popular packaged water brand, had the second highest number of microplastic fibers. a statista chart Shows different brands and microplastic materials in each of them.
Read also: High presence of microplastics in Ganga, maximum pollution level in Varanasi, says study
microplastics in foods
In recent years, several researches have added to our understanding of the prevalence, distribution and origin of microplastics. However, the existing body of knowledge does not provide a clear picture of how microplastic contamination works. They are biodegrading-resistant and are present in our environment for a long time. The normal things we eat are already showing high contamination levels.
Identification of microplastics was common fruits and vegetablesAccording to a study published in 2020 environmental research. The results showed that apples had the highest microplastic count of 195,500 particles per gram, followed by broccoli and carrots with over 100,000 particles per gram. Lettuce was the least contaminated vegetable.
In 2014, researcher Gerd Lebezit and his colleagues Analysis 24 German beer brands for microplastic fibers, crumbs, and granular materials. Researchers found contamination across all brands. The results varied widely between individual samples and production dates.
nineteen honey samples Non-pollen particles from Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Mexico were analyzed. Colored fibers of 40/kg to 660/kg of honey were found in all the samples tested. The authors identified the environment as the source of these fibers. Five commercial sugars were also included in this study and all of them were found to have transparent, colored fibers and fragments.
Oceans polluted with plastics produce marine fish and seafood with high concentrations of microplastic in their respiratory and digestive systems. a 2020 study, Microplastic accumulation was detected in the muscles of marine fish. a 2015 articles One-third of reported saltwater fish specimens collected from Makassar, Indonesia and California had plastic waste and textile fiber in their intestines in US markets.
Read also: Largest marine study reveals just how much plastic fish are actually eating
Microplastics harmful to human health?
The long-term effects of plastic consumption on human health are not yet clear, but studies are ongoing. However, fisheries and aquaculture research has already demonstrated the harmful effects of plastic consumption. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States informed of The greater accumulation of microplastics in the digestive and respiratory tracts of marine fish was associated with higher mortality in aquatic organisms.
A detailed 2020 review attempted to study the “potential effects of microplastics and additives of concern on human health” and suggested that the impact of microplastics on human health would depend on several factors, including the plastic’s concentration, chemical properties, point of entry or exposure, size. or size included. particles, etc. There is no solid evidence available at this stage to draw conclusions.
in a strategic report goodThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) noted that marine animals have the highest amount of microplastics in their digestive tracts, which are eliminated during consumption. For animals that are eaten whole, such as a portion of a 225-gram mussel containing 7 micrograms, plastic can have negligible effects on human health. EFSA encourages more research to understand the human health effects of microplastics.
Read also: ‘It’s like having a cyborg baby’ – microplastic found for the first time in human placenta
How to reduce microplastic consumption
It is impossible to live a plastic free life. There are some steps that can reduce our plastic footprint.
Both tap and bottled water contain microplastics. To avoid double sources of contamination, use tap water over bottled water. The best possible way is to use a suitable water purifier.
Never microwave food in plastic utensils. Use glass utensils to heat your food.
Store your foods in glass or steel containers, wrap them in aluminum foil or use plastics that are labeled ‘recyclable’, ‘biodegradable’ or ‘eco-friendly’.
Eat fresh, home-cooked food as much as possible. Avoid plastic wrapped and packaged food.
Be responsible and don’t throw plastic here and there. Keep your beaches, streams, water bodies clean. Whenever possible, support your community, city, state and country to keep your environment clean.
Dr. Subhashree Ray is a Doctoral Scholar (Ketogenic Diet), Certified Diabetes Educator, and a Clinical and Public Health Nutritionist. She tweets @DrSubhasree. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Neera Mazumdar)
subscribe our channel youtube And Wire
Why is the news media in crisis and how can you fix it?
India needs independent, unbiased, non-hyphenated and questionable journalism even more as it is facing many crises.
But the news media itself is in trouble. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism are shrinking, yielding to raw prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the best young journalists, columnists and editors to work for it. Smart and thinking people like you will have to pay a price to maintain this quality of journalism. Whether you live in India or abroad, you can Here.