We contaminate ourselves with 5 grams of microplastic weekly, with fatal consequences for the body. How it enters our system
Scientists are once again warning that we are increasingly exposed to microplastics. A study from the University of New Mexico estimates that, on average, we ingest 5 grams of tiny particles each week, equivalent to the weight of a credit card.
A CNN journalist has analyzed the issue and shows us how we can reduce our exposure to plastic.
Related
- The truth about cellulite and its connection to microplastics. How they accumulate in the body
- Pollution includes vaping devices. "It's a misconception for smokers to think they are less harmful"
- Study: Air pollution associated with the deaths of 8 million people globally in 2021
- The largest sources of pollution in Europe. How many people die annually due to this cause
- "Revolutionary". The EU Parliament has voted to introduce penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment for environmental offenses
These tiny particles, known as "microplastic" and "nanoplastics", have a significant impact on the digestive tract, making their way from the intestines into the tissues of the kidneys, liver and brain.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent: "Microplastic is smaller than five millimeters. About the size of a grain of rice. Nanoplastic is even smaller, measuring less than a micron. These are pieces that we cannot see with the naked eye. Regardless of their size, a study has found that in just one week we could consume a quantity of plastic equal to the weight of a credit card".
According to scientists, the plastic that enters our bodies increases the risk of heart attacks or strokes and can cause premature deaths.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent: "So, you might wonder, how does all this plastic get into my body? Well, some sources might be obvious. It could be in the water you drink. Water from one-liter single-use plastic bottles can contain nearly a quarter of a million nanoplastic particles on average, according to one study. It could be in the food we consume. Even salt granules can pick up plastic pollutants from the lakes and seas from which they are harvested. Another study found that a cup of tea made from a certain type of teabag contained billions of plastic particles. They might even float in the air we breathe. Imagine this scenario: car tires contain a lot of plastic. So, as they start to wear out, that dust sends many of those particles into the atmosphere, and they can enter our lungs".
Scientists have long highlighted the issue of plastic pollution and say urgent measures are needed, yet global plastic production and consumption continue to rise.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent: "So, what can you do to reduce your exposure (to plastic)? Here are five simple ways. First, it might be time to give up bottled water and get a reusable bottle. Also, avoid heating food in plastic containers in the microwave. Instead, reheat it on the stove. Tea drinkers should use loose-leaf tea and brew it in a metal infuser. Replace your toothbrush more often. Plastic bristles can break down the longer you use them".
