Microplastic Effects on Human Health
This article tells us about how the presence of microplastics can affect our health.
Microplastics can be dangerous1 if they’re consumed in large amounts. Even if it is over a period of time. Some plastics contain toxic chemicals. When this is the case, (always), it is during the production of these plastics that they are contaminated2 with these toxic chemicals; they prolong their life, (make the plastic last longer). But due to the amount of microplastics that humans ingest without knowing, and what these plastics contain, it is dangerous for humans.
In the last 70 years, the world’s plastic production has increased, which has spread to the environment and damaged it because plastic contains synthetic3 polymers that are polluted because they transport different chemicals. Scientists say that from 1945 and after, there has been a significant increase in plastic deposition.
These days, microplastic particles4 come in many different ways and are detected in food, the sea, agroecosystems, drinking water, and other places. Because they are so small, they are hard to spot, and we ingest them without knowing.
As said, there are polymers in the plastic. The combination of these different polymers, which are primarily toxic, affects the nature of plastic and leaches into the air.
Some products are classified as hazardous by the EU but are still regular products and ingredients.
The picture below shows the plastic materials that have been “outlined” due to previously being in the water that was higher. Now you can see the amount of plastic that is in the water.
Microplastics are defined as “synthetic solid particles or polymeric matrices5, with regular or irregular shape and size ranging from 1µm to 5mm, of either primary or secondary manufacturing origin, which are insoluble6 in water.”
Source:
J. Flaws, P. Damdimopoulou, H. B. Patisaul, A. Gore, L. Raetzman, L. N. Vandenberg, PLASTICS, EDCs & HEALTH A GUIDE FOR PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS AND POLICY-MAKERS ON ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS & PLASTICS. Endocrine Society, 2020.
C. Campanale, C. Massarelli, I. Savino, V. Locaputo, V. F. Uricchio. A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 1212; doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
Anna-Sophia PEDERSEN S5DAA, EEB1 / Project: Erasmus Maris
- dangerous ↩︎
- polluted ↩︎
- man-made/fake ↩︎
- small objects, can contain physical or chemical properties ↩︎
- a collection of elements ↩︎
- can’t be dissolved ↩︎
