The figures for plastic pollution are very alarming. It is estimated that approximately 8 million pieces of plastic every day and 12 million tons of this material per year. All this means death. 100,000 mammals and sea turtlesand also 1 million birdsBig plastic is a problem, but microplastics They are even more alarming, if that is possible, because they may be invisible to our eyes.
They end up in the sea in a million ways, from fibres discarded in washing machines to the deterioration of larger pieces of plastic. Once in the oceans, they begin a cycle through which they can reach us in the most bizarre ways. It is believed that 1 of 3 fish caught in the sea, there’s plastic inside. But that’s not the strangest place they’ve ended up.
Microplastics found in very different locationswhether inside the human body, in food or in remote places around the world. They spread without our knowledge, so instead of stopping their movement after they have been released, we should take care to reduce the amount of plastic we throw away and avoid or recycle it as much as possible. Every ton of plastic produced is thrown into the environment. 2.5 tons of carbon dioxideso the problem is much bigger than it seems. The best solution is to nip it in the bud.
Microplastics in infant meconium
It is known as meconium. first stool of newborns. So it’s strange to think that a newborn could already have microplastics in their body. But they do.
In 2021, an international team of scientists conducted a study with babies and adults, aimed at analyzing the amount of microplastics in the faeces of each of them. They participated 6 one-year-old babies, 3 newborns and 10 adults.So this is a small study, but its results can be explained by other studies and are sufficient to continue analyzing this issue.
Interestingly, the level of microplastics in one-year-olds was higher than in adults. In fact, when adding up the amounts found, it was concluded that there was more in the feces of 6 children than in 10 adults. This can be explained by the fact that children They bite toys, bottles and plastic cutlery. constantly. Their clothes may also be made of plastic fibers. That makes sense. But what about toddlers who haven’t bitten much yet?
In meconium, the levels of microplastics were equivalent to those in adult faeces. And this does make sense, as a number of studies have shown the presence of microplastics in the uterus. So they could be in the bodies of babies even before they were born. It is not known whether the levels at which they were found are harmful to your health, but it is worth further study.
Pollution at the highest point on the planet
The highest mountain in the world is Everest. Few have climbed to the top. But microplastics have indeed made it there.
It was discovered in 2019 by an interdisciplinary team of more than 30 scientists who travelled along the river valley. Khumbu in Nepalsetting up five weather stations and collecting hundreds of samples of rocks, water, snow, ice and other materials. The goal was to gather information for a special issue of the magazine. One Earth which will show how human pollution reaches the most unexpected places.
Very alarming phenomena were discovered, such as a very accelerated thaw, as well as other surprising data, such as presence of microplastics in snow from a point near the summit. Specifically, they were common fibers in fabrics used to make outdoor sports clothing. So it is most likely that they arrived there with the few climbers who had ascended the highest of the eight-thousanders.
Give me a pint of microplastics
Microplastics have also been found in beer. This was found in a study published in 2022, which from 1212 to 9659 microplastic particles per 100 ml of beer.
This may seem odd considering that the drink is usually bottled in glass or metal cans. The study authors believe that all these particles may come from raw materials with which beer is prepared, including water, or vessels and materials are engaged in recycling. Interestingly, this and other studies found more microplastics than bottled mineral water.
Microplastics are also in the clouds, but not because of distraction
If there are microplastics in sea and river water, it is not so far-fetched to think that they can be found. in the cloudsbecause they consist of water evaporating from the surface of the earth. But what is surprising is the quantity in which they occur, the height and their effects.
The first study to analyze the presence of microplastics in clouds was conducted by a group of Japanese scientists. Samples were taken from clouds surrounding the peaks of two mountains in Japan. Mount Fuji, 3776 meters high, and Mount Oyamathe summit of which is at an altitude of 1252 meters.
It was found that for every liter of cloud water there is from 6.7 to 13.9 pieces of microplastic. It’s unclear how they can rise so high. But what worries scientists most is the possibility that these microplastics will be spread by rain to isolated places where no human hand has been. That would make plastic everywhere (and it is everywhere).
Also in the testicles
Microplastics have been found in many parts of the human body. from blood into breast milkpassing through the deepest part of the respiratory system. And yes, the testicles.
In May 2024, a study was published that analyzed the presence of microplastics in the body. 23 human testicles and 47 dog testicles.. The particles were found in all the samples analyzed. In the case of the human testicles, the samples had been preserved and there were no more traces of sperm. However, in the dogs, they had recent samples of the entire testicle and were able to confirm that sperm count It was much lower in those with the most microplastics. It appears to be a worrying link that could impact fertility, so it will need to be studied further.
One thing is clear: microplastics, whether through food and water or through inhalation, are already part of our bodies on many levels. If we don’t want to reduce plastic use in marine ecosystems (and for that reason alone we should), let’s do it for our health. Everything comes back, and microplastics are also coming back to us.
Source: Hiper Textual
