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Tiny pieces of plastic -

A newly released study has found that bottled water contains hundreds of thousands of "nanoplastics." These tiny fragments are just 100 nanometers (or less) in size.

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Nanoplastics -

Nanoplastics are ubiquitous in urban waters. They have distinct characteristics when compared to microplastics, and because of their size it's even more difficult to analyze them.

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Bottled water -

An average liter plastic bottle of water contains almost a quarter of a million nanoplastic fragments, according to researchers at Columbia and Rutgers in the US.

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Research -

The researchers found that much of the consumption was coming from the water bottle itself, and it's unknown whether this poses a serious public health risk.

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WHO findings -

In 2019, the World Health Organization concluded there was not enough evidence to prove that consumption or inhalation of microplastics posed a risk.

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WHO findings -

They warned, however, that particles measuring less than 10 micrometers are more than likely to be taken up biologically, and called for a reduction in plastic pollution.

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Microplastics in food -

But our exposure to microplastics isn't limited to just the water we drink. They're also spread on farming land, to eventually end up in the food we eat.

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Microplastics in farmland -

In an analysis from 2022, it was found that the sewerage sludge used to fertilize crops has contaminated almost 20 million acres of US farmland.

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Sewerage -

The "forever chemicals," aka PFA's (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and microplastics found in the sludge have also been proven to contaminate European farmlands each year.

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Plastic in every bite -

Whether we realize it or not, each bite we take could contain microplastics. Plastics seem to accumulate most in the roots of vegetables, so carrots, radishes, and turnips may contain higher amounts than, say, leafy green vegetables.

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Microplastics in the lungs -

In 2022, scientists discovered microparticles inside human lungs and blood for the first time. The discovery highlighted the urgency of the need to find alternatives to plastic.

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Human organs -

In previous years, microplastics have been found in human organs including the spleen, kidney, and liver.

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Microplastics in the brain - A recent study found that brain samples from 2024 had more plastic shards than those from 2016. Brains also had seven to 30 times more plastic than the kidneys and liver, said co-lead study author Matthew Campen, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. "Compared to autopsy brain samples from 2016, that’s about 50% higher," he said. "That would mean that our brains today are 99.5% brain and the rest is plastic."

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Microplastics in the brain -

Researchers found three to five times more tiny plastic shards in the brains of 12 people who had been diagnosed with dementia than in healthy ones. The fragments were in blood vessel walls and immune cells. Furthermore, inflammation and brain atrophy in dementia may act as a "sink" for plastics, Campen said.

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Consumer products -

The source of the microplastics found in the human body varies, but consumer products including plastic bottles, textile fibers (especially in polyester), and food packaging found in the ocean, air, seafood, and even salt are the most likely sources.

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Consumption -

On average, it's believed Americans consume around 126 particles of microplastics and inhale 132 particles of microplastics every day. While most of these will pass through the bowel and leave the body, others remain in small amounts and accumulate.

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Degrading of microplastics -

Microplastics are made of toxic, harmful compounds like plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, and lubricants that don't degrade for decades.

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Degrading of microplastics -

Extensive research is underway to determine what the long-term effects of these microplastics in the body will be, given their slow degrading nature.

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BPA -

A common chemical used in plastic, BPA is a known endocrine (hormone system) disruptor, and many companies now produce BPA-free plastic. But it's not the only one.

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Carcinogenic -

Many other chemicals present in plastics are endocrine disruptors, too, and carcinogenic. Chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes are linked to the release of these chemicals.

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Highly processed foods -

Microplastics break off from bigger pieces of plastic, ending up in food via the production and storage process. The more highly processed the food, the greater the amount of microplastics in them.

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PET plastics -

Water bottles containing PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics have become common, however, plastic particles are leached into the drink contained in them, which can end up in your blood.

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Unavoidable? -

While there are steps we can take as individuals to reduce our microplastic consumption, the population of microplastics makes consuming them unavoidable in one form or another.

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Manufacturing companies -

Millions of tons of microplastics are produced by manufacturing companies, only to end up in bodies of water that circulate around the world.

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Plastic pollution -

Larger plastics found in bodies of water are degraded by the sun into small plastics that can end up in the drinking water supply.

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The truth about recycling -

The majority of plastic that's sent for recycling isn't recycled. Many of the plastic bottles and bags that are sent ultimately end up in a landfill.

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Excessive plastic use -

In daily life, our reliance on plastic packaging is astounding. Food packaging, in particular, is unnecessary: fruits and vegetables don't need to be covered in plastic packaging, but often are.

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Regulation -

In the US in recent years, there have been cutbacks on regulations and environmental protection policies. These will impact the future of microplastic consumption.

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Clothes -

Another potential way that microplastics can be absorbed by the body is through clothing. Oftentimes more cheaply made clothes will contain higher levels of synthetic materials. This puts people at lower incomes at a higher risk of this type of contamination.

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Biodegradable plastics -

Biodegradable plastics can take a long time to disintegrate—years, in fact. Usually, they break down into smaller pieces, rather than component chemical parts. These kinds of products could be compounding the plastics problem.

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Glass bottles -

Glass is made from silica, which has a higher carbon footprint than drink cartons and aluminum cans. Although their recycling rate is higher, it's a complex issue—the production of glass can lead to land deterioration and a loss of biodiversity.

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The future? -

Researchers have been looking towards bacteria and fungi that feed on plastic and can break down these materials. A kind of beetle larvae has been found to devour polystyrene. Chemical treatments and water filtration systems that can remove microplastics are also being examined.

Sources: (BBC Future) (The Science Survey) (National Geographic) (ScienceDirect)

See also: How noise pollution is harming your health

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