Microplastics are everywhere, even in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. A new study estimates the amount of these tiny plastic particles that we inhale on a daily basis, and it’s nothing short of surprising.
Microplastics are fast accumulating in our bodies, as the tiny particles end up in multiple organs, including the brain, testicles, heart, stomach, lymph nodes, and placenta, note several studies. The risks of microplastic exposure are detailed in a The New England Journal of Medicine study.
A new study published in the journal Plos One finds out that humans can inhale as much as 68,000 tiny plastic particles every day.
While the larger pieces of microplastics in the air aren’t much of a health threat as they do not lodge deep into the pulmonary system, nano plastics can go deep in the body, and reach the brain, the heart, and the placenta.
These ultra-small bits measuring between 1 and 10 micrometers or about one-seventh the thickness of a human hair can circulate inside the body with ease.
The findings of the study “suggest that the health impacts of microplastic inhalation may be more substantial than we realize”, said the authors.
“We were quite surprised about the microplastic levels we found – it was much higher than previously estimated,” said Nadiia Yakovenko, a microplastics researcher and study co-author with France’s University of Toulouse. “The size of the particle is small and well-known to transfer into tissue, which is dangerous because it can enter into the bloodstream and go deep into the respiratory system.”
While food and water were usually considered the main entry points for microplastics, recent studies highlight the growing threat of microplastic pollution, which may increase the risk of chronic pulmonary inflammation, raising the risk of lung cancer.
Microplastics threat in apartments
The study also highlights that the risk of indoor microplastic pollution is much greater than outdoor, due to poor ventilation. The concentration of microplastics indoors is far higher than outdoor air, which could be concerning given people tend to spend most of their time indoors.
Researchers say any human activity could kick up the microplastics because the bits are so light. The levels were much higher in an apartment in which two people lived because of virtually any human activity that kicks up the particles. Smaller particles stay suspended in the air longer because they are lighter, said Yakovenko.
“Any movement of air, vibrations, your movement, if you walk, sit down, stand up, if you open a window – all this is going to resuspend the particles,” Yakovenko said.
Microplastics are even higher inside the cars
Researchers noted that the air inside the cars is four times more polluted with microplastics compared to apartments. This is because of the smaller space and poor ventilation.
Eliminating plastics and replacing them with products made of wood, metal and natural fibres or materials can help.
The solution
Regular vacuuming with a Hepa vacuum and dusting can help reduce microplastics concentration, say the researchers. In case of cars, opening windows may ventilate a car cabin, but microplastic pollution from tires cannot be ruled out.