Microplastics are everywhere, even in food we eat and beauty products we use. Research suggests these tiny particles can harm health, leading to colon and lung cancer.
A new study found switching from bottled water to filtered tap water could cut microplastic intake by about 90%. This is because microplastics break off from bottle surfaces when squeezed or exposed to heat.
If you can’t switch, reduce microplastic exposure in other ways. Avoid heating food in plastic containers and opt for glass or stainless steel instead. Limit canned and ultra-processed foods.
Highly processed foods contain more microplastics than chicken breasts. The world’s companies generate nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic annually, projected to increase to 1.1 billion by 2050.
Americans ingest an estimated 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles a year. Microplastics have been detected in human organs and tissues, including the brain, which contains approximately a spoon’s worth of tiny shreds of plastic.
The researchers call for more studies on long-term health effects of microplastics and clear limits on exposure. Reducing intake may not necessarily translate to measurable reduction in microplastic accumulation within human tissues.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/making-single-change-cut-microplastics-190321429.html