More and more research shows that microplastics are everywhere and may pose a risk to human health. We recently wrote about the fact that chewing gum — even natural gum — contains microplastics. They seem inescapable.
Microplastics are minuscule plastics created by larger plastics breaking down. They can get into our systems through breathing or ingestion.
Knowing that they are all around us and in our bodies, a new study looked at how microplastics may impact our bodies. It found that communities with higher concentrations of microplastics also had higher rates of high blood pressure, blood sugar concerns, strokes and other noncontagious illness.
People who were exposed to high levels of microplastics had the same heightened risk for strokes as certain ethnic groups and folks without health insurance — both of which can be factors. However, the study was observational, meaning they saw a pattern but cannot prove cause and effect. Areas with high concentrations of microplastics could have other things in common that could raise health risks.
Tiny plastics can enter the body through the intestines, get into the bloodstream and collect in organs and tissue. That could leave the body more vulnerable to other toxins and cause it to not function as well as it should.
The amount of microplastics in our bodies is unnerving. Ziya Tong is the former co-host of Discovery Channel’s “Daily Planet.” While making a documentary about the problem, she was tested to see how many microplastics were in her body. She had about a teaspoon worth of microplastic in her veins.
“Making the film ‘Plastic People’ made me realize I am a human landfill,” Ms. Tong said.
Ms. Tong is health-conscious, has furniture upholstered in natural fibers, wraps her leftovers in wax paper instead of plastic wrap and avoids fast food. But, despite trying to avoid it, she still had it in her body. She pointed out that banning plastic bags and straws doesn’t do much when so many everyday objects are made of plastic.
There are public health initiatives that try to put plastic out of our lives. England and France have both banned plastic in single-use cutlery. (https://www.yahoo.com/news/researchers-uncover-alarming-particles-hiding-101540236.html) The bags in the produce section in California are no longer made of plastic. But that’s not enough. You have to take a look at your own life. Ms. Tong is a perfect example of someone who is trying her best. By combining the government policies with actions we take at home, we might be able to turn things around. Putting your leftovers in glass containers rather than plastic and not microwaving Tupperware are all steps in the right direction!
