The truth about: Microplastics

Scientists previously estimated that yearly human consumption of microplastics was around 50,000 particles but a more recent study shows that they underestimated just how much plastic we are eating.

The new study calculated an average of 142,000 Microplastic particles (MP) per gram hidden inside our fruits and vegetables. The most contaminated ones they found were apples and carrots, popular snack foods for children.

 What’s scary is that these particles are invisible to the human eye, people eat and drink plastic every day without even realizing it.

They also found 600 MP per kg of sea salt and 44 MP per litre of bottled water (the biggest source of consumable microplastics).

This puts the new estimate puts the daily microplastic intake for children at 1,410,000!

It is suspected that microplastics can decrease the size and fertility of the consumer and the chemicals from plastics can disrupt hormones in the body with connections to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Inside of ‘disposable’ to-go coffee cups and a mix of hydrocarbons and chemical plasticizers were detected from the inner coating which migrate into hot drinks such as coffee particularly with added fats e.g. milk. Phthalates are suspected hormone disrupting chemicals which people are exposed to from coffee, but also various other products contaminated by packaging or during production. Doctor’s also suspect that the long chain hydrocarbons could accumulate in body fat.

What effect it is having on us, today’s kids and what it will do to future generation is still unknown. 

Have a wonderful day.
HAQUA Research Dept.