2024-01-11 17:00:00
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Microplastics are present in all ecosystems. From the most remote places at the poles of the Earth to the peaks of the Pyrenees, Plastic particles seem to be colonizing every corner of our planet. Scientists know that this material has been circulating in animal food chains for years; however, until now, the risk of exposure to humans had not been resolved.
An interdisciplinary team led by the biologist of the University of Victoria, Kieran D. Cox, evaluated in the study titled Human Consumption of Microplastics the number of plastic microparticles present in commonly consumed foods in the average American diet and published the results in the specialized journal Environment, Science and Tecnology.
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“Our analysis was based on data from 26 different studies, representing more than 3,600 processed samples. By evaluating approximately 15% of Americans’ caloric intake, we estimate that annual consumption of microplastics can range from 39,000 to 52,000 particles, depending on age and sex,” Cox states in a press release issued through the American Chemical Association (ACS). Among the foods studied were various shellfish, including bivalves and crustaceans; fish; products such as honey, salt and sugar, and liquids such as beer and water.
“The annual consumption of microplastics can vary between 39,000 to 52,000 particles depending on age and sex,” explains Kieran Cox, lead author of the study.
The study also investigated the possibility of inhalation of microplastics and how different sources of drinking water can affect their consumption. “These estimates increase to between 74,000 and 121,000 when inhalation is considered. Additionally, people who drink the recommended daily amount of water through bottled sources may ingest an additional 90,000 microplastic particles per year, compared to 4,000 for those who only consume tap water” he explains.
Such estimates are subject to large amounts of variation; However, given the methodological and data limitations, these values are probably underestimated, so even more studies will be needed to accurately determine the plastic that we can ingest in our daily lives.
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