How do microplastics silently harm the body? How can harm be reduced?
Microplastics, which may not sound as directly dangerous, are everywhere – from old electronic devices to carpets and furniture in our homes to building materials, microplastics harbor chemicals that can pose a threat to our health. The latest research has found that these tiny pieces of plastic not only carry harmful chemicals, but may also pass through our skin and enter our blood system.
But here's the problem, microplastics are more than just tiny pieces of plastic. These tiny presences can become health hazards. Studies have found that microplastics can pass through our skin and quietly release toxic chemicals that are used to increase the safety of products such as electronics and furniture, such as flame retardants. However, these flame retardants may interfere with our hormonal system, affect the nervous system, and even be linked to certain types of cancer.
How do microplastics (plastic toxins) invade the body?
Image
Plastic toxins (microplastics, etc.) invade the body silently mainly by:
1. Dietary intake: Food and water may contain microplastics that enter the body during eating.
2. Respiratory inhalation: Microplastics in the air can enter the lungs with breathing.
3. Skin penetration: direct contact with the skin, which may enter the body through the skin.
Recent discoveries by researchers at the University of Birmingham have caught the attention of the public and the scientific community. They found that chemicals such as flame retardants could migrate from microplastics into simulated human skin within 24 hours, and that absorption was surprisingly high in the case of simulated sweating.
The research team conducted experiments using an innovative 3D human skin model to simulate the structure and function of human skin and observe how chemicals in microplastics enter the human body through sweat. Experiments have found that these chemicals that leach out of plastics, such as PBDEs, a chemical commonly used to make plastics fireproof, are absorbed by the skin, especially when sweating more.
What are the effects of microplastics (plastic toxins) on the human body?
Image
Microplastics may have the following effects on human health:
1. Potential toxicity: Microplastics may adsorb some harmful substances and bring these toxins into the human body and cause damage to organs.
2. Intestinal problems: may cause intestinal inflammation, intestinal flora imbalance, etc.
3. Immune Response: Triggers an immune response that leads to allergies or other immune-related problems.
4. Affect the endocrine system: interfere with hormone secretion and affect normal physiological functions.
5. Accumulation risk: Long-term ingestion may accumulate in the body, increasing potential health risks.
How are microplastics (plastic toxins) produced?
Microplastics are plastic particles and fibers less than 5 mm in diameter, which usually originate from the decomposition of plastic products. Here are some of the pathways in which microplastics are generated:
1. Decomposition of plastic products: Plastic products will gradually decompose during use, producing microplastics. For example, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic packaging, etc. will gradually break into tiny particles in the natural environment through wind, sun, rain and other actions.
2. Personal care products: Certain personal care products, such as toothpaste, facial cleanser, shower gel, etc., may contain plastic microbeads that are discharged into sewage during use.
3. Industrial production and emissions: Some industrial production processes, such as plastic processing, textiles, etc., produce microplastic particles. In addition, the discharge of industrial wastewater may also introduce microplastics into the environment.
4. Agricultural activities: agricultural plastics
5. Accumulation risk: Long-term ingestion may accumulate in the body, increasing potential health risks.
How are microplastics (plastic toxins) produced?
Microplastics are plastic particles and fibers less than 5 mm in diameter, which usually originate from the decomposition of plastic products. Here are some of the pathways in which microplastics are generated:
1. Decomposition of plastic products: Plastic products will gradually decompose during use, producing microplastics. For example, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic packaging, etc. will gradually break into tiny particles in the natural environment through wind, sun, rain and other actions.
2. Personal care products: Certain personal care products, such as toothpaste, facial cleanser, shower gel, etc., may contain plastic microbeads that are discharged into sewage during use.
3. Industrial production and emissions: Some industrial production processes, such as plastic processing, textiles, etc., produce microplastic particles. In addition, the discharge of industrial wastewater may also introduce microplastics into the environment.
4. Agricultural activities: Agricultural plastic films, plastic ropes, etc., may decompose to produce microplastics after use and disposal.
5. Marine activities: The use of marine equipment such as ships and fishing nets, as well as the presence of marine litter, can lead to the production and spread of microplastics.
6. Air pollution: Worn car tires, dust in the air, etc. may also contain microplastics, which enter the human body through breathing
7. Migration of plastic containers: During the use of plastic containers, microplastics may migrate out of the surface of the container due to contact with the contents, temperature changes, mechanical actions, etc. These microplastics can get into the food, beverages, or other substances they contain, increasing the risk of ingesting microplastics. For example, if you put a single-use plastic bottle of mineral water in the trunk of a car and drink it after a while, it will have a taste. There are also experiments that prove that when the food in a plastic lunch box is heated in a microwave oven, hundreds of millions of microplastics will be precipitated.
In July 2023, the journal Environmental Science and Technology published a study on the release of microplastics and nanoplastics from plastic containers in different use scenarios. The results of the study found that microwave heating resulted in the highest amount of microplastics and nanoplastics released into food compared to refrigerated or room temperature use, with more than 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics released per square centimeter container.
Scan QR code 
