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The environmental impacts of excessive use of plastic are visible to the naked eye.Recent research shows the presence of materials in the water that reaches homes, in industrial foods and in the animals we eat regularly, such as fish, without any clear answer as to the consequences.Ure University researchers have badyzed stool samples from residents of eight countries (Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Finland, United Kingdom and Austria) and have detected microplastics in the whole material.
The team has identified up to nine variants of sizes ranging from 50 to 500 micrometers (the smallest part of the millimeter), the most for example, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
. first study of this kind to prove what we suspected for a long time: plastics reached the intestine, "Philipp Schwabl, lead author of the study, presented at the European Congress of Gastroenterology Vienna.
Following the publicity [19659004] A number of scientists have been involved in answering this question, such as Ji-Su Kim, from the Department of Marine Sciences, National University of Incheon, Korea, where he and his team badyzed 39 salt brands. from 21 countries, only three had traces of microplasty: one from China, one from Taiwan and one from France. "Our discovery means that the plastics we discharge into the environment come back proportionally. We are not yet fully aware of the risks involved. However, given our estimate, salt intake appears to contribute little to overall microplant consumption, "notes the study's author, published in the October issue of Environmental Science and Technology.
In the Water [19659008] Water can also be one of the resources responsible for the indirect consumption of plastics.American researchers badyzed 159 samples taken from faucets in different countries and identified residues in 81% of them, as well as peculiarities according to the economic characteristics of the populations. "One of the surprising discoveries was that, together, the developed countries had a microplistictic density per liter of running water equal to each country in development, "said Mary Kosuth, researcher at the University of Minnesota and author of the study, published in April.
According to the scientist, there are missing elements to explain the difference. "We need to look at other factors, such as population density, source, filtering methods, use, collection and recycling of plastic, to understand how they contribute to this result. "
For experts, the best thing to do to control the problem of contamination reduce the consumption of disposable plastic items for single use, such as straws and disposable cups. "We did not think about the consequence when we throw them in. If you go home and find the drain clogged, the faucet running and the sink overflowing, it will not pick up the scrub. It will probably close the We need to solve this problem at the source, and we should look closely at alternatives to truly biodegradable polymers, "he says.
On the packaging
The risk of food contamination by plastic also comes from the packaging. A survey conducted by the organization of the newspaper Orb Media shows the presence of this material in 93% of the water supplied by the bottle. We badyzed 11 brands worldwide, from nine countries on five continents. The liquid was contaminated with several types of plastic, such as nylon and PET. The results, released in March, prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to announce an investigation into the potential risks of this exposure.
In Brazil, a team from the University of Campinas (Unicamp) showed possible risks for babies. also by the way the supplied food is packaged. The researchers evaluated 200 bottles of six brands and found the presence of toxic substances based on silicone and plastic in drinks stored in these containers. in October, even without containing bisphenol A, which is banned because of proven harmful effects, these objects require caution. "We have seen other interesting points such as the presence of lead in one of the nozzles badyzed, even at low concentration, something troubling," he says.
The scientist says that more plastic materials used in everyday life will be studied. "We want to badyze silicone utensils and cups, as well as more children's materials, such as spoons, I think this issue needs to be deepened in Brazil, because something similar to pesticides." In the case of plastics, however, they are found in larger quantities, "he says. showed how these materials are present in the water and oceans and reach the human body. But we do not know exactly what it can trigger. Some animal research indicates a decrease in iron absorption, which can lead to liver changes. The consumption of plastic could interfere with the flora and intestinal mucosa. I think that over time we will better understand the effects of this material on the body, but we must still be cautious.
Cludia Ottaiano, Clinical Oncologist at the Santa Lcia Hospital Oncology Center and Full Member of the Brazilian Society of Oncology Clnica
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