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The World Health Organization (WHO) said that current levels of fine plastic particles in drinking water did not pose a health risk, but experts are considering the future with caution.
Considered The World Health Organization That the danger to health due to the presence of particles In plastic In potable water Few, but experts are looking at the future with caution.
In a report released Thursday, the WHO presented a synthesis of the latest knowledge about fine plastic particles in tap water, water bottles and their effects on health.
"The key message is to reassure global consumers of drinking water that, according to this assessment, we see little risk," said Bruce Gordon, WHO's coordinator for health and safety. water, sanitation, hygiene and health.
He explained that the health risk analysis related to micro-plastic particles focused mainly on three aspects, namely the risk of particle ingestion and chemical hazards, then those related to the presence of nodular bacteria.
The WHO confirmed that data on the presence of microplastics in drinking water were still limited by some reliable studies, highlighting the difficulty of comparing the results of these studies, which makes the analysis of results more complex.
The WHO urged researchers to conduct further assessment using standardized reference methods.
In particular, more than 150 microns, the fine plastic particles are not, in principle, absorbed by the human body. In addition, the ingestion of smaller molecules is "limited".
But she pointed out, on the contrary, that the absorption of nanoparticles of plastic, particularly nanoparticles, "is supposed to be higher, despite the limited data available on this subject".
"Fine plastic particles in drinking water do not seem to be harmful to health, at least at current levels," said Maria Nera, director of the WHO Public Health Department.
The report warned that if plastic residues in nature continue at the current rate, fine plastic particles could pose a general risk to marine ecosystems in a century, which will undoubtedly affect human health.
France 24 / AFP
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