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Scientists have been warning us for years about the potential dangers of plastics in the human food chain. Now, they say they have the first real evidence that we are absorbing and emitting microscopic particles of petroleum-based substances. That's right, people: according to a new study, we have plastic in our poo.
The new research was presented in Vienna this week during UEG Week, a conference for the United European Gastroenterology organization. These are stool samples taken from eight participants around the world: Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom and Austria.
At the conference, researchers from the Vienna Medical School and the Environment Agency Austria reported that each stool sample tested was positive for the presence of microplastics, ie plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Up to nine different types of plastic have been identified in the samples, including common products such as polypropylene, polyethylene and terephthalate.
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Of course, it's pretty bad to know that we use plastic. But what exactly does this mean for our health? This part is still unclear, but, according to a UEG Week press release, microplastics could accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, "where it could affect the tolerance and immune response of the intestine ". the body, say the scientists.
How these plastic particles enter the gastrointestinal tract also is not known for sure. But the researchers behind the study claim that plastic containers for food and beverages may be there for something.
Microplastics are sometimes made for specific purposes (such as tiny exfoliating pearls in some skincare products), but they can also be created unintentionally when larger pieces of plastic break down due to inclement weather or weather conditions. 39; wear. Previous research has shown that bottled water can contain microplastics and that people who eat often at restaurants are more likely to contain higher levels of phthalates (a chemical in some plastics) in their urine than those who eat mainly at home.
We could also consume animals – such as fish and other types of seafood – that ingested microplastics found in the environment. Participants in the new study kept food diaries during the week before their stool samples, which showed that they had all been exposed to packaged foods or plastic bottles. None were vegetarians and six had eaten fish.
In the new study, all found microplastics were between 50 and 500 micrometers. On average, every 10 grams of stool contained about 50 microplastic particles.
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Senior researcher Philipp Schwabl, MD, said in a press release that this study confirmed what we had long suspected: that plastics can reach the intestine. This is worrying for human health, he says, especially for patients with gastrointestinal diseases.
"Although the highest concentrations of plastic in animal studies have been found in the intestine, the smallest microplastic particles are able to penetrate the bloodstream, the lymphatic system and can even reach the liver. ", said Dr. Schwabl. "Now that we have the first evidence of microplastics in humans, we need more research to understand what this means for human health."
Many scientists and activists say that this research can not happen soon enough. Global plastic production has increased significantly since the 1950s, according to the World Economic Forum, and continues to grow each year. Not only are most people regularly exposed to plastic in their daily lives, but it is estimated that 2-5% of plastics produced end up in waterways, where they are consumed by marine animals and enter the food chain.
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In July, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a statement aimed at helping people navigate the confusing world of plastics and potential health risks. The organization recommends avoiding plastics containing recycling codes 3, 6 and 7, unless they are also labeled "biosourced" or "greenware".
These classes of plastics (which may include phthalates, styrene and bisphenols) are associated with the strongest evidence of potential health risks, says PAA, especially for children and pregnant women. But the release also recommends common sense precautions when handling all kinds of plastics: do not put them in the microwave or dishwasher, and try to choose whole foods rather than processed and packaged as much as possible.
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