We are meticulous with what we eat and what we drink but have you given a thought about plastics within our body? Yeah…! Some plastics can be inside our organs without our knowledge. I know it sounds alarming.
Researchers studying samples collected by National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest expedition found evidence of microplastics near Mount Everest's summit. The highest concentrations of microplastics were around base camp. Samples showed a significant amount of polyester, acrylic, nylon, and polypropylene fibers which are mainly used to make things like tents!!!
We know it is impossible to avoid plastics: it is found in toys, shampoos, electronics and even at our household. But what many people don't know is that we are doing more than just using plastic. We're ingesting it, too. When we have a bite of food or even a sip of a glass of water, we are almost certainly taking in tiny plastic particles along with it. These tiny fragments are known as microplastics
When plastics enter the ocean, the rate of degradation and persistence of plastics varies by polymer, shape, density, and the purpose of the plastic itself. These characteristics also govern wherein the water column plastics may be found. For example, more buoyant plastics are more likely to be carried by ocean currents and wind across the environment. Additionally, when plastics are exposed to natural forces like sunlight and wave action, plastics will degrade into microplastics—defined as very small pieces of plastic, not a very specific kind of plastic, but rather any type of plastic fragment that is less than 5mm in length (basically smaller than you thumbnail!!) as per the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) and are harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
Why are they considered harmful? Since mass production of plastic began 60 years ago, humankind has produced over eight billion metric tons of plastic. Just some of them have been recycled but most of the plastics ever created amasses in landfill sites or ends up in the natural environment, eventually finding their way into rivers, streams, and oceans. Considering the size of the oceans themselves, it is not surprising that the oceans and the beaches are the largest collection point of waste plastic and source of microplastics. It is an issue of scientific concern because these microplastics due to their small size are easily accessible to a wide range of aquatic organisms and ultimately transferred along with the food web.
Do you know that researchers from the Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull have said mussels, oysters, and scallops have the highest level of microplastic contamination among seafood after 50 studies between 2014 and 2020?. Molluscs collected off the coast of Asia were the most heavily contaminated. The research even shows microplastic content was 0-10.5 microplastic per gram (MPs/g) in molluscs, 0.1-8.6 MPs/g in crustaceans, 0-2.9 MPs/g in fish. Scientists are still trying to understand the health implications for humans consuming fish and shellfish contaminated with these tiny particles.
Studies of microplastics have highlighted their ubiquity in various environments. Recently, microplastics have been observed in atmospheric fallout collected from some cities. Although the studies are limited, some researches have shown that synthetic textiles are the main source of airborne microplastics, and fibers are the dominant shape of microplastics in the atmosphere. Due to their small size, airborne microplastics can be directly inhaled posing health risks to humans, particularly to industry workers. Furthermore, airborne microplastics are contributors to microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Due to their small size, microplastics can be inhaled and may induce lesions (A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma) in the respiratory system which in turn depends on individual susceptibility and particle properties. Several observational studies have reported the inhalation of plastic fibers and particles, often coursing with dyspnea caused by airway and interstitial inflammatory responses. Ingesting microplastics could further expose us to chemicals found in some plastics that are known to be harmful. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of health problems, including reproductive harm and obesity, plus issues such as organ problems and developmental delays in children.
Scientists still aren't quite sure about the number of microplastics a body can tolerate or how much damage they do. In 2017, a study out of King's College in London hypothesized that, over time, the cumulative effect of plastic ingestion could be toxic. Different types of plastics have varying toxic properties. Some are made with toxic chemicals (like chlorine), while others pick up trace amounts of chemicals (like lead) found in the environment. A build-up of these toxins over time could impact the immune system and upset a gut's balance.
So, what shall we do about it? Could we reduce/ stop the usage of plastics? A single person or a single country cannot achieve a plastic-free environment (I mean I agree Kerala and some other states have taken an initiative to ban the usage of plastics, but please tell me how many plastic covers do we still find lying in our own house?), and nor can we stop eating food so to stop ingesting into our body. The entire world should join hands against plastics to save biodiversity. The reduction of single-use plastics, recycling the used ones and using biodegradable plastics or even using cloth/jute bags, could lead to reducing the impact of plastics on our Earth.
-Archana
© Sabari Nathan, C. & ECOR Foundation