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- According to a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, humans may be consuming anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 micro plastic particles a year.
- The researchers had analysed various data sets on micro plastic contamination and compared them to typical diet and consumption habits of Americans.
- The scientists have reported that drinking a lot of bottled water drastically increased the particles consumed. Further, taking into account the amount of pollution a person breathes in, the number can rise to 121000 particles.
- According to scientists, the health impacts of ingesting microplastics are unknown, but they could release toxic substances. Further, some pieces are small enough to penetrate human tissues, where they could trigger immune reactions.
- Microplastics are plastics which are less than five mm in diameter in size. Sources of micro plastic include clothing, cosmetics, industrial processes etc.
- Microplastics pollution has become a major environmental concern. According to a 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report, microplastics are estimated to constitute up to 30% of marine litter polluting the oceans.
- Recently, scientists have discovered micro plastics in a remote area of the Pyrenees Mountains, which runs between France and Spain. Other recent studies have found micro plastics in farmland soils near Shanghai, China, in the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO world heritage site, and in rivers in the Czech Republic
