People Consume More Than 70,000 Plastic Particles Every Year | New Study

  • An average person consumes at least 72,000 particles of plastic every year. 
  • When inhalation is included, these estimates rise up to 121,000. 
  • The estimates are based on 402 data points from 26 different studies. 

In 2015, about 4.9 billion metric tons of plastic waste was found in landfills and natural environment. If unimpeded, this number could go up to 12 billion metric tons by 2050.

An increasing amount of evidence shows that microplastics are being included into food items (via animals ingesting microplastics), and contamination by plastic production and packaging.

Recently, Canadian researchers published a report stating that an average human consumes more than 70,000 particles of microplastic every year and breathes in a similar quantity. These estimates are based on US dietary data and a thorough review of the literature.

The true number could be much larger, as only 15% of Americans’ caloric intake has been analyzed. When inhalation is included, these estimates rise up to 121,000.

The research team analyzed commonly consumed products, including sources of honey, salt, alcohol, seafood, and tap and bottled water. They used the US Environmental Protection Agency’s reported respiration rates to estimate the potential consumption of microplastic particles. They also calculated how this consumption might vary according to sex and age.

They examined more than 400 data points, including 3600 processed samples, from 26 different studies. Every single data point shows the concentration of microplastic within a particular item reported within a study.

Reference: American Chemical Society | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.9b01517 

Although the effects of consuming microplastic on human health are not well-understood, particles less than 130 micrometers can penetrate human tissues and trigger immune reactions by releasing toxic chemicals like persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals.

Results

Annual consumption of microplastic particles [via ingestion and inhalation] by male adults, male children, female adults, female children are estimated to be 121000, 81000, 98000, and 74000, respectively.

The annual intake of microplastic particles [via drinking bottled water] are estimated to be 127000, 75000, 93000, and 64000, for male adults, male children, female adults, and female children, respectively. However, if tap water is the only source, the estimates are 6000, 3000, 4000, and 3000.

Since research in this field is still in its infancy, there exist several limitations within the available literature. To find out the exact impact, it’s necessary to analyze contamination of other major food groups, such as beef, vegetables, and grains.

Read: Organic Food Is Worse For The Climate Than Conventionally Farmed Food

Considering the current scenario, such harmful particles will continue to be found in a wide range of products that humans consume directly. We are producing a huge amount of plastic and it is slowing destroying our ecosystem. Eliminating single-use plastic and supporting companies that are adapting non-plastic packaging could really make a significant impact.

Written by
Varun Kumar

I am a professional technology and business research analyst with more than a decade of experience in the field. My main areas of expertise include software technologies, business strategies, competitive analysis, and staying up-to-date with market trends.

I hold a Master's degree in computer science from GGSIPU University. If you'd like to learn more about my latest projects and insights, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email at [email protected].

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