Microplastics can be found virtually anywhere. They have been detected in your liver, blood, and even within your brain, and they're almost impossible to avoid Luckily, there are several measures you can adopt to reduce your risk of exposure.
"This genuinely constitutes a public health emergency that remains widely unrecognized," stated Sherri Mason, a specialist in freshwater and plastic pollution from Gannon University located in Pennsylvania. She advised individuals to minimize their contact with these risks by recognizing the presence of plastics in their daily lives and seeking methods to decrease consumption.
A fresh opinion piece published Tuesday in the journal Brain Medicine pinpointed major methods to reduce microplastic pollution. The study’s primary author, Nicholas Fabiano, noted that despite new research indicating otherwise, "There isn’t extensive knowledge about the long-term impacts of these microplastics; however, growing evidence suggests they’re definitely not harmless."
Below are five methods to decrease your intake of harmful substances through food and beverages.
Drink tap water
Consuming bottled water might introduce you to myriad tiny bits of plastic. Indeed, bottled water serves as the primary route for people to encounter microplastics, according to Mason.
Researchers have found An average liter of bottled water includes approximately 240,000 tiny plastic particles, primarily consisting of nanoplastics, which are so small they measure only a portion of the width of a strand of human hair.
Transitioning from bottled water to filtered tap water could potentially reduce microplastic intake Microplastics are also present in tap water, though in lesser quantities.
Boiling and filtering water Can assist in eliminating as much as 90 percent of plastic particles from drinking water; however, specialists caution that this might also lead to an increased release of harmful substances into the water.
Many individuals in the U.S. do not require bottled water; tap water is both safer and better regulated. ,” Mason said.
Avoid plastic food containers
Plastic usage is frequently inevitable, yet numerous methods can minimize your food's contact with plastics. This encompasses using alternative types of storage containers as well, according to Jane Muncke, who serves as the managing director and chief science officer for the Food Packaging Forum—a research institution.
Specialists advise individuals to swap out foods packaged in plastic for alternative options. This might be as straightforward as purchasing peanut butter in a glass jar instead.
"Any product encased in plastic releases microplastics from these materials," Mason stated.
Canned foods and drink containers present another route of plastic contamination for people. The liners inside these cans frequently release microplastics and can emit dangerous chemicals.
Utilize glass containers when using the microwave.
One study discovered that heating food in plastic containers and reusable food pouches using a microwave can lead to the release of over 4 million microplastic and 2 billion nanoplastic particles per square centimeter within only three minutes.
Muncke stated that heat can cause microplastics to move around, hence it's best to refrain from placing hot meals in plastic containers and ensure they aren’t kept in direct sunlight or other heated areas. She also mentioned that substances such as those found in acidic drinks like orange juice and similar fruit beverages, along with oily foods, might enhance this leakage process.
Avoid highly processed foods
Heavily processed foods have considerably higher levels of microplastics compared to those that are minimally processed. study The study found microplastics in all 16 protein-based items they examined. Among these, breaded shrimp showed the highest levels of plastic contamination. Processed chicken nuggets were discovered to contain approximately 30 times more microplastics per gram compared to unprocessed chicken breast meat.
"As a general guideline, the higher the degree of processing or ultra-processing in foods, the greater the release of micro-nanoplastics," Muncke stated.
Microplastics might also be lurking in your spice cabinet. A study from 2023 revealed this. study The research uncovered significant amounts of plastics within various types of salt. This investigation examined seven different kinds of salt such as iodized, seawater-derived, and even Himalayan pink salt. Every type tested contained detectable levels of microplastics; however, the coarser varieties like Himlayan pink salt and black salt showed higher concentrations of these microscopic particles. In contrast, iodized salt exhibited lower contamination levels.
Skip the plastic tea bags
Nylon teabags, constructed from plastic materials, have the potential to release over 11 billion microplastic pieces and 3 billion nanoplastic fragments within just one bag.
One method to circumvent issues linked with plastic tea bags is brewing loose-leaf tea. Additionally, utilizing tea bags crafted from cellulose—a biodegradable substance—is significantly safer compared to using plastics. These cellulose-based bags also enhance the tea’s ability to soak up flavors. other harmful materials like heavy metals.
Shannon Osaka provided input for this report.