Microplastics found in human blood for the first time or have spread all over the body: how do they get into the body? -Scientists,Blood,Plastics–Fast Technology (Media of Drive House)–Technology changes the future

Microplastics – plastic fragments smaller than soybeans are already widespread in the environment.

According to The Guardian on March 24,In a new study, scientists have identified microplastic particles in human blood for the first time.A research team in the Netherlands tested the blood of 22 volunteers. It was found that 17 of them, or about 77 percent, had quantifiable microplastic particles in their blood.

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This discovery has aroused widespread concern of the public.

So what are the microplastics in our daily life? How did microplastics “slip” into the human body? Is it harmful to the body after entering the human body?

Follow this article to find out…

Where do microplastics come from?

Microplastics were proposed by Richard Thompson of the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom in an article published in Science in 2004, and were later defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm and were generally recognized by scientists.

Common types of plastics are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon (PA), etc. These materials are chemically very stable.

In our daily production and life, plastic brings great convenience to people.

In the past, most of the applications of plastics were some food storage bags or garbage bags, but with the development of technology, plastics have been applied to all aspects of family life. Even some products that appear to be unrelated to plastic actually contain plastic as an ingredient.

Some of the care products or cosmetics we use every day, such as some microbeads in toothpaste, bath scrubs, sunscreens, etc., all use microplastics.

Microplastics are also found in many food production and consumption processes, such as canned food, coffee filters, beer, chewing gum, mineral water, table salt, and takeaway food.

In addition, detergents, cleaning agents, plastic food containers, plastic packaging, disposable cups, baby bottles, car tires, and the masks we use a lot during the epidemic are all refractory plastics.

If these items are discarded into the natural environment, after a long period of degradation, microplastics will be produced “ubiquitous”.

How do microplastics “slip” into the human body?

A paper in Science reports that microplastics can enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion.

For example, airborne particulate PM2.5 (<2.5µm), particulates from diesel exhaust, and particulates from car tire brake friction can cross cell membranes, trigger oxidative stress and inflammation, and interact with associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular and respiratory disease or lung cancer.

Studies have shown that micron-sized plastic particles can enter all organs through cell membranes, placenta and even the brain, but it is still unclear whether microplastics have a dose-dependent effect on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of microplastics in the human body. Know.

At present, scientists are also committed to research on this issue. Although the presence of microplastics has been detected in human blood, how microplastics enter the bloodstream is unclear, and scientists speculate that they may enter the bloodstream through contaminated air, water or food. How microplastics flow in the blood, and by what route, remains to be further studied.

How can we deal with microplastics?

Although today’s social life has been closely related to plastic products, plastic pollution is also increasing.

In daily life, we can reduce the use of disposable products such as plastic boxes and plastic bags, properly dispose of plastic waste, do a good job of sorting waste, and do not discard it at will.

Try to choose cotton clothes and shopping bags; try to use public transportation for daily travel; avoid using some daily toiletries that contain microbeads, and choose some products that contain natural exfoliating ingredients, such as oatmeal or salt.

At present, scientific researchers are also working on the development of some environmentally friendly materials to seek new materials that can replace some plastic products without causing environmental burdens. Recently, at the Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly, heads of state, environment ministers and other representatives from 175 countries signed and passed the “Resolution on Ending Plastic Pollution (Draft)”, which aims to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee to reach an agreement by 2024. An internationally legally binding agreement covering all aspects of plastic product design, production, recycling and disposal.

Therefore, it is expected that in the future, social plastics will gradually move away from our lives.

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