How dangerous are microplastics and how often do people ingest them?
Summary
TLDRMicro plastics are pervasive, originating from human-produced plastic waste that degrades into small particles. These particles, including fibers, fragments, films, foam, and microbeads, contaminate water, air, and even human bloodstreams. Studies suggest that micro and nano plastics can lead to health risks, including a threefold increase in heart attack risk. To mitigate this, incineration and waste-to-energy treatment plants are recommended. Individuals can reduce exposure by minimizing fat and meat consumption.
Takeaways
- π Microplastics are pervasive, found in various environments including the deepest oceanic trenches and the summit of Mount Everest.
- π― Humans produce approximately 430 million tons of plastic waste annually, much of which degrades into microplastics.
- π¬ There are five varieties of microplastics: fibers, fragments, film, foam, and microbeads, which originate from different plastic products.
- π Microplastics contaminate water sources, air, and even the human bloodstream, affecting both animals and humans.
- π In the upper oceans, an estimated 24.4 trillion microplastics are present, which are ingested by smaller organisms and enter the food chain.
- π½οΈ The average person ingests or inhales up to 114,000 microplastic particles per year through everyday activities like drinking, breathing, and eating.
- π₯ Micro and nanoplastics have been linked to health risks, including a threefold increase in potential heart attacks within three years, as per a study from Italy.
- π§ The human brain may contain around 5 to 10 grams of plastic, primarily in the form of nanoplastics, which are too small to be seen without sophisticated equipment.
- π₯ Incineration of plastics and the construction of waste-to-energy treatment plants are suggested as societal solutions to reduce microplastic pollution.
- π₯© To minimize individual exposure, it's advised to reduce the consumption of fats and meats, as the primary uptake of microplastics into the body is through ingestion.
Q & A
What is the annual global production of plastic waste according to the United Nations?
-Humans currently produce about 430 million tons of plastic waste each year according to the United Nations.
How do micro plastics form?
-Micro plastics form when large plastics break down through physical abrasion, weathering, and other processes, releasing micro plastics into rivers, oceans, groundwater, and the air.
What are the five different varieties of micro plastics mentioned in the script?
-The five varieties of micro plastics are fibers, fragments, film, foam, and microbeads.
Where have micro plastics been found according to the script?
-Micro plastics have been found everywhere, from the deepest oceanic trench in the world to the top of Mount Everest.
How many micro plastics are estimated to be in the upper oceans alone?
-According to Japanese researchers, there are an estimated 24.4 trillion micro plastics in the upper oceans alone.
What happens to micro plastics in the environment after they are consumed by smaller animals?
-Micro plastics consumed by smaller animals like zoo plankton are then eaten by larger animals, but the particles stay in the larger animal's stomach and are eventually passed on to humans.
How many micro plastic particles do people ingest, inhale, or consume per year?
-According to a 2019 study, people ingest or inhale approximately 114,000 micro plastic particles per year through drinking, breathing, and eating.
What are the potential health risks of consuming micro and nano plastics?
-Research from a group in Italy suggests that the amount of blood vessel content of plastics is associated with a threefold increase of potential heart attack within the next three years.
How much micro plastics are estimated to be in an adult human brain?
-An adult human brain probably has around five to ten grams of plastic, which is about the size of a plastic spoon.
What is the recommended individual action to reduce the uptake of micro plastics?
-The best advice from the expert's team is to reduce the amount of fats and meats in your diet, as the biggest amount of uptake into your body is through ingestion.
What does the expert suggest as a societal solution to reduce micro plastics?
-The expert suggests that incineration of plastics and more aggressive construction and implementation of waste energy treatment plants could be the best societal solution to reduce micro plastics.
Outlines
π Micro Plastics: A Global Environmental Concern
Micro plastics are pervasive in our environment, with studies indicating that humans produce approximately 430 million tons of plastic waste annually, much of which degrades into micro plastics. These tiny particles, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics through processes like physical abrasion and weathering, contaminate rivers, oceans, groundwater, and even the air. They come in five varieties: fibers from clothing, fragments from broken larger plastics, film from degraded items, foam from food containers, and microbeads used in personal care products. Micro plastics have been found in every corner of the globe, from the deepest ocean trenches to the peak of Mount Everest, and are ingested by humans and animals, potentially leading to health risks.
π¨ Health Impacts and Solutions to Micro Plastic Pollution
The presence of micro and nano plastics in the human body poses significant health risks, with research suggesting a link between cardiovascular issues and plastic content in the blood. Despite efforts to reduce plastic use, the challenge remains immense due to the vast quantities already in the environment. A University of Nebraska professor suggests that incineration and waste-to-energy treatment plants could be part of the solution at a societal level. On an individual level, reducing the intake of fats and meats, which are significant sources of micro plastic ingestion, is advised. However, the professor also cautions against non-scientifically backed advice and emphasizes the importance of focusing on dietary changes as a practical step towards reducing plastic consumption.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Micro plastics
π‘Degradation
π‘Varieties of micro plastics
π‘Bioaccumulation
π‘Nano plastics
π‘Health risks
π‘Incineration
π‘Waste management
π‘Dietary intake
π‘Plastic reduction
Highlights
Micro plastics are pervasive, affecting both the environment and human health.
Humans produce approximately 430 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to the United Nations.
A significant portion of plastic waste degrades into micro plastics.
Micro plastics form through processes like physical abrasion and weathering.
There are five varieties of micro plastics: fibers, fragments, film, foam, and microbeads.
Micro plastics have been found in the deepest oceanic trenches and at the top of Mount Everest.
Japanese researchers estimate 24.4 trillion micro plastics in the upper oceans alone.
Micro plastics are ingested by smaller animals and eventually consumed by humans.
People ingest or inhale up to 114,000 micro plastic particles per year.
Micro and nano plastics pose health risks, with potential links to heart attacks.
Plastic particles have been found in various human organs, including the testicles, liver, and lungs.
Nano plastics, being extremely small, can pass through the bloodstream and reach almost every organ.
Matthew Kempen discusses the harmful effects of micro and nano plastics on human health.
Incineration of plastics and waste energy treatment plants are suggested as solutions.
Reducing the amount of fats and meats in one's diet can help reduce micro plastic intake.
Individuals are advised to be cautious of non-scientifically sound advice regarding plastic use.
Transcripts
>>> MICRO PLASTICS ARE
EVERYWHERE, WHICH IS BOTH A
DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMBER OF
STORIES AND STUDIES RELATED TO
THE PHENOMENA, AND THE CONTENT
OF THOSE STORIES AND STUDIES,
WHICH ATTEST TO THE PERVASIVE
NATURE OF MICRO PLASTICS.
BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT CAN
BE DONE, A QUICK EXPLANATION.
HUMANS CURRENTLY PRODUCE ABOUT
430 MILLION TONS OF PLASTIC
WASTE EACH YEAR ACCORDING TO
THE UNITED NATIONS.
A LARGE AMOUNT OF THAT WASTE
ENDS UP DEGRADING INTO MICRO
PLASTICS. SMALL PARTICLES THAT
LINGER IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND
CAN BE CONSUMED BY ANIMALS AND
PEOPLE.
HOW DO THEY FORM?
LARGE PLASTICS BREAKDOWN
THROUGH PHYSICAL ABRASION,
WEATHERING AND OTHER PROCESSES,
RELEASING MICRO PLASTICS INTO
RIVERS, OCEANS, GROUNDWATER AND
THE AIR.
THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT
VARIETIES.
FIBERS COMMONLY SHED FROM
CLOTHING CAN BE AS BIG AS A BIT
OF AN INCH THICK FRAGMENTS
CREATED WHEN LARGER PLASTICS
LIKE WATER BOTTLES BREAKDOWN.
FILM, MADE FROM THE DEGRADATION
OF LARGER PLASTIC ITEMS. FOAM,
GENERATED FROM FOOD CONTAINERS
AND DISPOSABLE SILVERWARE.
AND MICROBEADS, SYNTHETICALLY
MANUFACTURED MICRO PLASTICS
USED IN COSMETICS AND
HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS INCLUDING
HAND SANITIZER.
MICRO PLASTICS SPREAD TO THE
WATER, AIR AND HUMAN
BLOODSTREAM.
THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND EVERYWHERE
FROM THE DEEPEST OCEANIC TRENCH
IN THE WORLD TO THE TOP OF
MOUNT EVEREST.
IN THE UPPER OCEANS ALONE,
THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 24.4
TRILLION MICRO PLASTICS
ACCORDING TO JAPANESE
RESEARCHERS.
THOSE MICRO PLASTICS ARE
CONSUMED BY SMALLER ANIMALS
SUCH AS ZOO PLANKTON, WHO ARE
THEN EATEN BY LARGER ANIMALS
BUT THE PARTICLE STAY IN THE
LARGER ANIMAL'S STOMACH AND
EVENTUALLY BE PASSED ON TO
HUMANS.
PEOPLE INHALE OR INGEST OF TO
114,000 MICRO PLASTIC PARTICLES
PER YEAR FOR DRINKING,
BREATHING AND EATING ACCORDING
TO A 2019 STUDY.
HUMANS ARE NOT JUST AT RISK OF
CONSUMING REGULAR MICRO
PLASTICS, BUT ALSO THE MORE
DANGEROUS NANO PLASTICS THOSE
PARTICLES ARE ABOUT 400
THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH IN SIZE
AND CAN PASS THROUGH THE
BLOODSTREAM TO REACH ALMOST
EVERY SINGLE ORGAN OR PLASTIC
PARTICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN A
VARIETY OF HUMAN ORGANS
INCLUDING TESTICLES, THE LIVER
AND LUNGS.
THEY HAVE EVEN BEEN FOUND IN
PLACENTA ANIN THE BODIES OF
NEWBORNS.
JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT
THE POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS FROM
ALL THIS EXPOSURE TO MICRO
PLASTICS IS MATTHEW KEMPEN, A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
NEBRASKA AND DIRECTOR OF THE
SCHOOL CENTER FOR METALS IN
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MICRO
AND NANO PLASTICS BEING PRESENT
IN THE HUMAN BODY?
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND
FOR THAT OUTSTANDING
INTRODUCTION.
THE HARMFUL EFFECTS -- THE BEST
RESEARCH RIGHT NOW IS COMING
FROM A GROUP IN ITALY, WHO
PUBLISHED SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF
BLOOD VESSEL CONTENT OF
PLASTICS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A
THREEFOLD INCREASE OF POTENTIAL
HEART ATTACK WITHIN THE NEXT
THREE YEARS. THAT STUDY HAS
BEEN BOLSTERED BY A NUMBER OF
ANIMAL RESEARCH WITH CONTROLLED
EXPOSURES AND A NUMBER OF CELL
CULTURE STUDIES THAT GIVE US
COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT EVERY
ORGAN IN THE BODY COULD BE
SUFFERING AT THE CONCENTRATIONS
THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW.
>> AS I SIT HERE TALKING TO
YOU, IS A POSSIBLE TO GUESS HOW
MUCH MICRO PLASTICS ARE INSIDE
ME?
>> I COULD.
I COULD WAGER A GUESS.
>> GIVE ME A SHOT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO, MOST OF OUR ORGANS SEEM TO
BE HOVERING AROUND 300 TO 600
MICROGRAMS PER GRAM. AND THAT'S
PROBABLY DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND.
IT'S A SMALL DROP IN EVERY
ORGAN, PROBABLY, BUT WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE BRAIN WE SEE ABOUT
10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT.
WERE TALKING ABOUT AN ADULT
HUMAN BRAIN PROBABLY HAS AROUND
FIVE TO 10 GRAMS OF PLASTIC.
THAT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A
PLASTIC SPOON. BUT THEY ARE
NANO PLASTICS SO YOU CAN'T EVEN
SEE THEM WITHOUT VERY
ELABORATE, SOPHISTICATED
SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT.
>> THAT IS DISTURBING.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS DOUBLE
QUESTION.
THE LARGER SOCIETAL ONE.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE
THESE KINDS OF PLASTICS? AND
THEN IS THERE ANYTHING ONE CAN
DO IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THEM
AS PART OF YOUR ORGANS?
>> GREAT QUESTIONS.
LET'S START WITH THE SOCIETAL
QUESTION.
THAT IS BIG.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I FEEL THAT
INCINERATION OF THESE PLASTICS
IS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING
TO DO AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER
MORE AGGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WASTE
ENERGY TREATMENT PLANTS. RIGHT
NOW, HALF OF OTHERS PLASTICS
YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE MORE THAN
ONE TON OF PLASTICS PER PERSON
ON THIS PLANET -- IT IS ALREADY
IN THE GROUND AND IS ALREADY
TURNING INTO MICRO PLASTICS.
EVEN IF WE REDUCE OR ELIMINATE
PLASTICS, I THINK THE U.N. GOAL
IS TO ELIMINATE PLASTIC USAGE
BY 2040 -- WE STILL HAVE
BILLIONS OF TONS IN THE GROUND
TURNING INTO MICRO PLASTICS.
WE HAVEN'T DENTED THAT GROWTH
AT ALL.
SO MY FEAR IS OVER THE NEXT 20
TO 40 YEARS, WE ARE GOING TO
SEE DOUBLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE
THE AMOUNT OF PLASTICS AND OUR
BODY, AND IT WILL BE HEALTH
EFFECTS THAT STEM FROM THAT.
AS FOR WHAT WE CAN DO AS
INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT NOW, THE
BEST ADVICE THAT OUR TEAM HAS
IS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FATS
AND MEATS IN YOUR DIET.
THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF UPTAKE
INTO YOUR BODY IS THROUGH
INGESTION.
WE DON'T THINK -- IT'S GOOD
ADVICE NOT TO USE A PLASTIC
CUTTING BOARD JUST BECAUSE
THAT'S A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT
THIS PLANET PROBABLY DOESN'T
NEED.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THAT'S
NOT REALLY A GREAT SOURCE FOR
THE GENERATION OF PLASTICS THAT
YOUR BODY COULD ABSORB.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF PIECES
OF ADVICE OUT THERE THAT AREN'T
NECESSARILY SCIENTIFICALLY
SOUND.
THE DIETARY PIECE WITH MEATS
AND FATS IS PROBABLY THE BEST
BET.
>> PROFESS
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