Microplastic shows up in human food chain: Study

HUNDREDS OF pieces of microplastics found in stool sample taken from people who took part in the study by the Medical University of Vienna

London, Oct. 23: Scientists were surprised by the extent of microplastics present in samples submitted by participants of a study and have suggested that eating fish or drinking from plastic bottles could be the likely culprits.

The scientists tried to estimate how much plastic we eat and drink every day. The scale of the plastic crisis could mean it was ‘ impossible’ for people to avoid eating, drinking and breathing in plastic. The potential harmful effects of this development are yet to be discussed widely.

They include the risk of bacterial infections, introducing harmful chemicals to the body, irritating the gut lining, and affecting immune responses.

The study confirms that plastics ultimately reach the human gut. It is a concern, especially for patients with gastrointestinal diseases.

The smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream and lymphatic system and may even reach the liver.

Further research is needed to understand what this means for human health, researchers said.

Hundreds of pieces of microplastics were found in every stool sample taken from people who took part in the study by the Medical University of Vienna.

Researchers from the university and the Environment Agency Austria monitored participants from the UK, Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and Austria. The results showed every sample tested positive for microplastics – with up to nine different types identified. The most common plastics were polypropylene and polyethyleneterephthalate ( PET). Both are commonly found in food and drink packaging.