Plastic population: how our bodies are now being littered with pollutants

HUMAN bodies are becoming polluted with plastic, scientists have confirmed for the first time.

Tiny pieces were found in samples from every participant in an experiment which tried to estimate how much plastic we eat and drink every day.

Until now most research has focused on the natural world, but the new study shows that humans are also consuming plastic, with some pieces potentially lodging in our bodies.

Researchers spoke last night of their surprise at finding so many particles in the human samples. They suggested sources could include the eating of fish or drinking of water from plastic bottles.

Campaigners said the scale of the plastic crisis meant it was ‘impossible’ for people to avoid eating, drinking and breathing in plastic – with potentially harmful effects. These include the risk of bacterial infections, introducing harmful chemicals to the body, irritating the gut lining, and affecting immune responses.

Lead researcher Dr Philipp Schwabl said: ‘Of particular concern is what this means to us, and especially patients with gastrointestinal diseases. The smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream and lymphatic system and may even reach the liver.

‘Now that we have first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health.’

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. Most common plastics were polypropylene and polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), found in food and drink packaging.

The research was a pilot study involving eight participants. Each one kept a food diary for a week before their samples were analysed in the laboratory.

The diaries showed all the participants had eaten food wrapped in plastic or drunk from plastic bottles. None of the participants was a vegetarian and six of them ate sea fish.

The microplastics found were between 50 and 500 micrometres in size. A human hair has a thickness of between 17 and 181 micrometres.

It is estimated that about two to five per cent of all plastic produced ends up in the sea, where it is consumed by fish and other marine creatures. Significant amounts of microplastics have been detected in tuna, lobster, shrimp and mussels. Synthetic fabrics are also a significant source of microplastics in the environment as fibres from our clothes end up in the sea from treated and untreated sewage being released into rivers.

Dr Schwabl said: ‘Humans are exposed to plastics in numerous ways. I did not expect that each sample would test positive. We do, however, need to be aware of the small sample size of our study.’

He added: ‘On a global level plastic production and plastic pollution correlate very strongly. Therefore, it is likely that the amount of plastic contamination may rise further if mankind does not change the current situation.’

‘Another shocking development’ ‘Contamination may rise’

WE have all known for years how plastic is a huge threat to the environment. But now it emerges that it also poses dangers to our individual physical wellbeing.

Research shows that tiny fragments are being found in human bodies. Scientists believe we are taking it in through eating fish and drinking mineral water.

Whatever the cause, one thing is certain: we need to seriously reduce the amount of plastic we are using.