From water and food, we consume the plastic equivalent of a credit card every week. Micro- and nanoplastics are now increasingly present in our daily lives: numerous studies demonstrate the presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles in the entire food chain, writes the Italian press.

They were found in fish, meat, fruits and vegetables (the most contaminated apples and carrots), honey, sugar, salt and beer. “It is estimated that we can ingest between 0.1 and 5 grams of invisible pieces of plastic per week, which is almost equal to the contents of a credit card,” said Dr. Daniela Galio, Scientific Director of the Metabolomics Unit at the Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology (IBFM) in Italy. National Research Council (CNR). A research group led by Daniela Galio experimentally demonstrated that cells exposed acutely and chronically to polystyrene particles exhibit altered metabolism and increased oxidative stress. Through its research, CNR has highlighted the possible health effects of these micro- and nanoparticles.

“The study demonstrates that polystyrene microparticles and nanoparticles absorbed by human colon cells induce metabolic changes similar to those induced by the toxic agent azoxymethane: the latter is a carcinogenic and neurotoxic molecule that has been extensively studied specifically for its ability to induce colon cancer.” , – explains the expert.

The study shows that healthy human colon cells exposed to both acute and chronic exposure to polystyrene particles exhibit altered metabolism and increased oxidative stress. Finally, “plastic exposure induces metabolic changes commonly found in cancerous growths, indicating the potential role of micro- and nanoplastics as a risk factor for colon cancer. To date, this is one of the few studies that provides information about what the impact of plastic inside our body can be.”

From tap to bottled water, microplastic particles were found in alarming percentages: 81% of tap water samples and 93% of bottled water samples contained these particles. These data raise significant questions about the safety of the water we drink every day. As the scientific community works to better understand these dynamics, it is critical that we raise public awareness and encourage behaviors that can reduce our exposure to these particles.

The article was created with the support of Rador Radio Romania

Source photo: © Pavlo Rusak | Dreamstime.com