Experts say we are all increasingly exposed to microplastics in our daily lives.
From clothing to food packaging, exposure to microplastics has become almost inevitable, but with a few tricks from experts, people can successfully limit their exposure. Although we can't control most of the microplastics we are exposed to (products like paint, car tires, and more, all potentially creating particles), avoiding the purchase and use of the following products can help reduce levels of exposure.
We are often exposed to particles when plastic products degrade or if a product contains a plastic additive such as microbeads, which ultimately end up in our water and soil and return to us through our consumption.
Scientists say avoiding processed foods is one of the easiest ways to mitigate this exposure. Although plastic packaging allows for a longer shelf life, over time it also generates microplastics that can be emitted into food products. Researchers have also found that processed food products are more likely to have been exposed to plastic particles after coming into contact with plastic food production equipment.
In particular, highly processed foods, such as frozen chicken nuggets, were shown to contain the highest amount of microplastics per gram of meat, according to a recent study of 16 types of proteins that commonly contained microplastics.
Another way to decrease exposure to microplastics in your food is to prepare and store food in products made of non-plastic materials such as wood or glass. Plastic containers or tools can emit microplastics when subjected to higher temperatures in the dishwasher or microwave. However, even when temperature is not an issue, items packaged in plastic, such as bottled water, reportedly have higher levels of microplastic than their plastic-free counterparts.
“The less processed, the less plastic,” Christy Tyler, a professor of environmental sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology, explained to the newspaper. New York Times.
The widespread use of plastic is not only limited to food products and household items, but also furniture, bedding and clothing, the latter typically created by fast fashion brands that often use synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. .
Since 60 percent of clothing materials are made from plastic, according to a United Nations Environment Program report, not only can general wear and tear cause exposure, but clothing can even reach contaminate rivers, oceans and our drinking water thanks to the fact that microplastics can pass through wastewater treatment plants without being detected. Experts suggest that washing fewer clothes, air drying, and washing full loads can result in fewer microplastics in clothes and water.
Furniture made of plastic materials can emit microplastics if placed in direct sunlight, but exposure can be mitigated if this furniture is constantly vacuumed. According to researchers, vacuuming can reduce the levels of microplastics in household dust and therefore limit inhalation. If you inhale microplastics, they can enter your organs and bloodstream.
Since synthetic clothing and highly processed foods tend to be more affordable, it may be difficult for some people to make these small changes to their eating habits and daily lives. However, since the presence of microplastics has been linked to increased chances of heart disease and digestive problems, among other problems, it is worth a try, not for your health but for the sake of the next generation.
