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Article Summary and/or Excerpt:
Plastic waste is increasingly engulfing everything on the planet from ecosystems to people but we don’t have adequate knowledge of its full ill effects. We do not know exactly how many microplastics humans are ingesting daily and what are the possible consequences. To date, only a few studies have been launched to address these basic questions of human health. This study estimates that globally on average, humans may take in 0.1-5 g of microplastics weekly through various pathways.
Commonly, these are through food and drink, inhalation and even dermally (through our skin). These minute particles (less than 5mm) then travel through the human digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems.
Microplastics are often referred to as a ‘cocktail of contaminants’ due to their presence in chemical additives, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other organic pollutants in the environment.
Microplastics could pose a significant risk to human health in the long run as the contaminants within them have been linked to several human illnesses and diseases including endocrine disorders, cardiovascular and reproductive problems plus obesity, diabetes and cancer.