Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumYou could be swallowing a credit card's weight in plastic every week.
Globally, we are ingesting an average of 5 grams of plastic every week, the equivalent of a credit card, a new study suggests.
This plastic contamination comes from "microplastics" -- particles smaller than five millimeters -- which are making their way into our food, drinking water and even the air.
Around the world, people ingest an average of around 2,000 microplastic particles a week, according to the study by the University of Newcastle, in Australia.
These tiny particles can originate from a variety of sources, including artificial clothes fibers, microbeads found in some toothpastes, or bigger pieces of plastic which gradually break into smaller pieces when they're thrown away and exposed to the elements.
They make their way into our rivers and oceans, and can be eaten by fish and other marine animals, ending up as part of the food chain.
Microplastics have been found in many everyday foods and drinks, such as water, beer, shellfish and salt, co-lead researcher Kala Senathirajah told CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/11/health/microplastics-ingestion-wwf-study-scn-intl/index.html
SHRED
(28,136 posts)Especially in developing young people.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Now I wonder how much of the stuff is in this watermelon I am eating....
Ohiogal
(32,012 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)I saw a video clip of some foods containing plastic. I almost threw up when I saw the meat. Raw meat makes me queasy on its own. Add a vein of plastic and, omg, it's repulsive.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)Those people who don't give a shit until they think something in the environment is really affecting THEM.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)Apple Cider vinegar helps.