While many people are aware of the harm caused by plastic to the environment, fewer know about the danger of microplastics. These tiny pieces of plastic were first discovered in our bodies over ten years ago. Alarmingly, scientists have now found them even in the human heart. Researchers at Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China gathered samples of heart tissue from 15 patients who were undergoing heart surgery. Upon studying these samples, they identified minuscule fragments of plastic, originating from various sources. These sources included a type of plastic often used instead of glass, a kind of polythene used in clothing and food containers, and a polyvinyl chloride used in construction.
The researchers noted that they found "tens to thousands of individual microplastic pieces in most tissue samples". Chemicals released from microplastics can enter the body, potentially causing allergic reactions, cancer, cell damage, and ongoing inflammation, among other health issues. Scientists estimate that an average person consumes about five grams of microplastics every week, which amounts to 52,000 particles annually. Microplastics are so widespread that they constitute 39% of dust particles in our homes. Scientists argue that these tiny fragments are extremely difficult to eliminate from the body. Consequently, it is increasingly crucial to reduce our exposure to plastic by limiting how much we breathe in, consume, ingest, or absorb.
10 Aug, 2023
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12384881/Microplastics-discovered-human-HEART.html