Air and environmental pollution in the world is increasing despite the decisions taken by the European Union and the United Nations. Moreover, as of this year, the detection of microplastic pollution in the human body all over the world has now reached a detectable level.
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Scientists say that the issue of microplastic pollution has become quite serious as of this year and is now everywhere on the planet. This, he says, makes human exposure unavoidable and there is a growing concern about health hazards.
According to the statement, tissue samples taken from 13 patients who underwent surgery are sent to the laboratory. Then, 11 of these 13 people are said to have microplastics, although the rate varies. It is stated that the most common particles are polypropylene used in plastic packaging and pipes and PET used in bottles.
Due to increased microplastic pollution, it was already known that humans inhale small particles and consume them through food or water. In fact, it was determined that workers exposed to high levels of microplastics became unable to work due to various diseases. But this is the first time it has been observed in samples taken from random people. Moreover, the rates are well above the acceptable level.
Scientists say that microplastics were detected in human blood for the first time last March. This indicates that particles can circulate throughout the body and settle in organs. Of course, the effect on general health is not yet known. But researchers think that microplastics damage human cells and cause millions of people to die prematurely each year, as airborne particles enter the body.
The senior author of the study, Laura Sadofsky, from the medical school of Hull York, England, describes the subject with these words:
We detected the highest number of particles in the lower regions of the lungs. We didn’t expect to find particles of the sizes we found. It’s surprising that the airways are smaller in the lower parts of the lungs, and we would expect particles of this size to be filtered out or trapped before they go this deep.
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