Is it possible to avoid microplastics? – 01/12/2024 – Environment

Microplastics can be found everywhere on the planet.

These tiny particles of anthropogenic material have been found in the ice of the Southern Ocean, inside the intestines of marine animals that inhabit the deepest oceans, and in drinking water around the world.

Now, a new study has concluded that bottled water may contain up to 100 times more tiny pieces of plastic than previously estimated.

A liter of bottled water contains, on average, almost 250,000 nanoplastic fragments, according to a study carried out by researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities in the United States.

The researchers analyzed five samples from three common brands of bottled water. They found that nanoplastic levels range from 110,000 to 400,000 fragments per liter. The average is 240 thousand fragments.

Scientists say much of the plastic appears to come from the bottle itself. And it’s not known whether ingesting plastic poses more serious health risks.

A review of available scientific evidence carried out by the World Health Organization in 2019 and 2020 concluded that there was still too little research to determine whether consuming or inhaling microplastics poses a risk to human health.

But the WHO warned that smaller fragments — less than 10 micrometers — are likely to be absorbed biologically. The organization also called for reducing plastic pollution to reduce human exposure.

But is it really possible to avoid microplastics?

Microplastics are in food

Plastic isn’t just ubiquitous in water. It is also widespread on farmland and can find its way into the food we eat.

A 2022 study showed that sewage sludge, used as agricultural fertilizer, contaminated nearly 81,000 square kilometers of farmland in the United States.

This sludge contains microplastics and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS), which are also known as “forever chemicals.”

A study by Cardiff University in the United Kingdom concluded that 86 to 710 trillion microplastic particles contaminate agricultural land in Europe every year.

This means that we may be unintentionally ingesting tiny fragments of plastic in every bite of our food. But some plants seem to absorb microplastics more than others.

Studies seem to indicate, for example, that plastic tends to accumulate in plant roots. This means that leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, may have lower concentrations of plastic than carrots, turnips and radishes.

Although the health effects of ingesting microplastics have not yet been clearly determined, it has been discovered that they enter the human bloodstream.

Can biodegradable plastic help?

The various initiatives against the use of single-use plastics have led many companies to seek to adopt alternatives considered compostable or biodegradable. But in some cases, these alternatives may be worsening the microplastic crisis.

Scientists at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom have concluded that plastic bags marked “biodegradable” can take years to disintegrate. And yet, they mostly break down into smaller pieces, not the substances that make them up.

What about glass bottles?

Eliminating plastic packaging can help reduce exposure to the material. After all, tap water contains lower levels of microplastics than water in plastic bottles.

But this replacement would also have other environmental consequences.

Glass bottles have a high recycling rate, but their environmental footprint is greater than that of plastic and other packaging used for liquids, such as cardboard boxes and aluminum cans.

This is due to the mining of silica, the raw material for glass, which can cause significant damage to the environment, including land deterioration and loss of biodiversity.

And even with containers made from other materials, it’s difficult to completely escape microplastics.

Studies conducted by Sherri Mason, from Pennsylvania State University, in the United States, concluded that microplastics are not only present in tap water, but mainly come from the fibers in our clothes. They are also found in sea salt and beer.

Is there anything that can be done?

Researchers are developing a series of techniques to try to eliminate plastic pollution in our environment.

One possibility is to look for fungi and bacteria that feed on plastic and decompose the material during the process. And there are also insects — a species of beetle larva that can feed on polystyrene is another possible solution.

Other researchers are examining water filtration techniques and chemical treatments that could remove microplastics. And even the use of magnets is being studied to combat the problem.

With all these studies, we can say that, fortunately, there is still hope.

Read the original version of this report (in English) on the BBC Future website.