How do microplastics affect human health?
Earth Day is observed on April 22nd each year. In 2024, the theme is "Planet Against Plastics!" The globe and human health are at danger due to the growing environmental issues, particularly those involving plastic garbage.
Plastics, and particularly microplastics, are emerging as significant challenges that require attention if we are to reduce the harmful impacts of plastics and take the appropriate response.
Motivated by the Earth Day theme, we conducted research on the health impacts of microplastics on humans and the use of plastic detox to eliminate microplastics.
Senator Gaylord Nelson's mounting environmental worries following the huge oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969 served as the impetus for the founding of Earth Day.
In 1970, Nelson organized a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about environmental pollution among university students. To guarantee the most possible participation, he scheduled the event for April 22, which falls between spring break and final exams.
Ever since Nelson's groundbreaking event garnered widespread national notice and support, April 22 has been observed globally as "Earth Day" since 1970, with a focus on various environmental issues.
"Planet Against Plastics" was chosen as this significant day's 2024 subject in an effort to increase awareness of the growing problem of plastic waste and to provide a more optimistic picture for the years to come.
By 2040, the "Planet Against Plastics" theme seeks to reduce plastic waste by 60% and increase public awareness of plastic use.
Beyond environmental issues, this matter, which is of utmost importance, presents a serious threat to human health.
When plastics degrade into microplastics, toxic compounds are released into the air, food, and drink. Regrettably, this raises the risk of numerous diseases and endangers people's health.
As the name implies, microplastics are very microscopic particles of plastic. Larger plastic fragments break down naturally, releasing these tiny plastic particles.
Because plastics are not biodegradable, they continue to degrade and remain as microplastics over time rather than going extinct.
According to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) study, humans consume five grams of microplastics on average per week.
There are numerous routes in which these microplastics enter the body, including through the food, water, and even air we breathe.
In 2022, a study discovered myctoplastics in the human body for the first time in the lungs. Later investigations discovered myctoplastics in human blood and even breast milk.
It may be stated that microplastics are not a part of the human body, regardless of where they are located. Unfortunately, experts have linked this situation—which poses a serious threat to human health—to a number of health issues.
The most common ones include cancer, severe immunological reactions, and the rising number of reproductive diseases in recent years. Microplastics are substances that are alien to the human body.
The human body makes an effort to flush out foreign contaminants. Thus, attempting to rid the body of microplastics can result in symptoms like fever, tension, and immune system failure, much like fighting a virus.