How much microplastics do you consume?

Plastic classified as microplastics if it’s size does not exceed more than 5 millimeters. Bigger plastic degrade into smaller and smaller pieces. which afterwards consumed by marine life, animals, plants and even humans. In todays article I want to take a look into human consumption of microplastics and consequences.

Origin of microplastic classified in two category:

  1. Primary microplastic: 5 mm or less before entering the environment.
  2. Secondary microplastic: created by degradation of bigger plastic pieces into smaller pieces.

Researchers proved that microplastics available even in plants. Microplastics affect sole properties and fertility.

Microplastics come from range of products used everyday: plastic bottles, plastic bags, wet tissues, packing, clothes, car’s tires, fish, etc. Modern cars made approximately 50% by volume from plastic.

According to resent research conducted by World Wide Fund for Nature and Australia’s University of Newcastle proved that every week average human consume around 5 grams of plastic per week. On average credit card weight 5 grams … and human consume around 5 grams of microplastics. There’s not much trusted information about influence of microplastics on human body.

According to the article posted in The Guardian and based on Dr Schwable proved that smallest microplastics are capable of entering the bloodstream, lymphatic system and liver. Further consequences not yet proved.

Here’s a few ideas how to reduce microplastics intake:

  1. Reusable bottles. Majority of microplastics comes from single use plastic bottles. According to The Guardian every minute worldwide purchased 1 million bottles of single time use bottles (numbers expected to grow because of more people can afford to buy it). Bottled mineral water (tap water marketed as mineral water) cost a lot: 20 liters of water cost 90 ₨ in Mumbai, 1 litre of water cost 20 ₨. That means that water in bulk (refilling water bottle) cost only 4.5 ₨ per litre, packed water cost 20 ₨ 20 per litre.
  2. Single use plastic bags. Use reusable shopping bags which extremely lite weight and long lasting. My grocery shopping bag is used for last two years and weight only 14 grams. While vegetables shopping deny plastic packing.
  3. Avoid over packed take away meals and single use cutlery. Cook your own healthy food or eat in the restaurant.
  4. Avoid plastic straws. It’s not only bad for environment but it’s also created mimic wrinkles around lips.
  5. Avoid take away coffee cups. Cups inside lined with plastic which is not biodegradable.
  6. Reuse plastic containers which you already have until it’s broken.
  7. Avoid cosmetics, body scrubs and toothpastes with microbeads. That’s better for you and for nature.
  8. Low quality clothing items. Most probably made out of artificial fabrics and will not last even one season. Almost all wasted garments are not recycled and end up in the landfills.

As you can see from examples above, to reduce intake of microplastics is not easy but possible. Main way is to reduce usage of plastic in day-to-day life.

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