Poisonous plastics are polluting the planet, and our properties. Do that surprisingly straightforward science-backed hack to assist cut back your publicity to microplastics.
There’s loads of analysis about microplastics polluting our oceans, air and soil, however the place you might be most liable to inadvertently consuming them is far nearer than you assume.
Folks spend as much as 90 per cent of their time indoors, which suggests the best publicity to microplastics occurs in your house, EPA Victoria chief environmental scientist Professor Mark Taylor says.
An Australian examine discovered 39 per cent of family mud particles are made up of microplastics.
One other Australian examine suggests we might unknowingly eat (or ingest) round 5g of tiny items of plastic each week – that’s equal to the burden of a bank card.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic items which might be typically invisible to the human eye and might comprise polyethylene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
And they’re straightforward to unknowingly inhale or ingest.
Researchers have discovered the common particular person consumes about 50,000 particles of microplastics a yr.
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The place do you get uncovered to microplastics?
Microplastics might be present in on a regular basis gadgets – from garments, furnishings and flooring via to meals packaging and water bottles.
Even your morning cup of tea can comprise microplastics.
A Canadian examine discovered steeping a single plastic tea bag at brewing temperature releases about 11.6 billion microplastic particles and three.1 billion nanoplastics into every cup.
What are the well being dangers of microplastics?
Prof Taylor says some microplastics comprise poisonous compounds.
“While you swallow them, a few of these particles will keep in your physique and accumulate,” Prof Taylor says.
“It’s an inescapable actuality that we live in a sea of microplastics from which there isn’t a escape and the true human well being penalties have but to be recognized.”
Some microplastics have been linked with most cancers and gene mutations that may trigger illness.
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The simple strategy to cut back microplastics within the dwelling
“We discovered the best concentrations of microplastic fibres got here from homes the place the primary ground masking was carpet, and from properties the place flooring have been vacuumed much less typically,” she wrote within the report.
The report recommends utilizing a vacuum with a Excessive-Effectivity Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that collects fantastic particles, together with microplastics.
Different methods to scale back microplastics
There are various methods to lower microplastics at dwelling:
- Keep away from disposable plastic bottles; as an alternative use chrome steel drink bottles or drink faucet water
- Retailer meals in glass, silicone or foil containers
- Purchase garments produced from pure supplies equivalent to wool, natural cotton, silk or bamboo
- For carpet, select pure fibres equivalent to pure wool or sisal
- Cease microwaving plastic containers
- Set up a filter in your washer and air-dry garments
- Purchase unfastened tea leaves, not teabags and use a tea-strainer
Written by Sarah Marinos.
