MICROPLASTICS: A HAZARD TO OUR HEALTH
The changes over the last few centuries in mankind’s technological prowess have been awe-inspiring, especially in the area of chemistry and material sciences. Perhaps the most pervasive example would be summarized with the word “plastic,” defined as “pliable and easily shaped.” But now it is synonymous with the manufactured substance used in packaging and fabrication of innumerable products.
Scientifically, plastics refer to a category of materials called polymers, meaning “of many parts.” These are long chains of molecules and are found in abundance in nature. The material that makes up the cell walls of plants, cellulose, is a common natural polymer.
In 1907, the first fully synthetic polymer was created, meaning there were no natural materials needed for its manufacture. And this new substance could be made into a multitude of shapes, leading to its use for all manner of packaging and fabrication. World War II stimulated plastic research and use, a trend which continued unabated for decades.
Originally seen as a boon to humanity, the use of plastics was first called into question in the 60’s when plastic debris began appearing in the ocean. Environmental concerns grew significantly and with it questions about the ubiquitous use of plastics, in every facet, every nook and cranny of our society.
The subsequent decades saw this scrutiny intensify, and objections raised over the growing use of plastics, in all their numerous incarnations. The foundation of these warnings was its resistance to degradation, plastic’s failure to break down into simpler molecules. Plastic lasts forever, at least chemically, in human terms.
The overabundance of this waste on our planet is symbolized by the island of plastic which has collected in the Pacific Ocean. This mass, now the size of Texas, has been labeled the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Plastic in some form has been found everywhere on the planet, including places it’s not supposed to be, like the depths of the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on the globe.
Plastics in the environment are degraded by the sun’s radiation, as well as other processes, ultimately leading to larger pieces being broken into many small pieces. This is considered the greater danger, plastic’s breakdown into fragments physically but not chemically. These pieces are termed microplastics, defined as particles less than 5 millimeters in size. Further transformation can occur, leading to the creation of nano-plastics, which are microscopic particles of plastic.
The overproduction and overuse of plastic, combined with our mismanagement of garbage and waste, has led to tremendous plastic pollution in our lakes and oceans. Most of the microplastics in any body of water comes from land-bound sources, such as plastic debris transported by water runoff or the direct disposal of waste into the ocean. Experts estimate eight million tons of plastic enter the water every year.
Humans are exposed to microplastics through inhalation, direct physical contact, or ingestion. The latter is most consequential, with the average American consuming about 5 grams of microplastics per week. This works out to eating about a credit card worth of plastic a year. Those drinking bottled water regularly ingest an extra 90,000 particles, as compared to someone who drinks tap water (consuming only 4,000 extra).
One of the many health concerns of microplastics is their ability to transport toxic pollutants or harmful bacteria. In nature, microplastics do not exist in isolation, instead tending to combine with other pollutants, like heavy metals and antibiotics. Understandably, this makes them even more toxic to humans.
Experts believe these micro- and nano-plastics may already be significantly increasing our risk of disease. These particles have been detected in the tissues of various organisms, including fish and mice, even humans. The organs most impacted by the battle against invading bacteria are the lungs and the intestines since they directly communicate with the outside world.
Larger microplastic particles are cleared from the lungs by cilia, tiny hairs lining our airways. But smaller pieces, which includes the previously mentioned nano-plastics, are able to penetrate the tissues composing these passageways. In this manner, they gain entrance to the human body, where they have been found in various structures, from every part of the lung to placental tissues, even in human blood.
These tiny scraps of plastic seem able to disrupt the body's immune system, upsetting its delicate balance, apparently contributing to the development of various diseases of the immune system. Recent studies have demonstrated this ability, in which bacteria are able to attach to the surface of a microplastic fragment, exacerbating the development of inflammation. These effects can increase the risk of various conditions, from respiratory disease, cancer, and some neurologic disorders.
Plastic is an integral part of our world, like it or not. Although research into alternatives is ongoing, plastic in all its many forms is churned out by our world at a prodigious rate. And too much of it gets into our bodies, either through drinking water or intentionally placed into our cosmetics. But the consequences of this exposure to our health and wellbeing are not yet well understood, despite the fact these materials have been pumped out, and consequently into our bodies, for decades now.
Clearly, further research is vital to understanding the adverse effects of microplastics. What are they doing to our immunity, our hormones, our lung health? There may be numerous complications from our ongoing exposure to microplastics that occur over time and with sufficient accumulation. We simply don’t know enough. And until we do, either get off the grid…..or get exposed.