Microplastic

2024: Boiling removes 90% microplastics from water

In late February 2024, Chinese scientists released the results of a study that suggests that simply boiling hard water leads to a significant improvement in its purity. It has been found that 80% to 90% of small and large microplastic particles can be removed during this process.

Nano- and microplastic particles are pieces of plastic, such as polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, with diameters ranging from 0.1 to 150 microns. Their effects on people's health are still being studied, but researchers suspect they are harmful to humans.

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The new study was attended by specialists from Jinan University. Scientists have found that high temperatures contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate on microplastic particles: this leads to their deposition on the walls of vessels in the form of scale. Boiling makes it possible to remove a significant proportion of plastic microparticles of all sizes from water. The efficiency of the process depends on the rigidity of the water: about 25% of plastic particles are deposited in soft water, while in hard water their concentration decreases up to 90%.

Boiling water has other advantages, such as killing bacteria and parasites and removing traces of heavy metals, Chinese experts say.

Thus, the authors of the work believe, boiling can become the basis for creating inexpensive and fast methods of cleaning drinking water from plastic pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for developing research on the problem of microplastics and combating this type of pollution. Waste water treatment allows the removal of more than 90% of plastic microparticles from the effluent, with the most intensive removal taking place in the third stage of treatment, for example, during filtration. Using traditional drinking water treatment technologies, particles smaller than a micrometer can be removed.^[1]

2023

Plastic chemicals found in Coca-Cola drinks and McDonald's burgers

In early January 2024, Consumer Reports, a nonprofit that publishes reviews and comparative tests of consumer products and services, published the results of a study that focuses on finding dangerous plastic chemicals in popular foods. Experts checked 85 products, in 84 of which harmful substances were found.

Bisphenols and phthalates can negatively affect the endocrine system by disrupting the production and regulation of hormones such as estrogen. A slight disturbance in hormone levels can lead to diseases such as, diabetes, obesity some species and. cancer infertility Although the human body is able to efficiently excrete bisphenols and phthalates, they can enter blood tissues as quickly as they are excreted. This raises serious concerns and the need to take measures to reduce risks to consumer health. Consumer Reports listed the products with the highest plastic content:

• Yoplait's original low-fat French vanilla;
• Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream;
• Wendy's chicken nuggets;
• the Burger King whopper;
• the original Cheerios by General Mills;
• Perdue - minced chicken breast;
• chopped Del Monte peaches.

Consumer Reports releases findings from study looking for dangerous plastic chemicals in popular foods

In addition, phthalates were found in cardboard packaging of McDonald's dishes and plastic bottles of Coca-Cola. The study also showed that companies are working to improve the safety of their food products. Thus, Pizza Hut products contain significantly less plastic than a few years ago, according to a report published in early January 2024. The Consumer Reports article notes that 79% of food samples contained bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in plastic production. The authors of the article emphasize that the detected levels of phthalates did not exceed the limits set by American and European regulatory authorities.^[2]

How microplastics penetrate all body systems and kill animals and humans

On August 24, 2023, American scientists from the University of Rhode Island released the results of a study saying that microplastics can penetrate all tissues of the body, killing animals and humans.

It is noted that plastics are among the most common pollutants on the planet. Microplastic elements enter the air, water bodies and eventually food chains around the world. Some plastic particles are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. However, once in the body of mammals, they can cause significant harm to health.

American scientists from the University of Rhode Island have released the results of a study saying that microplastics can penetrate all tissues of the body, killing animals and humans

In a new work led by Professor Jaime Ross, experts focused on the study of neurobehavioral effects and inflammatory reactions arising from the accumulation of microplastic particles in body tissues. Scientists have found that this causes changes in behavior, especially in older subjects.

Specifically, in experiments in mice, the researchers found that exposure to microplastics provokes both behavioral changes and changes in immune markers in liver and brain tissues. Rodents began to move and behave unusually, exhibiting behavior similar to dementia in humans. The researchers also found that particles accumulate in all organs, including the brain. And this creates an immediate threat to life.

Given that microplastics were delivered orally with drinking water in this study, its detection in tissues such as the gastrointestinal tract, which is a major part of the digestive system, or in the liver and kidneys, is expected. However, the detection of particles in the heart and lungs suggests that microplastics extend beyond the digestive system and likely enter the systemic bloodstream, Ross says.[3]

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