MAGNIFICENT MERCOLA: Pervasive Microplastics Are Damaging Your Cells
Story at-a-glance
- Plastic is a problem for the environment, wildlife and human health. Laboratory data show how microplastics at levels relevant to human consumption led to cell death and allergic reactions
- Interestingly, the data also showed that irregularly shaped particles commonly found in the environment, and not the spherical microplastics normally used in lab experiments, caused damage
- Researchers have found microplastics in the air, oceans, tap water, food supply and bottled drinking water. They have also been found on the peak of Mount Everest and the deepest parts of the ocean
- Evaluations of baby meconium, a newborn's first stool, had plastic chemicals, likely transferred through the placenta after the mother's exposure. Concentrations in infant stool was 10 times higher than in adults
- Single-use plastic medical products rose significantly during the COVID pandemic, contributing to an excessive amount of pollution. More than 8 million tons of COVID-related plastic waste was generated globally, and more than 25,000 tons has entered the oceans