Okay, let's talk about micro plastic or nano plastic. Actually, I prefer not to talk about it, because I get completely nasty at the thought that there is plastic in everything.
On our food, in our drinking water, in our clothing and also just in the air. So we also breathe it in 😳 say what???
Okay from the start.
What exactly is micro or nano plastic?
Well, those are such small particles of plastic that have broken off from larger pieces, or wear and tear on car tires, for example, that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Even under a microscope, nano-plastic is almost undetectable.
Plastic just has one very tricky property. Because it doesn't go away. That means that it has to whirl around somewhere and end up again, because yes, it blows just like Sahara sand, just into the air.
Micro and nano particles have even been found in Antarctica.
There are real fallouts. This means that micro and nano particles of plastic are carried by the wind and end up on the ground or in the sea water again through rain showers.
Yes, also on our floors, in our homes and where our food is grown.
But it is also used for cosmetics, synthetic textiles and paint.
So we are actually surrounded!
But it does not only end up in the environment and the ocean, but also in our body. It seems that on average we ingest a grain of salt of micro/nano plastic per week (or 0.0041 mg) and depending on how you eat, there are plenty of people who ingest even more. That doesn't sound so good does it? Because plastic is not something that belongs in our body and what does that do to our body?
Gradually, a few studies are trickling in that can say something about this, although most studies are still in full swing, because it is not yet clear exactly what it does to our body, especially with regard to the amount and toxicity.
However, a study was published not so long ago, which states that nano particles have been found in the deeper layers of the lungs.
'Eleven pieces of plastic were found in the upper part of the lung, seven in the middle part and no less than 21 microplastics in the lower part of the lung'
An article was published in 2020, which even showed that microplastics have been found in the placentas of unborn babies.
come on!! For real 😳
The other studies that have been done via animals have shown that micro/nano plastic can disrupt the metabolism and the intestinal system
Plastic fantastic right?
Let's not wait until we can draw conclusions in decades that this is terribly harmful to everything that lives on our earth, but let's lend a hand by replacing disposable plastic with biological washable products. Deal more consciously with what is in our house and what is used frequently. Such as diapers, sanitary napkins, make-up pads, kitchen towels and sponges.
