Microplastics have dispersed so extensively that tracing them has become challenging.
These minuscule debris pieces come from the breakdown of bigger plastic materials and have been associated with heart attacks, reproductive problems, and cancer. New studies indicate they could potentially decrease sperm counts as well.
A 2019 research from Canada indicates that people ingest as many as 52,000 microscopic plastic pieces annually.
Last month, interest in
microplastics
spiked, with search activity hitting a peak Google Trends score of 100, as reported by the German environmental group CleanHub.
A
study
Findings from the University of New Mexico have generated worldwide attention, prompting numerous individuals to seek knowledge on the entry pathways of microplastics into the human body and strategies to minimize or eliminate their presence.
Although these particles are widespread throughout the
environment
There are many sources for their appearance, and several ways to prevent them—starting right in your kitchen.
The top 5 items to steer clear of for minimizing microplastic intake along with alternatives to consider.
5. Microplastics from plastic cutting boards might end up in your food.
Cutting boards alone might lead to exposure of up to 79.4 million polypropylene particles for humans.
microplastics
– a type of plastic polymer – each year according to a study by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
This indicates that utilizing a
plastic
Using a chopping board might enhance the movement of microplastics into your food.
Tempered glass chopping boards are an affordable alternative that is easy to clean and typically free of microplastics.
Several brands additionally provide chopping boards free of plastic, crafted from sturdy paper fibers.
4. Heating microwavable food containers may cause them to emit microplastics.
Plastic items marked as ‘
microwave
When heated, ‘Safe’ containers can release substantial quantities of microplastics into food.
A 2023 study by researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln found up to 4 million microplastics per square centimetre in certain ‘microwave safe’ plastic-packaged baby foods.
When examined under a microscope, these particles were observed to eliminate as much as 75 percent of cultivated kidney cells, sparking worries regarding their possible effects on humans.
health
.
Another best practice is to steer clear of items packaged with phthalates, styrene, and bisphenols, as these are specific chemicals.
chemicals
a document from The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates an association with different types of plastic.
3. Ways to Prevent Microplastics From Contaminating Ice Cubes
As microplastics are discovered in
bottled water
Additionally, plastic ice cube trays might lead to contamination.
Although there is limited study on this topic, freezing plastics may result in
microplastics
To seep into water, much like what happens with heated plastics, as stated by an associate professor quoted in HealthCentral.
In recent times, a more eco-friendly choice has gained popularity: stainless steel ice cube trays. Not only do these elevate the look of beverages, but they also chill faster, leading to quicker freezing times.
Likewise, silicone ice cube trays are marketed as an eco-friendly option that numerous people find safer and more convenient for making ice cubes.
2. Why paper cups fail to be an environmentally friendly option
While paper
cups
Are meant to be more eco-friendly, these cups unexpectedly add to plastic pollution. They generally need a sealing layer made up of about 10 percent high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to stop liquids from leaking.
Recycling
Paper cups pose an issue because of the necessity to separate the HDPE lining from the paper, making the process more complicated.
However, that’s not the whole story. A 2021 study from the Journal of Hazardous Materials revealed that using paper cups for hot beverages may cause the leaching of multiple substances, such as fluoride, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate.
Choosing a
reusable
A stainless steel flask offers environmental advantages as well as decreasing exposure to microplastics.
1. The tea bags you use might add microplastics to your daily cup of tea.
Surprisingly, many
tea bags
are made with unsustainable polypropylene plastic, and even paper tea bags can contain traces of plastic in the sealant.
This typically indicates that they do not break down naturally and add to
microplastic
contamination.
In 2023, researchers at the Dow University of Health Sciences highlighted an issue regarding the use of hot water for brewing tea with certain teabags. This practice was found to leach millions of microplastics into each serving. The study indicated that a solitary cup of tea might be contaminated with as many as 3.1 billion nanoplastics originating from the teabag itself.
Tea bags might include various harmful substances such as fluoride compounds, arsenic, radium salts, aluminum, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, barium, and nitrates.
Luckily, loose tea leaves are becoming popular again, and there are many eco-friendly options available for brewing.
tea
, like employing an iron teapot or a metallic sieve.
The Plastic Pollution Coalition even recommends using cotton tea bags or straining tea through organic linen.
By making these minor tweaks, you can decrease the likelihood of microplastic contamination in your kitchen, as discussed more extensively in CleanHub’s report.
article
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