People take in up to five grams of MPs a week3– the equivalent of five paper clips– through various routes, turning the human body into its own reservoir of MP waste.4 Researchers discovered MPs flowing through human blood5 and islands of MPs in different organs, including the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, and placenta.6-10 Humans also excrete MPs in their stool.11 The intestinal (GI) tract is the most common entranceway for MPs, and is an entrance to more widespread systemic dysfunction. Jenner et al., “Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy,” Sci Total Environ, 831:154907, 2022. Z. Yan et al., “Analysis of microplastics in human feces reveals a connection in between fecal microplastics and inflammatory bowel illness status, “Environ Sci Technol, 56 (1):414 -21, 2022.
Humans consume up to five grams of MPs a week3– the equivalent of five paper clips– through different routes, turning the human body into its own reservoir of MP waste.4 Researchers found MPs streaming through human blood5 and islands of MPs in various organs, consisting of the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, and placenta.6-10 Humans also excrete MPs in their stool.11 The intestinal (GI) system is the most typical entrance for MPs, and is a gateway to more widespread systemic dysfunction. K. Senathirajah et al., “Estimation of the mass of microplastics ingested– A critical first action towards human health risk evaluation,” J Hazard Mater, 404:124004, 2021. Jenner et al., “Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue utilizing μFTIR spectroscopy,” Sci Total Environ, 831:154907, 2022. A. Ragusa et al., “Plasticenta: First proof of microplastics in human placenta,” Environ Int, 146:106274, 2021. Z. Yan et al., “Analysis of microplastics in human feces reveals a correlation between fecal microplastics and inflammatory bowel illness status, “Environ Sci Technol, 56 (1):414 -21, 2022.