Health
By Editorial Staff March 01 , 2023
The impact of nanoscale plastic on human health and the environment is a growing concern for researchers and policymakers alike
An estimated 6 billion tons of plastics have ended up in the environment over the past 70 years.
MNPs are now widely distributed throughout the environment and food chain, including the tissues of humans and other mammals.
Studies have confirmed that MNPs entering the food chain can cross the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream
Placental tissues in humans, both maternal and fetal, have also been shown to contain MNPs.
In a recent study by Rutgers scientists, pregnant rats were fed specially marked nanoscale plastics
The results of the study showed that MNPs had not only crossed the intestinal and placental barriers within 24 hours
The average human ingests and inhales around 5 grams of MNPs per week, equivalent to the mass of a credit card.
It hasn’t yet been shown whether this amount, ingested unavoidably by a pregnant woman, will have similar effects on an unborn child
Investigation involved only polystyrene MNPs of a single specific size, it proves that it can cross the placental barrier and affect the tissues of the offspring.
The findings of these studies highlight the urgent need for further research into the potential health impacts of nanoscale plastic
Sources : Earth.com Rutgers University