It is even in drinking water and table salt: Microplastic levels have reached dangerous dimensions

Plastics have practically invaded our world. Microplastics, which emerge as plastics wear down due to physical factors such as environmental conditions, are harmful to both the environment and human health. Making a statement on the subject, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin emphasized that microplastics can lead to toxic effects.

Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin from the Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine (English) Department of Medical Biochemistry evaluated the issue of microplastics. Stating that microplastics have become an inseparable part of personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products with developments in their use, and have emerged as a source of local environmental pollution, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin continued as follows:

“If you look at your surroundings right now, it is likely that you will see plastic. The production and use of plastic products have increased significantly since the 1950s, when plastic manufacturing became widespread. Plastics are lightweight, durable, and cheap, and these features make them a convenient component of our household goods, packaging materials, and other everyday items. Currently, more than 320 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide every year. Half of these products are produced for single-use packaging. Since only a small portion of plastic products are recycled, most plastic products are discarded as waste.”

Some bird species even feed plastic pieces to their chicks

Noting that plastics are made from petroleum derivatives that do not easily biodegrade, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said, “This means that discarded plastic products do not break down quickly but instead accumulate in landfills, oceans, and other environments, becoming persistent. Plastics are now found in all the world's oceans. It is known that marine mammals and bird species consume plastic pieces, and some bird species even feed plastic pieces to their chicks.”

THERE ARE ALSO NANOPLASTICS

Stating that there are as many as 50 trillion plastic pieces in the oceans today, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin explained the following:

“Every year, 5 million tons of plastic are transported from rivers to the oceans. When plastic products enter marine environments, they are exposed to UV radiation, winds, and physical abrasion caused by wave currents. These forces encourage the breakdown of plastic products into smaller pieces. These pieces are called microplastics or nanoplastics depending on their size. In general, microplastics are plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters in length; nanoplastics are smaller pieces less than 1 micron in length.”

Expressing that there are countless sources of microplastics spreading into the environment, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin listed them as follows:

-“Car and truck tire particles

-Clothing fibers (shed during machine washing)

-Cosmetics

-Water bottles

-Plastic bags...”

WHY ARE MICROPLASTICS A PROBLEM?

Stating that due to their small size, microplastics can easily spread in the air, accumulate in the environment, and can be difficult to detect, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin noted the following:

“Microplastics are found in various beverages, drinking water (bottled water contains more microplastics than tap water), and even table salt. Filter feeders such as mussels and oysters can consume microplastics suspended in seawater, and microplastics are found in many types of seafood. Microplastics are also produced for use in toothpastes and other cosmetic products. The US Congress passed the ‘Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015,’ which bans the production and sale of rinse-off cosmetics (toothpastes, cleansers) containing microplastics. Microbeads found in face wash gels and makeup products have been banned in the US since 2015.”

DO MICROPLASTICS HARM HUMANS?

Explaining that plastic particles can enter the body when people consume food contaminated with microplastics, drink water, or breathe air, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said, “In general, food intake leads to the consumption of up to 52 thousand microplastic particles per person each year. The presence of microplastics in human saliva, hair, and feces shows that we are all regularly exposed to these plastic particles.”

Noting that some researchers believe microplastics have harmful effects on human health, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that microplastics can absorb unwanted chemicals from the environment, including heavy metals and pesticides, which can result in increased human exposure to these chemicals and lead to toxic effects.

They can enter the skin through hair follicles or open wounds

Noting that microplastics are also found in human lung tissue through inhalation, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin stated that they can also enter the skin through sweat glands, hair follicles, or open wounds. Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin continued as follows:

“Since microplastics are so common in our environment, it is not possible to completely prevent contact with these particles. People who want to avoid exposure to microplastics should consider using water filtration systems to remove microplastics from drinking water; however, this does not prevent exposure to other sources of microplastic particles such as food or air.”

We must prevent the use of plastic products in the microwave…

Saying, “We must prevent the use of plastic products in the microwave,” Tekkeşin stated that researchers have discovered that large amounts of these small particles are released when plastic containers are heated in the microwave.