While many us are aware of the environmental damage done plastic, fewer people know the threat from the ubiquity of microplastics. Scientists first found them our bodies more than a decade ago. Worryingly, researchers have now found them the human heart. Scientists at the Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China collected cardiac tissue samples 15 patients undergoing heart surgery. After analyzing the samples, they discovered tiny pieces plastic, from a multitude sources. They included a plastic commonly used as a shatter-proof alternative to glass, a polythene widely used clothing and food containers, and a polyvinyl chloride used construction.
The scientists reported finding, "tens to thousands individual microplastic pieces most tissue samples". Chemicals microplastics are released the body, potentially leading to allergic reactions, cancer, cell death, and chronic inflammation, other complications. Scientists reckon the average person consumes five grams of microplastics a week, or 52,000 particles a year. Microplastics are so prevalent that they make 39 per cent dust particles in our homes. Scientists say these tiny shards are near-impossible to remove the body. They say it is becoming critical to limit the amount of plastic we breathe , ingest, swallow or absorb.
