Americans consume 70,000 plastics a year

science and technology

New research has shown that the US citizen consumes more than 70,000 particles of fine plastic every year.

For example, a person who drinks only bottled water can swallow 9,000 particles of plastic per year, compared to just 4,000 small plastic bottles of people who drink tap water, the researchers say. Just.

"Simple choices can radically change your exposure to plastics," said lead author, Kieran Cox, a professor at the British Columbia University in Canada. "Micro-particles are incredibly small, less than 130 microns in diameter, Human about 50 microns ".

The researchers estimated that the annual consumption of micro-plastic ranged from 39,000 to 52,000, depending on age and sex. If fine plastic particles inhaled by inhaling polluted air are included in the estimate, the annual pregnancy will rise to between 74,000 and 121,000.

The figures are likely to be higher for people who eat food and drink liquids that are processed by plastic or packaged in plastic, Cox said.

Studies show that tap water infects people between 3,000 and 6,000 micro-particles per year, but bottled water is between 64,000 and 127,000 parts a year if this is the only water source. Bottled water is exposed to plastic In several different ways, either during treatment or while placing it in a plastic bottle that is waiting for someone to jump, Cox said.

"There is still no clear indication of how these plastic molecules affect human health.".