Previously, we discussed the various impacts of microplastic ingestion on marine life, and we now have a better idea of just how deadly these little pieces of plastic can be. In this blog post, we bring the issue closer to home and discuss the impacts of microplastic pollution on us humans.

 

As mentioned in the introductory post, there are multiple effects of microplastic digestion on human health including ingestion of chemical pollutants absorbed into the plastics, as well as gut microbiome disruption. I want to discuss the adverse impacts in two sections: human health and food security. This section will touch on health effects, while the next blog post will cover food security.

 

Microplastics, over the course of time, have become deep-seated in our system, and it is a cause for concern due to its long-term impacts.

 

Human health

Clearly, it is neither normal nor healthy for us to be chomping on pieces of plastic – imagine chewing on your plastic water bottle, or the plate in your kitchen. It is easy to see the detrimental effects of doing so: your teeth would likely suffer some form of discomfort or pain, and you’re likely to get a stomach ache if any plastic pieces do manage to enter your digestive system. What is not so obvious is the long-term effects of ingesting plastics, especially if it is microplastics you are ingesting, given how miniscule and easily overlooked they are. We take in shocking amounts of microplastics especially when we enjoy seafood, as they often have large volumes of plastic intake from their own food.

 

For one, microplastics that are small enough can enter into various organ tissues and wreck major havoc. Although the total absorption of microplastics into the body is relatively low at 0.3%, it is still of great concern, as microplastics could enter secondary tissues, including the liver, various muscle, as well as the blood-brain barrier (Barboza, Vethaak, Lavorante, Lundebyef & ). In addition, microplastics have been found to cause cytotoxic effects by causing oxidative stress[1].

 

Microplastics also often contain a plethora of toxic chemicals, many of which are dangerous for humans. Lead, mercury and cadmium are directly found in numerous types of microplastics, and are highly toxic. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a carcinogen, and can be linked to various health problems including several types of cancer, birth defects, weakened immune systems, and development problems in babies and young children (Andrews, 2012).

 

Microplastics derived from human activities enter a cycle where we eventually suffer the consequences of these actions through ingestion and contact.

 

There could be a day not too long in the future where we are made of as much plastic as we are water, and the consequences then would be dire. Thus, there is a great need for us to reduce our microplastic consumption and usage, because the effects will ultimately come back directly to us.

 

[1] Oxidative stress: an imbalance between production of free radicals and reactive metabolites, so-called oxidants or reactive oxygen species (ROS), and their elimination by protective mechanisms, referred to as antioxidants.

 

Bibliography:

Andrews, G. (2012). Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health. Retrieved 1 October 2020, from https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html#:~:text=Over%20a%20few%20decades%2C%20humans,thousands%20of%20years%20to%20decay.&text=Consequently%20the%20toxins%20from%20the,food%20chain%2C%20threatening%20human%20health

Barboza, L., Vethaak, A., Lavorante, B., Lundebye, A., & Guilhermino, L. (2018). Marine microplastic debris: An emerging issue for food security, food safety and human health. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 133, 336-348. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.047