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Microplastic found in Human Blood for the First time

Different campaigns are being run around the world to ban plastic and stop its use. Some time ago it was reported that microplastics are reaching the body of marine organisms, causing their death.

Now scientists from the Netherlands have done a surprising research. They have also found pieces of plastic in human blood. This has happened for the first time in the world. These pieces are very small i.e. microplastic in appearance. In this study, scientists took samples of 22 people, out of which plastic particles were found in the blood of 17. This is being said to be very worrying. Traces of plastic into the body from food and drink, can cause serious diseases

What is microplastic?

It is impossible to see microplastic particles without a magnifying glass. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic 5 millimeters or less in size. They are so small that it is difficult to see them with the naked eye without a magnifying glass. Scientists are still trying to reduce the impact of these tiny particles. They are present in places such as water, food items and the surface of the land. Through them they reach the body.

5 types of microplastics found in blood

During research, scientists have found 5 types of plastic in the blood of humans. These mainly include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The  Plastic of the Food Package 

The plastic present in water bottles and food packets further turns into microplastic.
Apart from this, 23% of people were found to have polyethylene (PE), which is found in plastic bags. Only one person was found to have polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and none of the blood samples contained polypropylene (PP).

How do plastic enter the body

Plastic can enter the human body through air as well as food and drink. People are not aware that small plastic particles are going inside their body while eating, drinking water and breathing.

There can be many diseases

Microplastics are small in appearance, but they can lead to a variety of diseases.

What do experts say?

Professor Dick Wethak of Vrije University Amsterdam in the Netherlands said that it is reasonable to be concerned because these microplastic particles can also travel throughout the human body. They can also cause a deadly disease. More research is still needed on this topic.

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