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New York Post
11 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Glass bottles found to have five to 50 times as many microplastics as plastic bottles in shocking new study
Looks like the glass is half full…of plastic. Microplastics are everywhere — in your chewing gum, your beauty products and even your favorite junk food. Given the name, it's reasonable to assume you're more likely to find them in products containing plastic than not. Advertisement 3 Microplastics are everywhere — in your chewing gum, your beauty products and even your favorite junk food. SIV Stock Studio – But a jaw-dropping new study — published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis — has discovered quite the opposite seems to be the case. Guillaume Duflos, research director at French food safety watchdog ANSES, told AFP that his team set out to 'investigate the quantity of microplastics in different types of drinks sold in France and examine the impact different containers can have.' Advertisement Much to their surprise, they found that glass-bottled beverages — including lemonade, iced tea, beer and soda — had five to 50 times more microplastics than their plastic or metal counterparts. Needless to say, the team 'expected the opposite result,' study co-author Iseline Chaib told AFP. Researchers found an average of roughly 100 microplastic particles per liter in these glass bottles, which they pinned on the paint on their caps. 3 Glass-bottled beverages had five to 50 times more microplastics than their plastic or metal counterparts. SKfoto – Advertisement 'We…noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, color and polymer composition — so, therefore, the same plastic — as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles,' Chaib said. They theorized that 'tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored,' might subsequently 'release particles onto the surface of the caps.' Still, some of the study's findings remain a mystery. 3 Bottles of wine contained very few microplastics, even when capped. Gary Perkin – Advertisement The team found only 4.5 particles and 1.6 particles of microplastics per liter in glass and plastic bottles, respectively. And — in more good news — bottles of wine also contained very few microplastics, even when capped. In contrast, there were 60, 40 and 30 microplastics per liter in beer, lemonade and soft drinks, respectively. Duflos admitted that the reason behind this inconsistency 'remains to be explained.' While the full health impact of microplastics continues to be unclear, studies have linked them to inflammation, hormone disruption, DNA damage, respiratory illnesses, heart problems and certain cancers. ANSES suggests a quick fix: try blowing on the caps and rinsing them with water and alcohol. The French watchdog found this method can slash plastic contamination by 60 percent.
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Microplastics are ‘far from benign' — here's how they can devastate your immune system
Well, this blows. Microplastics — pesky particles that have contaminated our air, water, food and bodies — have been linked to a higher risk of inflammation, hormone disruption, DNA damage, respiratory illnesses and heart problems, among other health issues. A new study suggests that inhaling microplastics can suppress a type of white blood cell in the lungs that's essential to the immune system, raising the risk of cancer and other diseases. Advertisement 3 Microplastics — pesky particles that have contaminated our air, water, food and bodies — have been linked to a range of health issues. A new study reveals how they can harm our immune system. SIV Stock Studio – 'For me, it's a bit eye-opening that although microplastics aren't the most dangerous agent we may encounter, they are far from benign,' said first study author Adam Soloff, an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Microplastics are smaller than a pencil eraser. They slough off polyester clothing, car tires and plastic bottles and bags. Some are intentionally manufactured for personal care products, like microbeads found in exfoliating scrubs, facial cleansers and toothpastes. Advertisement For the new study, Soloff's team had mice inhale microplastics to measure the effects on their body. The minute plastic fragments were detected in their liver, spleen and colon. Trace amounts were found in their brain and kidneys for up to a week after they breathed them in. 'Respiratory microplastics disseminate systemically after passing through the lung,' Soloff explained. 'Overall, these may have detrimental effects on any and all organ systems and contribute to a number of diseases.' 3 'It's a bit eye-opening that although microplastics aren't the most dangerous agent we may encounter, they are far from benign,' said first study author Adam Soloff (pictured here). Adam Soloff Advertisement The researchers also cultured macrophages with different sizes of polystyrene microplastics. Styrofoam packaging, disposable coffee cups and foam are made from polystyrene. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the lungs. They are vital in removing damaged cells and debris, resolving inflammation and promoting tissue repair. Within 24 hours, the macrophages labored to engulf and digest bacteria, a critical cell process known as phagocytosis. Advertisement 'When we first started to discuss these microplastic exposures, I was sure that the macrophages would just eat (phagocytose) and digest them (lysosomally process), and that would be the end of it,' Soloff said. 'I was really surprised to see that not only did the macrophages struggle to break down the plastics in vitro, but macrophages in the lung retained these particles over time as well.' 3 This diagram from the study shows how microplastics affect the function of macrophages. ATS Journals The good news is that researchers found that Acadesine, a drug primarily used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, restored some macrophage function. The results were presented Monday at the American Thoracic Society conference in San Francisco. Soloff's team plans to examine microplastic exposure in lung tissues to develop an early warning system for lung disease and lung cancer risk.
