Latest news with #microplastics
CTV News
4 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
More microplastics in glass bottles than plastic: study
Paris, France -- Drinks including water, soda, beer and wine sold in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those in plastic bottles, according to a surprising study released by France's food safety agency Friday. Researchers have detected the tiny, mostly invisible pieces of plastic throughout the world, from in the air we breathe to the food we eat, as well as riddled throughout human bodies. There is still no direct evidence that this preponderance of plastic is harmful to human health, but a burgeoning field of research is aiming to measure its spread. Guillaume Duflos, research director at French food safety agency ANSES, told AFP the team sought to 'investigate the quantity of microplastics in different types of drinks sold in France and examine the impact different containers can have'. The researchers found an average of around 100 microplastic particles per litre in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea and beer. That was five to 50 times higher than the rate detected in plastic bottles or metal cans. 'We expected the opposite result,' PhD student Iseline Chaib, who conducted the research, told AFP. 'We then noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, colour and polymer composition -- so therefore the same plastic -- as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles,' she said. The paint on the caps also had 'tiny scratches, invisible to the naked eye, probably due to friction between the caps when there were stored,' the agency said in a statement. This could then 'release particles onto the surface of the caps', it added. Wine fine For water, both flat and sparkling, the amount of microplastic was relatively low in all cases, ranging from 4.5 particles per litre in glass bottles to 1.6 particles in plastic. Wine also contained few microplastics -- even glass bottles with caps. Duflos said the reason for this discrepancy 'remains to be explained'. Soft drinks however contained around 30 microplastics per litre, lemonade 40 and beer around 60. Because there is no reference level for a potentially toxic amount of microplastics, it was not possible to say whether these figures represent a health risk, ANSES said. But drink manufacturers could easily reduce the amount of microplastics shed by bottle caps, it added. The agency tested a cleaning method involving blowing the caps with air, then rinsing them with water and alcohol, which reduced contamination by 60 percent. The study released by ANSES was published online in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis last month. By Rébecca Frasquet, AFP
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists issue urgent warning over drinking bottled BEER – as they discover a single glass bottle contains 50 times more dangerous microplastics than a plastic bottle
With temperatures set to hit 32°C in parts of the UK this weekend, many Brits will be looking forward to cracking open a cold beer in the sunshine. But a new study might make you think twice before reaching for your favourite bottle. Scientists fom the French food safety agency, ANSES, have discovered that drinks sold in glass bottles - including water, beer, and wine - contain more microplastics than those in plastic bottles. Initially, the researchers were baffled with this finding. However, they soon worked out that the microplastic particles were getting into the drinks through the paint on the outside of the bottles. 'We expected the opposite result,' Iseline Chaib, who conducted the research, told AFP. 'We then 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.' Worryingly, the long-term effects of these microplastics on human health remain unclear. Initially, the researchers were baffled with this finding. However, they soon worked out that the microplastic particles were getting into the drinks through the paint on the outside of the bottles. For the study, the team set out to evaluate the levels of microplastics in various popular drinks sold in France. Their analysis revealed an average of around 100 microplastic particles per litre in glass bottles of soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, and beer. That was between five and 50 times higher than the rate detected in plastic bottles or metal cans. The researchers inspected the glass bottles, and discovered small scratches on the caps, likely created due to friction between the caps when they were stored. For water, both flat and sparkling, the amount of microplastic was relatively low in all cases, ranging from 4.5 particles per liter in glass bottles to 1.6 particles in plastic. Wine drinkers will also be relieved to hear that wine contained few microplastics — even glass bottles with caps. Soft drinks however contained around 30 microplastics per liter, while lemonade had 40 microplastics per liter. Beer was the worst offender, with a whopping 60 microplastics per liter. As it stands, the researchers do not know whether these microplastics represent a health risk. However, researchers are increasingly concerned about the capacity of such particles to be internalised within cells causing alterations in cellular function, particularly when interacting with organs in children and causing definitive alterations in adult life. There is a growing body of evidence that plastics could play a key role in early-onset cancer genesis, where healthy cells turn cancerous. Last year, a study found cancer cells in the gut spread at an accelerated rate after contact with microplastics. Experts have also raised the alarm about a potential between microplastics and reproductive health. Scientists warned in June that they found tiny plastic particles in men's sperm. Thankfully, the researchers say that drink manufacturers could easily reduce the amount of microplastics shed by bottle caps. As part of the study, the team tested a cleaning method involving blowing the caps with air, then rinsing them with water and alcohol. This was found to reduce microplastic contamination by 60 per cent. WHAT CAN MICROPLASTICS DO TO THE HUMAN BODY IF THEY END UP IN OUR FOOD SUPPLY? According to an article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, our understanding of the potential human health effects from exposure to microplastics 'constitutes major knowledge gaps.' Humans can be exposed to plastic particles via consumption of seafood and terrestrial food products, drinking water and via the air. However, the level of human exposure, chronic toxic effect concentrations and underlying mechanisms by which microplastics elicit effects are still not well understood enough in order to make a full assessment of the risks to humans. According to Rachel Adams, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University, ingesting microplastics could cause a number of potentially harmful effects, such as: Inflammation: when inflammation occurs, the body's white blood cells and the substances they produce protect us from infection. This normally protective immune system can cause damage to tissues. An immune response to anything recognised as 'foreign' to the body: immune responses such as these can cause damage to the body. Becoming carriers for other toxins that enter the body: microplastics generally repel water and will bind to toxins that don't dissolve, so microplastics can bind to compounds containing toxic metals such as mercury, and organic pollutants such as some pesticides and chemicals called dioxins, which are known to causes cancer, as well as reproductive and developmental problems. If these microplastics enter the body, toxins can accumulate in fatty tissues.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists discover promising new way to filter microplastics out of human body: 'The dose makes the poison'
There's finally some good news in the battle against something that's been quietly invading our lives: microplastics. According to an article in News Medical, a team of scientists has discovered a promising new way to filter microplastics out of the human body by using a method similar to dialysis. In a recent study published in Genomic Press, researchers showed that this blood filtration technique, called apheresis, could remove tiny plastic particles from human samples. Why does this matter? Well, microplastics have been linked to all kinds of health issues, including inflammation and damage to the brain and nervous system. And, until now, experts didn't have a way to get them out of the body. It's still the early days, but this technology is a hopeful step toward removing the toxins and tackling the hidden ways that pollution affects human health. While people are pretty hopeful about this new technology, they are smart to also approach it with the proper amount of critical thinking. The researchers are quick to point out that this is only a first step. As environmental researcher Frederic Béen told WIRED: "The dose makes the poison. That's the reason why it is important to determine accurately how much microplastics or any other type of environmental contaminants humans are exposed to." Also, even if this technique works, that doesn't mean it will be a quick or easy fix. Apheresis is expensive, time-consuming, and not something people can just do casually, like a juice cleanse. That's part of what prompted one reader to comment, "I'm glad to hear some people were helped, but for the bulk of us, what's the point? Until microplastics are removed from the environment, you will quickly become recontaminated after all your time and expense." This study doesn't solve the microplastics problem, but it does offer a small glimmer of hope that removal could be possible someday and that it can be done using tools we already have. Until then, the best move is still prevention: cutting back on plastic use, pushing for better environmental policies, supporting science that helps us understand what's really going on inside our bodies, and finding new, unexpected ways to take care of our health. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make disturbing discovery inside stomachs of earthworms: 'We were surprised by just how widespread'
Tiny plastic particles known as microplastics are turning up in unexpected and disturbing places: inside the stomachs of earthworms, slugs, beetles, and other invertebrates that live in everyday green spaces, according to an article from the University of Sussex. While this pollution may seem far removed from daily life, scientists warn it could ripple up the food chain — potentially impacting the health of animals, ecosystems, and even people. A new study by the University of Sussex and the University of Exeter analyzed more than 580 invertebrates collected from 51 sites across Sussex, a county in Southern England. Nearly 12% of the samples contained microplastic fragments. Earthworms showed the highest contamination levels at 30%, followed by slugs and snails at 24%. Polyester, often shed from synthetic clothing, was the most common plastic found. Even carnivorous insects like ladybugs had ingested plastic, suggesting that contamination isn't limited to plant-eating species. "We were surprised by just how widespread this plastic contamination is," said lead author Emily Thrift, an ecology doctoral tutor at the University of Sussex. "This is the first study to find plastics consistently turning up across an entire community of land invertebrates." These small animals may seem insignificant, but they're essential to healthy soil and local food chains. They break down decaying plants, cycle nutrients, and serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and mammals. When they consume plastic, it can lead to stunted growth, reduced fertility, and organ damage — problems that can then travel up the food chain. This could affect species that interact with people, as well as animals involved in pollination and pest control. "To reduce the uptake of microplastics into the food web we first have to understand how it is getting there," said University of Exeter Professor Tamara Galloway. Researchers say the contamination likely comes from several sources, such as fibers from clothing, paint particles, and general plastic waste. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While major policy action is needed to address the root of the problem, individuals can help by choosing natural fabrics, washing synthetic clothes less often, and supporting better waste and recycling systems. "Microplastics are now ubiquitous at every level of the food web. Attention is currently focused on litter as the main source of contamination, but these findings suggest multiple sources ranging from clothing to paint," said Professor Fiona Mathews, an environmental biologist at the University of Sussex. "There is now an urgent need to understand how different plastics are damaging ecosystems and to cut the volume entering the environment." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Common vegetable extract found to remove most microplastics from water
An extract derived from okra and fenugreek can remove over 90 per cent of microplastics from water, according to a new study that may help develop safe ways to get rid of the toxic material. Microplastic particles, ranging in size from a billionth to a millionth of a metre, have become widespread environmental pollutants in the last 50 years. They are produced during industrial processes or when plastic debris breaks down in the environment. A growing body of research warns that exposure to microplastics, and in particular their collection in human tissues, may lead to adverse health conditions like stroke and several types of cancer. Scientists have been attempting to develop methods to effectively remove these tiny fragments from the environment as well as from the human body. They have now found that the natural polymers that make okra slimy and give fenugreek its gel-like texture can trap most of these microplastic particles in water. The new study, published in the journal ACS Omega, shows that an okra and fenugreek extract can remove up to 90 percent of microplastics from ocean water, freshwater and groundwater. Natural polymers in okra and fenugreek as well as tamarind grab onto microplastic particles, causing them to clump together and sink to the bottom. This makes it easier to separate the tiny plastic particles from water. Researchers also optimised a process for making okra and fenugreek extracts. They made the extracts by soaking sliced okra pods and blending fenugreek seeds in separate containers of water overnight. They then removed the dissolved extracts and dried them into powders. The powdered extracts were found to contain natural long-chain sugar polymers called polysaccharides. Just a gram of either powder in a litre of water was found to trap microplastics effectively. The dried okra and fenugreek extracts removed nearly 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the plastic in an hour, researchers found. A mixture of equal parts of the powders removed 70 per cent of the plastic particles within 30 minutes, according to the study. Researchers said the plant extracts performed significantly better than commercially available synthetic polymers currently used in wastewater treatment. When researchers tested the extracts on water collected from local waterbodies, they found that okra worked best in ocean water, fenugreek in groundwater, and their combination in freshwater. 'Utilizing these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water,' Rajani Srinivasan, an author of the study from Tarleton State University in the US, said, 'thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.'
