Humans swallow 260 grams of microplastics every year, which increases the risk of infertility and cancer.

Nowadays, plastic has become a part of our lives, but it is also having dangerous consequences. According to a recent study, a person is swallowing a minimum of 5.2 grams and a maximum of 260 grams of microplastics in a year. That means you’re unknowingly swallowing a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. The study was conducted by Professor Dhava Palanisamy of Newcastle University, Australia, and was presented at an event organized at AIIMS.

Microplastics are very small plastic particles, which enter our body through food and breath. These dangerous particles are found in tap water, bottled water, honey, salt and even beer. This problem is even more serious in seafood. Plastic waste present in the oceans reaches humans through marine organisms. Apart from this, microplastics present in the air also enter the body through breath.

According to AIIMS Professor Dr. Reema Dada, microplastic weakens our immune system. Due to this, the risk of serious diseases like diabetes, thyroid, neurological disorders and cancer is increasing. It can also cause infertility.

Professor Dhawa’s study According to this, the highest amount of microplastics has been found in tap water and bottled water. Bottled water in particular contains high amounts of plastic. Apart from this, things like salt, honey and sugar are also contaminated with plastic.

What to do for protection?

To avoid the dangers of microplastics, use less plastic products. Drink filtered water and eat food from natural sources. It is important to protect ourselves from microplastics, otherwise it can cause serious harm to our health.