News Excerpt:
Indonesians top the list of consuming plastic by consuming almost 15 grams of microplastics per month, primarily from seafood, equivalent to three credit cards.
More About the News: Consumption of microplastics has increased in their diet by 59 times between 1990 and 2018.
Key points from the Study:
- The study published in April by Cornell University researchers mapped microplastic uptake across 109 countries.
- According to the study, the nations of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have the highest per-capita food intake of microplastics worldwide.
- The majority of these plastic particles are thought to have come from aquatic sources including fish and seafood.
Microplastics inhaled substantially across the world
- According to the study, residents of China and Mongolia absorbed the most microplastics of the 109 countries studied, breathing in more than 2.8 million particles per month.
- People in the United States breathe in approximately 300,000 particles per month.
- According to the study, only people living in the Mediterranean and adjacent areas breathed less, with people in nations like Spain, Portugal, and Hungary breathing between 60,000 and 240,000 particles each month.
How do microplastics land in our food?
- Microplastics (smaller than 5mm) are fibers, pieces, or granules formed when plastic items degrade or are shed by synthetic textiles.
- Accidental spills and incorrect handling of plastic pellets, the raw materials used in plastic manufacture, can lead to their release into the environment.
- Common waste management approaches, such as open dumping, are losing popularity in dealing with the ever-increasing number of discarded plastics, particularly in fast-growing emerging countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.
- When open dumping sites or landfills are not properly managed, rains can transfer plastic into neighboring bodies of water.
- These are commonly ingested by phytoplankton and zooplankton, which fish and aquatic animals feed on. This results in indirect plastic ingestion in people when eating seafood.
- Microplastics are also released into the environment during the manufacturing, washing, and wearing of synthetic textiles.
- Dust-like airborne microplastics are mostly caused by the abrasion of plastic products such as tyres.
Emerging Trend
- Industrial growth in East and South Asia has led to more plastic use, waste, and microplastic consumption.
- Meanwhile, wealthier countries are reducing their plastic waste thanks to better resources.
Significance of Study
- Microplastics are now a major environmental concern, affecting even the deepest portions of the ocean and the world's tallest mountain.
- Understanding how much microplastic different countries consume is important for figuring out the health risks of plastic pollution.
- The study helps by showing which areas need better water quality control and waste recycling.
Way Forward:
- Reducing plastic debris in water could greatly decrease the amount of microplastics people are exposed to.
- A 90% reduction in aquatic plastic could lower exposure by up to 51% in developed countries and 49% in rapidly industrializing regions.
- The findings come just before an international committee meeting on the U.N. Plastics Treaty, a global agreement to manage plastic production and disposal. This treaty is expected to be finalized later this year.
- Cleaning global water systems will take a long time and will depend on local industry and economy. The study's global map of microplastic hotspots can help start this process.
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What is Microplastics and its types?
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