Microplastics in human blood: Is it harmful to health?

Shafiul Kayes

Microplastics are everywhere, from the highest peaks of Mount Everest to the world’s deepest the Pacific Ocean. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastics less than five millimeters in diameter. The microscopic particles can be harmful to our oceans and aquatic life. For the first time, a group of researchers finds microplastics in our blood. The effects on human health are still unknown. However, laboratory experiments have shown that microplastic particles do a lot of damage to human cells. The particles do not dissolve or break down into any other substance in the body (non-degradable) and reach different parts of the body.

Disrupts the normal metabolism and functions of those organs. Gradually paralyzes the limbs. Such microplastics are called in scientific terms – ‘per and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Microplastics come from a variety of sources. They form over time as plastic objects, like plastic bags, bottles, toys and food packets that degrade into smaller and smaller pieces. The major sources of human exposure to microplastics likely come from airborne dust, tap water, bottled water, air and seafood. But they don’t disappear.

Microplastics can be divided into two main categories according to their source: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are directly released into the environment as tiny particles. It can be representing between 15-31% of microplastics in the oceans. The laundering of synthetic clothes is the main source of primary microplastics. The secondary microplastics originated from the degradation of larger plastic objects, such as plastic bags, bottles, toys or fishing nets. The amount of microplastics found in the ocean is 69-81%. Microplastics have been found in food and drinks, including beer, honey and tap water. Not surprisingly, they have also recently been discovered in human blood.

Microplastics come from a variety of sources. They form over time as plastic objects, like plastic bags, bottles, toys and food packets that degrade into smaller and smaller pieces. The major sources of human exposure to microplastics likely come from airborne dust, tap water, bottled water, air and seafood.

Their health effects on humans are still unclear, but plastics often contain additives, such as stabilizers or flame-retardants, and other possibly toxic chemical substances that may be harmful to the animal or human ingesting them.

Microplastic pollution poses a serious threat to the environment and mankind. Microplastic pollution is also increasing day by day in Bangladesh. The level of health risks due to the use of plastic by the people of the country is increasing. Due to the shortage of potable water in the country, people in the cities are buying plastic bottled water. As a result, there is a risk of increasing the level of microplastics in the human body.

Due to the scarcity of water, people are cooking with tap water, which is a threat to human health. Moreover, we do not carry certain bags when we go to the market. Fish, meat, and vegetables are brought home in polythene bags, after making them suitable for cooking, we put them in polythene bags and keep them in the fridge. This has the potential to increase the number of microplastics in our bodies.

Their health effects on humans are still unclear, but plastics often contain additives, such as stabilizers or flame-retardants, and other possibly toxic chemical substances that may be harmful to the animal or human ingesting them.

As the level of air pollution increases, the level of microplastic pollution is likely to increase at a proportional rate. Since 2018, Bangladesh has been at the top of the world in terms of air pollution. Microplastics can enter the body through the air, so the people of Bangladesh have no way to get rid of microplastic pollution.

Meanwhile, the water crisis in the country, on the other hand, is the top position in air pollution. So it will surpass the world in terms of health risks.

We must now work to prevent air pollution, water pollution, and microplastic pollution. To be health conscious we need to limit the use of plastics. The government of Bangladesh has to take urgent steps to curb the use of lightweight plastic bags.

The author is student, Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University.