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We are eating, drinking and breathing microplastics — and don’t know how it would affect us

Aug 22, 2019, 10:11 IST

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  • Scientists say marine setting, freshwater, food, air, and drinking water consists microplastics.
  • There's very little information available on how the microplastic can affect human health.
We are drinking, eating, and breathing tiny plastics every day.

UN scientists say marine settings, freshwater, food, water and even air consists microplastics,

Yet, we are unaware of it affects us, as there is little information available on the effect of microplastics on human health. As of now, experts believe that microplastic in drinking water poses a 'low risk' to humans. They can pass through the body without getting absorbed, said the report.

"Tiny plastic particles known as microplastics are everywhere – including in our drinking-water but they are not necessarily a risk to human health," said UN experts said on July 22.

UN has urged further investigation into the matter.
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Water contamination
As many as two billion people are affected due to drinking water contamination and a million die, said Bruce Gordon from Department of Public Health, WHO.

Humans produced as much as 400 million tons of plastic in 2015. And, the amounts are only rising annually. Experts estimate that plastic production will double by 2025, reported Wired.

Globally, people dump 8 million tons of plastic into the oceans and researchers aren't able to trace the 99% of it. As the researchers dig deeper into the matter of microplastics, we continue to eat, drink and breathe it.

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