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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microplastics have been found in the human body in recent studies.</li><li>Scientists are trying to understand their potential negative effects on our health.</li></ul>An expert on how <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/human-blood-microplastics">microplastics</a> affect our health shared how she reduces her exposure at home.Professor Fay Couceiro leads a team at Portsmouth University, UK, that researches the potential health impacts of these fragments of plastic measuring less than five millimeters long. She told Business Insider that the study of microplastics initially started in marine biology. Not only do microplastics harm marine ecosystems, they damage associated economies. An estimated $500 to $2,500 billion is lost annually because of how marine microplastics impact industries including fishing and recreation, according to a 2019 study by researchers at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory.Once scientists found microplastics in all parts of the marine ecosystem, they discovered them everywhere else they thought to look, too, Couceiro said.<div type="image" title="A glass beaker with water and microplastics, held by someone in a white coat and plastic gloves." height="1414" width="2121" msid="114325882" hostid="261" sizebytes="53160"></div>Research suggests that microplastics could contribute to the development or worsening of health issues such as asthma, Couceiro said. A study released earlier this year, meanwhile, suggested <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics increase the risks of stroke</a> and heart attacks. That's concerning, considering that microplastics have been found in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">human blood, brains, and testicles</a>.Although experts don't yet fully understand how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics</a> affect our health, Couceiro said that "it would be sensible to try to limit the number we expose ourselves to while we determine what the problems are."Couceiro added that while legislation and wider systemic changes are needed to meaningfully reduce the number of microplastics we come into contact with, there are things we can do to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">reduce exposure</a> at home.<h2 id="af91ad2d-fdb9-4cc9-a1d1-4c2028bb7c07">Don't microwave food in a plastic container</h2>Couceiro tries to remove food from plastic packaging before microwaving it whenever she can. But she doesn't stress if this isn't possible when she eats out.<div type="image" title="A steaming Thai green curry in a microwaveable plastic pot." height="1414" width="2121" msid="114325879" hostid="261" sizebytes="121222"></div>Heating plastic means it breaks down more easily and can release microplastics into food, a 2023 study published in Environmental Science &amp; Technology found.<h2 id="d8db174e-3632-4810-87d9-0365d40b9dd6">Don't buy plastic clothes and carpets</h2>Couceiro recommends people buy clothes and carpets that aren't made from plastic."You don't have to go and replace all your clothes and carpets — especially not at the moment when things are so tight," she said. "But if something is starting to wear out, and you're thinking about buying a new one, look at what non-plastic alternatives are out there that you can afford."She still has a few pieces of polyester clothing, which she plans to replace non-plastic items when the time comes.<h2 id="151047ca-b498-4803-8816-c2a5992dea67">Vacuum regularly</h2>"The more you vacuum, the less plastic will be in the air from your carpet," Couceiro said.If you don't have much carpet in your home, don't worry about this one too much, she said.<h2 id="418e7f7a-deb6-41af-9b4b-24a2c93e90f1">Avoid plastic cookware</h2><div type="image" title="Wooden and ceramic kitchen utensils and bowls with a metal grater." height="1412" width="2124" msid="114325880" hostid="261" sizebytes="103910"></div>"When you see things like plastic spatulas melting and bubbling, there's little pieces of plastic coming off them," she said.Where possible, Couceiro cooks with metal or wood cookware instead of plastic, and avoids buying plastic utensils.<h2 id="4cc175a5-ccca-4fe1-9305-a291d8397f47">Avoid really fluffy materials</h2>This can be tough with kids, so Couceiro just limits fluffy materials in her home rather than banning them.But she's wary of them because they are more likely to be made of plastic fibers that shed easily.<h2 id="d6503b62-a0ec-48e9-8d00-de373ad69f39">Ventilate your home</h2>Couceiro likes to have fresh air in the house, and recommends ventilating your living space by opening windows to reduce the number of microplastics in the air.But, she said, you have to make sure that you won't be undoing the benefits by allowing pollution into your home, which is more likely if you live near busy roads or in a city center.Alternatively, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/best-air-purifier">air purifiers</a> can help improve air quality if left running for long periods, she said.

An expert in how microplastics affect our health does 6 things to avoid them at home

All Indian <keyword id="19926225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="salt" source="keywords">salt</keyword> and <keyword id="20109149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugar" source="keywords">sugar</keyword> brands, whether big or small, packaged or unpackaged, contain <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword>, according to a study published on Tuesday. The study, titled "Microplastics in Salt and Sugar" and conducted by the <keyword id="22774411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="environmental-research-organisation" source="keywords">environmental research organisation</keyword> <keyword id="21593811" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Toxics-Link" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Toxics Link" meta.hostid="281" meta.entityid="Toxics Link">Toxics Link</keyword>, tested 10 types of salt -- including table salt, rock salt, <keyword id="158885" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sea-salt" source="Orion">sea salt</keyword> and local raw salt -- and five types of sugar purchased from both online and local markets. The study revealed the presence of microplastics in all salt and sugar samples, in various forms, including fibre, pellets, films and fragments. The size of these microplastics ranged from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. The highest levels of microplastics were found in <keyword id="630077" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iodised-salt" source="Orion">iodised salt</keyword>, in the form of multi-coloured thin fibre and films. Toxics Link founder-director Ravi Agarwal said, "The objective of our study was to contribute to the existing scientific database on microplastics, so that the global plastic treaty can address this issue in a concrete and focused manner." "We also aim to trigger policy action and attract researchers' attention to potential technological interventions that could reduce exposure risks to microplastics." Toxics Link associate director Satish Sinha added, "Our study's finding of substantial amounts of microplastics in all salt and sugar samples is concerning and calls for urgent, comprehensive research into the long-term health impacts of microplastics on human health." The concentration of microplastics in the salt samples ranged from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogramme of dry weight, the report said. Iodised salt had the highest concentration of microplastics (89.15 pieces per kilogramme) while organic rock salt had the lowest (6.70 pieces per kilogramme), according to the study. In sugar samples, the concentration of microplastics ranged from 11.85 to 68.25 pieces per kilogramme, with the highest concentration found in non-organic sugar. Microplastics are a growing global concern because they can harm both health and the environment. These tiny plastic particles can enter the human body through food, water and air. Recent research has found microplastics in human organs such as the lungs, heart, and even in breast milk and unborn babies. Previous studies found that the average Indian consumes 10.98 grams of salt and around 10 spoons of sugar every day -- much higher than the <keyword id="19896311" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="keywords">World Health Organization</keyword>'s recommended limits.

All Indian salt and sugar brands have microplastics, notes a recent study

10 ways to reduce your microplastic intake at home

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A small study of men with erectile dysfunction found microplastics hiding in most of their penises.</li><li>An older man with a traditional lifestyle was the only one who didn't have microplastic in his penis.</li></ul>When scientists first started murmuring about a striking connection between more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">microplastics</a> and more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">heart attacks</a>, Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy's mind immediately traveled further south, to another blood-pumping organ, one that he knows very well."Penis being such a vascular organ, similar to the heart, we said, 'Hey, could this also be present in the penis?'"Ramasamy, a reproductive urology specialist who has conducted penile implant surgeries in Miami for many years, wondered how the microplastics that we inadvertently inhale from everyday items including food, water bottles, and household dust, might impact fertility and verility in men.What he's found, while still preliminary, is that microplastics are present in some penises experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED).<h2 id="d10e2f89-ecd2-42ac-a0b3-26bd0bbf4c43">Microplastics were found in 80% of penises with ED in this small study</h2><div type="image" title="plastic bottles" height="1473" width="2035" msid="111097982" hostid="261" sizebytes="323382"></div>Ramasamy's first-of-its-kind study, just released in the International Journal of Impotence Research, was a small, pilot sample of six men, all with ED, each one undergoing surgery to insert a penile implant.While the study is still preliminary, it's part of a growing body of research that finds microplastics are present everywhere in the human body that researchers have looked so far.It's also one of the first studies to study a connection between impotence and more plastic use. Other studies have already suggested there <a target="_blank" href="https://healthymale.org.au/health-article/do-plastics-our-food-and-environment-affect-male-fertility">may be some link</a> between our plastic modern existence and lower-quality sperm. Ramasamy wanted to know whether microplastics might physically impact penis muscle function.At the start of each surgery, Ramasamy carefully extracted some tissue from deep inside the shaft of the penis — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/corpus-spongiosum">an area that's responsible for</a> making and sustaining erections. He and his team worked to ensure there was no plastic contamination in the surgery rooms by using non-plastic surgical instruments and collecting the tissue in glass containers. They then whisked the tissue off to two separate labs for analysis.Scientists found microplastics present in five of the six penises they sampled. The most abundant plastic in the penises was polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, a common plastic used in food packaging including plastic bottles and takeout containers. They also found polypropylene, which is used to make plastic bottle caps.<h2 id="b12a6895-c0f9-4901-829a-51b66a3af1b1">We are gobbling up more plastics than ever, and learning more about the effects</h2><div type="image" title="takeout food" height="1414" width="2121" msid="111097983" hostid="261" sizebytes="223084"></div>We don't know how much plastic might be hiding out in the penises of men without ED and can't take much away from such a small initial study.Still, this research goes hand in hand with what other microplastics experts are discovering.We are <a target="_blank" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c00010">consuming more plastic</a> than ever before. In several <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822?logout=true">recent</a> microplastic <a target="_blank" href="https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/05/hsc-newsroom-post-microplastics-testicular.html">studies</a>, younger men have had more microplastic in them than older men.The one man in this study who didn't have any detectable microplastics in his penis "leads a very traditional, Cuban guy elderly lifestyle," Ramasamy said. "He said he doesn't use a lot of plastics."He's not getting a lot of the takeout that often comes in plastic-lined containers, and he's not drinking from plastic-lined coffee cups or plastic water bottles very often. In other words, without trying, he's doing most of the things that microplastic researchers recommend to people hoping to reduce their risk of any potential microplastic-related health issues: avoiding drinking and eating from plastic, and never microwaving plastic containers.This finding has given Ramasamy pause. He has become much more wary of drinking from plastic water bottles since completing this study, and he tries to always put his food on a real plate now before he re-heats it, instead of microwaving plastic tubs. He knows it's still unclear what contribution microplastics might be making to infertility and low sperm quality, but he's got a hunch there's probably some contribution, on some level."As convenient as society has become, I think we're facing some of these harms," he said. "I don't think our parents were exposed to as much: They were not drinking water out of plastic bottles — they were certainly not doing as much takeout."<h2 id="6c081f96-1909-4cea-8163-d7d04064973c">Could microplastics be interfering with important penis muscles?</h2><div type="image" title="penis enlargement" height="1414" width="2121" msid="111098040" hostid="261" sizebytes="381844"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">Microplastics</a> have traveled to almost every corner of the body that scientists have looked at so far, including lungs, livers, blood vessels, penises, and brains, as well as fluids including semen, blood, and placentas. Just last month, researchers at the University of New Mexico found microplastics in testicles, <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36948312/">cementing the idea</a> that microplastics can penetrate the body's protective blood-testes barrier. What these tiny bits of plastic are doing to our bodies remains an open question.Richard Pilsner, a men's reproductive health expert at Wayne State University who studies the chemicals in plastics, says "we have a lot to learn in terms of where it's accumulating and what processes it may be affecting." Recent work he's done suggested that men with higher levels of plasticizers and plastic chemicals in their bodies see their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.factor.niehs.nih.gov/2023/6/feature/3-mens-reproductive-epigenetics">sperm age faster</a>, in a similar way to cigarette smokers."It kind of is all pointing in the same direction — that these environmental factors are influencing sperm fitness," he said.While the impact of microplastics on erections is unclear, that's nothing new in this field. Erections are still a very poorly understood, multifactorial phenomenon, involving nerves, hormones, muscles, and interest.Ramasamy is confident that this is seriously worth investigating, especially given the recent link between more microplastics in blood vessels pumping oxygen to the brain, and more heart attacks and strokes. Couldn't it also be the case that microplastics are connected to erection issues, in a similar, physical way?"You could have good blood supply, but if you don't have the actual muscle to do the heavy lifting, how are you going to make it work?" he said.

Microplastics found in penis muscle for the first time. It could be linked to erectile dysfunction.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microplastics were just found in testicles.</li><li>That's alarming because testes, like brains, have a special blood barrier.</li></ul>In 2024, microplastics are starting to look a lot like cigarettes did in the early 1960s: A poorly-understood health hazard in dire need of better study and regulation.The latest bad news on microplastics and human health emerged last week, when a study from <a target="_blank" href="https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2024/05/hsc-newsroom-post-microplastics-testicular.html">researchers</a> at the University of New Mexico examined 47 canine and 23 human testes, taken from neutering operations and cadavers, respectively. All of those testicles had microplastics inside — there were 12 different kinds of microplastic inside the organs studied, including the common plastic making material that plastic silverware and plastic bottles are made from."It does strike me as kind of 'eww,'" Tracey Woodruff, who directs the program on reproductive health and the environment at the University of California San Francisco, and who was not involved in the study, told Business Insider.Woodruff isn't exactly surprised that microplastics are showing up in testicles. They've already been found in our bloodstream, and in other human organs such as the liver, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">heart</a>, and the lungs. In March, a New England Journal of Medicine study even suggested microplastics lodged into blood vessels in our necks might be playing a role in heart attack and stroke risk. And microplastics had already been found in <a target="_blank" href="https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfae021">testes</a> in one 2023 Chinese study. In fact, in a rapid, systematic <a target="_blank" href="https://prhe.ucsf.edu/press-release/microplastics-can-harm-human-health-and-existing-national-policy-responses-are">review</a> of 2,000 microplastic research papers that Woodruff did for California legislators last year, she and her team found that microplastics can harm the reproductive health of both men and women, while also upping cancer risk, and hurting lungs.But Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, an expert in reproductive urology, says if it's true that microplastics are invading testicles, that's of extra concern."The only two organs in the human body that are protected spaces are the testes and the brain," he told BI. "I think we need to first study the question of how microplastics even got there in the first place."<h2 id="c6bff6db-f818-40a3-904d-d403fe756271">The testicles, like the brain, have a special blood barrier that stuff isn't supposed to get through</h2><div type="image" title="human brain" height="1478" width="2028" msid="110284248" hostid="261"></div>It makes sense that microplastics might flow into organs like the heart or the kidneys. Microplastics come from all kinds of things we consume and breathe in, including dust, food containers, makeup, and water bottles.Small particles consumed through your mouth flow to your gut, then enter your bloodstream, and invade all corners of the body, from the lungs to the liver. But getting into a woman's ovaries, which are "soaked in blood" and located inside the body should be easier than invading a man's testicle, Ramasamy said."I am shocked," he said.To get into the brain or the testicles requires surmounting an extra tough hurdle, that special blood barrier.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10141840/">Early</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkish-study-identifies-microplastics-in-brain-cells/3197206">studies</a> are starting to suggest that microplastics do have the capacity to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1041233">penetrate</a> the blood-brain barrier, though. And if the results of this new testicle study hold true in other labs, it would be a damning sign that the same is true for mens' testes.Still, Ramasamy cautions that we need to understand much more about what's really going on with all the microplastics in our bodies, and precisely how they are impacting our health, before we start pointing to plastic ingestion as the most important reason for fertility issues in modern-day society."Before we start alarming everybody saying, 'you're drinking too much from plastics and that's why your fertility is going down.' I think we just need to be a little bit cautious," he said. "Do microplastics play a role as an environmental toxin? I 100% agree. But does it play a role by entering inside the testes and blocking sperm production? That I don't know."<h2 id="3e061287-633e-4a06-b733-2de9795ba913">Scientists don't understand why microplastics are bad — but they are urging regulators to step in</h2><div type="image" title="Woman drinking water from a bottle." height="1413" width="2123" msid="110284249" hostid="261"></div>Scientists know that certain chemicals inside <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1">plastic disrupt our hormones</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-bpa">Chemicals like BPA</a> are colloquially known as "hormone-disrupting" chemicals, and plastic makers are developing new ones all the time. In addition to the specific chemicals that are used to make a plastic, there may also be physical issues to worry about with plastic ingestion.In this study, men had three times the amount of microplastic in their testicles as dogs. Does that matter? We don't really know."I don't think the amount is as important as the types that are found and the potential damage that it can cause," Ramasamy said.Is having plastic floating around in your bloodstream problematic because of the chemicals we're being exposed to within it, which can include <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bpa-plastic-containers-bad-health-risks-obesity-heart-disease-diabetes-2019-2">known toxins like PFAS</a>, or does it cause issues because it's getting stuck in places it shouldn't be? The answer to these scientific questions is probably pretty complicated, experts say."What we're seeing now is that these microplastics are a vehicle for these chemicals, which we know are toxic, and they also themselves could be toxic," Woodruff said.This is why she is in favor of regulating plastics much like we do air pollutants."We have a real opportunity here to address microplastics and plastics right now," she said. "Plastic production is projected to triple by 2060, but we don't have to do that — we don't have to have more plastic."<h2 id="380defc4-c7ea-47d1-b063-a0c26e3b081a">One thing experts agree on: you should stop microwaving your plastic</h2><div type="image" title="microwave TV dinner in black plastic" height="1713" width="1750" msid="110284250" hostid="261"></div>Experts BI spoke with all agreed that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-pfas-in-water-and-food-2019-8">microwaving less plastic</a> is a good idea."Drinking from it is one thing, but heating them and eating from it or drinking from it, I think it's definitely wrong," Ramasamy said.The reason scientists get so bent out of shape about microwaving plastic is because when plastic gets heated up, it becomes much easier for the chemicals in the plastic to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reduce-hazardous-forever-chemicals-exposure-pfas-at-home-2022-9">leech out</a> and get absorbed by the body.Certainly, Ramasamy said, environmental pollutants — including microplastics — are one reason for declining fertility."I always ask the question, did our parents use the amount of plastics that we do today?" he said. "The answer is absolutely not."Interestingly, men over the age of 55 in the new study didn't have as much microplastic in their system as younger men did.Even "greener" looking takeout containers these days, like cardboard boxes, are often built with a special plastic coating inside so liquid doesn't seep out. So, try to put your food on a ceramic or glass plate or in a real bowl when you can.Woodruff says trying to drink from fewer plastic bottles, washing your hands before you eat, and leaving your shoes at the door are all good practices for minimizing exposure too.

Microplastics have been found in human testicles. Now what?

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="21868010" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Victoria-Ou" source="keywords">Victoria Ou</keyword> and <keyword id="21868011" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Justin-Huang" source="keywords">Justin Huang</keyword>, both 17, won $50,000 for their <keyword id="21868009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastic-filtration-device" source="Orion">microplastic filtration device</keyword>.</li><li>They tested a new technique using <keyword id="21403320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ultrasound" source="keywords">ultrasound</keyword> to filter <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword> from water.</li></ul>Two teenagers from Woodlands, Texas invented a device that could help address one of the most pervasive and challenging forms of pollution on Earth: microplastics. These microscopic plastic particles show up in the deepest parts of the ocean, at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mount-everest-summit-microplastics-study-national-geographic-2020-11">top of Mount Everest</a>, and are in everything from the dust in your home to your food and water. By some estimates, we each inhale and ingest a credit card's worth of plastic per week. Thenit can end up in our <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-living-human-lungs-for-the-first-time-2022-4">lungs</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-discovered-in-human-blood-for-the-first-time-2022-3">blood</a>, breastmilk, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">testicles</a>. Victoria Ou and Justin Huang, both 17, hope to prevent that one day with their award-winning device that removes microplastics from water using ultrasonic — or high-frequency — sound waves. Ou and Huang presented their work at last week's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teen-wins-isef-science-fair-grand-prize-discovery-biomedical-devices-2024-5">Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair</a> (ISEF) in Los Angeles, where top competitors from science fairs worldwide congregated to share their projects and compete for $9 million in prizes. The Texas duo received first place in their Google-sponsored category, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and they also snagged the $50,000 prize from the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations. <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand with their arms raised wearing giant gold medals around their necks" height="839" width="1259" msid="110377857" hostid="261"></div>Though the ultrasonic technique is in its very early stages, the high schoolers hope that one day it could filter the plastic out of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nanoplastics-water-bottle-micro-plastics-bloodsteam-tiny-pieces-plastic-2024-1">your drinking water</a> and from the industrial and wastewater that humans dump into the environment. "This is the first year we've done this," Huang told Business Insider backstage after receiving their award. "If we could refine this — maybe use more professional equipment, maybe go to a lab instead of testing from our home — we could really improve our device and get it ready for large-scale manufacturing." While it's unclear how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/you-are-consuming-microplastics-how-much-what-to-know-risks-2022-4">microplastics affect human health</a>, many common chemicals in plastic have been linked to increased risk of cancer, fertility and development issues, and hormone disruption. And we're still a long way from getting rid of microplastics. <h2>The challenge of filtering microplastics</h2> <div type="image" title="White microplastic beads inside a black container under a microscope" height="683" width="1024" msid="110377858" hostid="261"></div>Last fall, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/isef-science-fair-parents-mistake-pressure-2024-5">brainstorming ideas</a> for their ISEF project, Ou and Huang visited a water treatment plant. They wanted to find out whether this type of facility already had tools that could remove microplastics from wastewater. The answer, they discovered, was no. The EPA doesn't regulate microplastics, the employees told Huang and Ou, so they don't remove them from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-carry-stomach-viruses-in-fresh-water-for-days-study-2022-6">wastewater</a>. "We knew, from then, to focus on this issue," Huang told BI. Even if the EPA began regulating these pernicious plastic particles tomorrow, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-water-pollution-solution-from-google-2019-8">existing removal methods</a> have problems, Huang said. One solution is to use chemical coagulants, such as aluminum hydroxide, that — when added to water — clump microplastics together into larger, more easily filtered chunks. However, chemical coagulants can also pollute the environment and mess with the PH of purified water. Plus, they're expensive. There are also some physical filters available, but they clog easily. And biological solutions, like using enzymes to break down plastics, aren't efficient enough to tackle this problem at scale. "We wanted to find a solution to this because current solutions aren't really effective," Huang said. So, Ou and Huang — who have been friends since elementary school and connected over their shared interest in the environment — set out to invent their own environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and efficient solution. <h2>How it works</h2> <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand in front of their science fair poster holding a small device in their hands that they invented" height="667" width="1000" msid="110377861" hostid="261"></div>Huang and Ou's device is remarkably small, about the size of a pen. It's essentially a long tube with two stations of electric transducers that use ultrasound to act as a two-step filter. As water flows through the device, the ultrasound waves generate pressure, which pushes microplastics back while allowing the water to continue flowing forward, Ou explained. What comes out the other end is clean, microplastic-free water. The two teens tested their device on three common types of microplastics: polyurethane, polystyrene, and polyethylene. In a single pass, their device can remove between 84% and 94% of <keyword id="7791833" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastics-in-water" source="Orion">microplastics in water</keyword>, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.societyforscience.org/press-release/high-schoolers-win-more-than-9-million-at-regeneron-isef-2024/">press release</a>. <h2>Future work</h2> <div type="image" title="Victoria Ou and Justin Huang stand back to back wearing a black and blue suit" height="1667" width="2500" msid="110377862" hostid="261"></div> Ou and Huang believe their technology could be used in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile plants, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-chicago-cleans-billion-gallons-wastewater-every-day-2024-4" target="_blank">sewage treatment plants</a>, and rural water sources. On a smaller scale, it could filter microplastics in laundry machines and even fish tanks. But first, there's more work to be done. "To reach that stage, I think we need a lot more processing," Ou said. "This is a pretty new approach. We only found one study that was trying to use ultrasound to predict the flow of particles in water, but it didn't completely filter them out yet." The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S138358662200209X" target="_blank">study</a> that inspired the two teens was by New Mexico Tech researchers and published in the peer-reviewed journal Separation and Purification Technology in 2022. In another 2023 <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383586623006056?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">study</a>, researchers at Shinshu University tested a similar ultrasound-filtering method to remove microplastics from water. But Ou and Huang say their device is simpler, more efficient, and the first to use ultrasound to block and filter microplastics directly. Their technique uses ultrasonic waves to create a pressure wall that blocks microplastics and allows water to flow through, whereas the Shinshu study focused the microplastics into a beam that must then be collected separately, which requires more steps, more infrastructure, and didn't filter as much water. "I hope we just are able to be able to scale this up, but first we have to refine it because this technology is still at its infancy," Huang said. Their $50,000 prize could help them get there. In the meantime, though, they're enjoying the moment. "We were just happy being able to go to ISEF. Originally, we weren't expecting too much, but getting first place and the top award is much more than we ever expected," Ou said. "This is something that I've been dreaming of my whole life, so I'm still pinching myself trying to figure out if this is real or not," Huang said. Correction — May 29, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated the novelty of Ou and Huang's invention. Ou and Huang are not the first to successfully use ultrasound to separate microplastics from water. Previous studies have tested similar methods.

2 teens won $50,000 for inventing a device that can filter toxic microplastics from water

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Microplastics were found in the blood vessel plaque of half of the participants in a study. </li><li>People with microplastics in their plaque were more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.</li></ul>People who had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-pollution-microplastics-pervade-surface-deep-ocean-2019-6">microplastics</a> in their blood vessels in a study were more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die earlier than those who didn't.This is the first time a possible link between microplastics and these conditions — as well as human disease in general — has been made, following decades of speculation surrounding their potential health impact.Micro and nanoplastics are tiny particles that shed from plastic. They are so small that they can enter human cells and have been found everywhere from the summit of Mount Everest to inside <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-living-human-lungs-for-the-first-time-2022-4">human lungs</a>. Scientists fear that broken-down plastic could cause inflammation and other health issues in the body, but there has been limited evidence to suggest this until now.Microplastics can be between five millimeters and one micrometer long. A micrometer is one-millionth of a meter, and a human hair is about 70 micrometers across. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nanoplastics-water-bottle-micro-plastics-bloodsteam-tiny-pieces-plastic-2024-1">Nanoplastics</a> are particles smaller than one micrometer. They are measured in nanometers or billionths of a meter.The authors of the study, published March 6 in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822?logout=true">New England Journal of Medicine</a>, decided to embark on the research because they suspected plastic pollution might be behind in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/key-factors-predict-heart-health-according-to-doctors-2022-6">rise in cardiovascular events</a> they were seeing in patients who would normally be considered low-risk.Researchers in Naples, Italy, examined the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/high-cholesterol">fatty cholesterol deposits</a>, also called plaque, of 257 patients who had undergone surgery to remove a build-up from the arteries that carry blood to the brain. They were surprised to find micro or nanoplastics in more than 50% of the samples, Raffaele Marfella, first author of the study and cardiology researcher at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Marfella told Business Insider via email.Over the following 34 months, the researchers monitored the participants and found that those with microplastics in their plaque sample were almost five times more likely to experience a nonfatal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heart-attack-signs-symptoms-chest-pain-short-breath-tired-nausea-2022-9">heart attack</a>, stroke, or death from any cause, than those who had none.<h2>Younger men were more likely to have microplastics in their plaque</h2>It's important to note that the findings don't prove that microplastics cause heart attacks and strokes but rather suggest a link between the two. Other factors such as diet, lifestyle, and air pollution exposure could play a major role and were not looked at, the authors said.Participants who showed evidence of microplastics in their plaque were typically younger, more likely to be men, to smoke, and to have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol. They were less likely to have hypertension, the authors said. Their plaque also contained biomarkers of inflammation, the study said. This might suggest that microplastics in the bloodstream exacerbate inflammation, which increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke, study author Francesco Prattichizzo told<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420674-microplastics-linked-to-a-greater-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke/"> New Scientist</a>."Unfortunately, human tissue plastic contamination is not unique but is very widespread. It is worrisome their likely effect on cardiovascular health," Marfella told BI.However, he pointed out that although preventative measures were taken to make the lab conditions plastic-free, contamination during the research can't be firmly ruled out. Their findings also may not be representative of the general population, as they only looked at people undergoing surgery to remove plaque from the carotid arteries.Dr. Vahitha Abdul Salam, a senior lecturer in vascular pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London who studies microplastics and human health, was not involved in the study. She told BI that while the findings don't directly link micro and nanoplastics to the cause of any diseases, they further validate that plastic particles get into our circulation and lodge in tissues.In 2023, the global plastics market was valued at $712 billion, and it's projected to reach more than $1,050 billion by 2033, according to Statista. Experts, however, recommend <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">cutting plastic use</a> as much as possible. Abdul Salam advised avoiding single-use plastic containers and using natural-based materials.

Microplastics have been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke for the first time 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Exercising at specific times of day could lower colorectal cancer risk, a new study found.</li><li>Activity is known to reduce cancer risk, but how timing affects this isn't well-studied.</li></ul>Being physically active in both the morning and evening could reduce the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colorectal-cancer-high-mortality-young-people-signs-symptoms-disease-2024-1">risk of colorectal cancer</a> by 11%, according to a new study.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-cardio-exercise-men-can-prevent-cancer-2023-7">Previous studies</a> have found that people who exercise regularly have a lower colorectal cancer risk than those who don't. This latest research, published September 18 in the journal <a target="_blank" href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-024-03632-4">BMC Medicine</a>, suggests that what time of day someone is active could have an impact too.Professor Michael Leitzmann, lead author of the study and chair of the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg, Germany, told Business Insider that the findings could be a helpful jumping-off point for research into new colorectal cancer prevention strategies.But he stressed that from a public health perspective, people should be encouraged to be active at any time of the day.Sam Orange, a senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at the University of Newcastle, UK, who has studied the impact of exercise on colorectal cancer prevention and was not involved in the study, told BI that the findings could help create more accurate and clearly-defined physical activity guidelines for cancer prevention.Leitzmann and his team analyzed the physical activity habits of 86,252 participants aged between 42 and 79 who shared their health and lifestyle information with the UK Biobank biomedical database. They were asked to track their activity by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/fitness-wearables-trackers-pros-cons-wellness-experts-2024-1">wearing a device </a>on their wrist known as an accelerometer.After five years, 529 of the participants were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer.<h2 id="6b8ba93b-c26f-4d28-9c7d-f11348709b52">People who were active in the morning and evening had an 11% lower risk of developing bowel cancer</h2>The researchers identified four common patterns of activity: continuous daylong activity, activity late in the day, activity in the morning and evening, and activity at midday and at night.The primary finding was that two peaks of activity, one around 8 a.m. and the other around 6 p.m., was associated with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colon-cancer-risks-young-people-reduce-diet-alcohol-2024-2]">a lower colorectal cancer risk</a> "beyond the benefits of overall physical activity," the authors said.Daylong activity was associated with a 6% lower risk, and middle of the day and the night activity didn't appear to impact the participants' risk. Data from those who were only active later in the day was inconclusive.Further research is needed to confirm whether the time we exercise affects our colorectal cancer risk, but Leitzmann suspects it stems from beneficial biological processes being activated twice a day instead of once.In 2022, Orange's research group found in a study published in the <a target="_blank" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.33982">International Journal of Cancer</a> that each exercise bout releases of cancer-fighting molecules into the bloodstream, which is thought to help reduce tumor growth. They used colon cancer cells and blood samples from 16 men over 50 who, due to lifestyle choices, had a higher risk of colon cancer."Therefore, being active twice daily, instead of once, could provide additional benefits by allowing more cancer-fighting molecules to be released into the bloodstream," he said.<h2 id="7b24935d-2048-40a9-98d6-76324185443c">More people under 55 are developing colon cancer</h2>Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in US men and the fourth-leading cause in US women, according to The American Cancer Society. It's expected to cause about 53,010 deaths this year.The rate of people being diagnosed with the condition has fallen since the mid-1980s, but in people under 55, rates have been increasing by 1% to 2% a year since the mid-1990s, the Society said.Experts still don't know what's behind this uptick, but many potential explanations, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eating-ultra-processed-foods-ovarian-brain-cancer-risk-2022-2">ultra-processed foods</a>, microplastics, and obesity, are being studied.Dr. Michael Shusterman, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center on Long Island, previously told BI that he typically recommends patients quit smoking; cut down on alcohol; do some moderate-intensity exercise; eat more fiber and less red meat; and avoid ultra-processed foods as much as possible to prevent colorectal cancer."Every movement counts for reducing colorectal cancer risk, meaning that doing any amount of physical activity is better than none," Orange said.

More young people are getting colorectal cancer. Being active at these times of day could lower the risk.

Microplastics have made their way into penises. What can we do to avoid them?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Plasma exchange therapy is gaining popularity as a wellness trend among longevity-seekers.</li><li>The procedure involves replacing plasma to remove toxins, typically from specific health conditions.</li></ul>A medical treatment used for health emergencies and autoimmune disorders is becoming the hot new wellness trend for CEOs, athletes, and other longevity-seekers.Bryan Johnson, a CEO and entrepreneur known for his strict longevity regimen and exploration of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stem-cell-injections-knee-joints-longevity-wellness-industry-bryan-johnson-2024-7">experimental antiaging treatments</a>, recently posted on X about his experience with plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange.The procedure involves gradually removing small amounts of blood and spinning it in a centrifuge. That separates the plasma from the red blood cell in order to remove it and replace it with another fluid, such as albumin, a protein in plasma.At a wellness clinic, it can cost from $5,000 to more than $10,000.XPrize founder Peter Diamandis has tried it. So has former NFL star <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-hall-of-famer-troy-aikman-follows-pegan-diet-2022-1">Troy Aikman,</a> calling it "essentially a human oil change."Dr. Jonathann Kuo, a regenerative medicine specialist and founder of Extension Health, performed Aikman's plasma exchange. He told Business Insider it helps remove toxins, some related to aging, that accumulate over time."We call it an oil change because it is kind of refreshing and revitalizing your circulation and getting rid of all of the dirty stuff that's circulating, basically," he said.Kuo said it's part of a suite of cutting-edge <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/human-life-span-plateaued-what-you-can-do-long-life-2024-10">antiaging therapies</a> offered at his clinic.Plasma exchange can improve certain <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-maximum-age-of-humans-115-or-older-2023-3">measures of aging</a>, at least in the short term, according to some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33191466/">animal studies</a> from the Conboy Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. The same researchers found similar potential antiaging benefits in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9398900/">very small exploratory study on humans</a>.There's no major risk of serious side effects, though infection can occur, but it's not clear that plasma exchange is beneficial for most healthy people, according to Dr. Brian Adkins, a professor of pathology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.Adkins performs plasma exchanges regularly to help patients with chronic conditions such as autoimmune disorders. He said the treatment is also used in serious circumstances such as organ failure or sepsis.<h2 id="109ebfd5-b3eb-4eca-a26d-676eae4aeea0">Should you get a plasma exchange for longevity?</h2>Plasma exchange therapy is typically used for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jca.22043">specific conditions</a> like Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and is reserved for more extreme cases, Dr. Ryan Marino, a toxicologist and professor of emergency medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told Business Insider.Johnson faced some backlash from medical experts on X for seemingly commodifying a treatment that can be crucial for people with chronic illnesses, or life-saving in emergencies."It's not supposed to be boutique medicine; it's supposed to be evidence-based medicine," Adkins said.Undergoing plasma treatment at a longevity clinic may not make sense for several reasons.For one, people who aren't experiencing organ failure or other life-threatening medical conditions naturally remove toxins are naturally via the liver and kidneys.Plasma exchange is also unlikely to help remove environmental contaminants such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-penises-testicles-male-fertility-plastic-health-environment-2024-7">microplastics</a>, a growing concern for long-term health since the procedure involves plastic bags and tubing, and the components are exposed to plastics during processing.It's also a misconception that plasma exchange completely replaces the plasma since some amount needs to continue circulating in your body while you're alive, like changing your oil while the car is running.Much of what we know about the safety and potential benefits of plasma exchange comes from data on people who donate plasma — which not only doesn't cost anything, you can even get paid for it.Removing plasma can lower a person's lipid levels, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/high-cholesterol">"bad" cholesterol</a>. However, this is temporary because plasma regenerates quickly, which is why it can be safely removed or donated.Marino and Adkins said the interest in plasma exchanges for longevity is part of an enduring fascination with cleansing our bodies from toxins, dating back to ancient times and antique procedures like bloodletting."It sounds plausible that cleaning your blood or plasma would provide benefits, especially if you believe that there are such toxins circulating that could be removed," Marino said.If you're interested in living a longer, healthier life, there are plenty of other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quick-life-hacks-increase-longevity-2023-8">science-based longevity strategies</a>, including eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise, and sleeping enough."There are a lot of really meaningful things you can do to improve your health. Maybe people's efforts might be better served exploring some of those inventions," Adkins said.

The hot new longevity treatment for aging athletes and CEOs is a plasma exchange

<ul class="summary-list"><li>There's new evidence that chemicals can migrate to human bodies via material like plastic containers.</li><li>It's not clear what the health risks may be, but at least a few of the chemicals are known hazards.</li></ul>New research suggests you're being exposed to thousands of chemicals, including hazardous substances, that can leach into the human body through food- and beverage-related material like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drinking-from-plastic-bottles-can-increase-diabetes-risk-new-research-2024-6">plastic bottles</a> and takeout containers.It's not a surprise that our environment is full of contaminants, like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-penises-testicles-male-fertility-plastic-health-environment-2024-7">microplastics</a>, that can accumulate in our bodiesBut researchers in a recent study were taken aback by just how many chemicals in our everyday items can migrate into humans, and said it's "concerning" that we don't fully understand the risks.The researchers, led by scientists from a Swiss nonprofit called the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, looked at data on more than 14,000 food contact chemicals — substances in containers or other materials that touch what we eat and drink.The study, published September 17 in the <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=98f40f9124eaa010f2a0a4c0fb4f3c1e59d87c00a6f65522c297e9b5c22824cf&amp;postID=66eae69769657a7deb42dbab&amp;postSlug=thousands-of-chemicals-entering-human-bodies-from-food-packaging-study-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41370-024-00718-2">Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology</a>, explained that 25% of the chemicals they were studying — about 3,601 substances — showed up inside the human body, in samples including skin, hair, blood, breast milk, and fat tissue.That suggests manufacturing chemicals are migrating into our bodies from items we use to store, package, or cook our food. It's not just plastic either, since even paper or cardboard can contain substances like ink that can be problematic when it comes into contact with food.<h2 id="27fa7f62-8a96-4c1c-a5a6-1d66b9506469">Trying to understand the health risks</h2>Scientists are digging for clues to understand the impact of these chemicals on long-term health.Some of these chemicals are known to be dangerous, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-causes-cancer-food-products-that-increase-your-cancer-risk-2018-3">carcinogens (cancer-causing) substances</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-avoid-toxic-chemical-phthalates-in-food-makeup-toiletries-2021-10">toxins</a> linked to hormone and reproductive problems.One such category is called PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-how-long-hazardous-forever-chemicals-pfas-stay-in-blood-2023-3">forever chemicals</a>" because they linger and accumulate in our bodies and in the water and soil. PFAs exposure is linked to some cancers, liver damage, and more, as well as possible developmental defects in children.Other hazardous chemicals the study found in food and our bodies include <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/what-is-bpa">BPA</a> (a toxic ingredient in packaging linked to hormone problems) and heavy metals that can cause harm to our DNA.And there's a lot we don't know about many of the other chemicals found in human samples, including whether they might be harmful or what, if any, amount is safe.The actual number of chemicals we're exposed to through food and drinks could also be much higher than the 3,601 estimated in the study, according to the researchers.<h2 id="5746f6cb-2471-495d-9d89-a8d0cff3dc10">Putting limits on chemical exposure</h2>This same team of researchers previously published a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28893723/">study</a> that found government regulations aren't doing much to prevent chemical exposure.While there are some existing rules — such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-hazardous-forever-chemicals-drinking-water-limits-2024-4">limits on PFAs in drinking water</a> — legislation is slow to keep up with the latest science, and sometimes too vague to enforce. Plus, there's so much we don't know about potential risks of chemicals that haven't been studied as closely.The new study is one crucial step in understanding how chemicals in our environment (and in our food) could affect our health long-term, and how we might be able to reduce the risks in the future."This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people," Jane Muncke, senior author of the study, environmental toxicology expert, and managing director at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a press release."We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials — both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives," Muncke said.

Food packaging chemicals are seeping into human bodies — here's what that means for your health

<ul class="summary-list"><li>BPA is an industrial chemical that scientists have linked to hormone disruption and diabetes risk.</li><li>Plastic water bottles and food containers can leach BPA into what you eat and drink. </li></ul>Scientists have long suspected that industrial chemicals used in plastic water bottles can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/endocrine-disruptors-dangerous-chemicals-2019-1">disrupt human hormones</a>.But, to date, evidence has been observational, meaning it shows an <a target="_blank" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12902-018-0310-y">association</a> between plastics exposure and certain diseases, but can't prove a causal effect.Now, a groundbreaking new study shows direct evidence that bisphenol A — or, BPA, a chemical used to package food and drink — can reduce sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.An impaired ability to respond to insulin, known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/insulin-resistance">insulin resistance</a>, can mean chronically high blood sugar levels and a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes.The researchers, who presented their findings at the <a target="_blank" href="https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/73/Supplement_1/17-OR/156057/17-OR-ADA-Presidents-Select-Abstract-Oral?searchresult=1">2024 Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association</a>, said this study shows the EPA may need to reconsider the safe limits for exposure to BPA in plastic bottles, food containers, and other containers.<h2 id="7b52d0a0-c0d2-4e4f-8b85-4e61a63bb01a">Even so-called safe levels of BPA may cause health issues</h2>Researchers from California Polytechnic State University studied 40 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a small dose of BPA daily.After four days, the participants who were given BPA were less responsive to insulin, while the placebo group did not experience any change.The dose of BPA that participants received, 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, is an amount currently classified as safe by the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/bpa_action_plan.pdf">EPA</a>."These results suggest that maybe the US EPA safe dose should be reconsidered and that healthcare providers could suggest these changes to patients," Todd Hagobian, senior author of the new study and professor at California Polytechnic State University, said in a press release.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-packaging-other-substances-come-contact-food-information-consumers/bisphenol-bpa-use-food-contact-application">FDA considers BPA to be safe at low levels</a> occurring in food containers, up to 5 mg per kg body weight per day, or 100 times the amount the new study found to be risky. Some researchers argue the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023005676#s0015">guidelines are outdated</a>.Other regulatory agencies around the world have taken a tougher stance on the chemical — the <a target="_blank" href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13832-Food-safety-restrictions-on-bisphenol-A-BPA-and-other-bisphenols-in-food-contact-materials_en">European Commission</a> proposed to ban BPA in products that come into contact with food or beverages by the end of 2024.<h2 id="bd38d5b3-4d97-4d49-9c05-3b18689f3f6c">Environmental contaminants can be a major threat to human health</h2>The concern about BPA is part of a broader alarm being raised about our everyday exposure to substances that may be harmful to our health.Other recent research has found <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a>, particles so tiny they can infiltrate human cells, may potentially wreak havoc with our health. They've been found everywhere, from human lungs to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-penis-muscles-for-the-first-time-study-2024-6">reproductive organs</a>.Understanding how the substances we encounter every day may affect our health long-term could help us make better decisions about how to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes."Given that diabetes is a leading cause of death in the US, it is crucial to understand even the smallest factors that contribute to the disease," Hagobian said in the press release. "We were surprised to see that reducing BPA exposure, such as using stainless steel or glass bottles and BPA-free cans, may lower diabetes risk."June 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this article misstated the difference between what the EPA considers safe BPA exposure and what the study found to be safe. It is 100 times higher, not 1000.

Groundbreaking study shows why drinking from plastic bottles may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back to our Saturday edition! Kylie Kelce and her husband, y'know, the former Philadelphia Eagles power player Jason Kelce, are outnumbered at home. The couple has three girls and are adamant about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kylie-kelce-motherhood-marriage-jason-kelce-2024-6">not letting fame affect their family</a>.On the agenda:<ul><li>Caitlin Clark has become the face of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-is-a-rorschach-test-for-sports-media-2024-6">an American culture war</a>.</li><li>A mom explains why <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-parent-who-ditched-gentle-parenting-it-doesnt-work-2024-6">she ditched gentle parenting</a>.</li><li>Scientists are working to make <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-making-ultra-processed-foods-healthier-in-major-new-study-2024-6">ultra-processed foods healthier</a>.</li><li>People are "quiet vacationing." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-vacations-work-trends-culture-pto-travel-job-stress-2024-6">It's not as good as it sounds</a>.</li></ul>But first: This, not that, vacation edition.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today-sunday-edition">sign up here</a>. Download Insider's app <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.insider.com/app">here.</a><h3 id="2d2d81c1-e984-4ab1-b11e-26ada0d3da0b">This week's dispatch</h3><div type="image" title="people walking down a street in old montreal" height="1340" width="2018" msid="111190681" hostid="261" sizebytes="574762"></div><h2 id="5fae1437-cf50-43e0-903e-801420320ec8">A hideaway summer</h2>It's no secret overtourism has become a problem. Hot destinations like Venice have<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venice-lake-como-tourist-hot-spots-fees-barriers-prevent-overtourism-2024-5"> implemented fees to visit</a>, while a photo-worthy spot near Mount Fuji erected a barrier to keep tourists from flocking to the area.If the idea of being shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow tourists gives you summer-vacation dread, don't worry — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/living-in-montreal-canada-paris-of-north-america-like-europe">there's a solution</a>.There are many <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-lesser-known-italy-travel-destinations-according-to-local">hidden-gem destinations</a> perfect for solo travelers looking for peace and quiet, or family-friendly spots that will make everyone feel at home.If you're <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-places-to-visit-in-greece-this-summer-2022-7">looking for an under-the-radar Greecian vacation</a>, why not book a stay in Halkidiki, known for its soft beaches, or Thessaloniki, packed with history? Have your heart set on a vacation with a European feel? Skip the crowds in Paris and get your French fix in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/living-in-montreal-canada-paris-of-north-america-like-europe">Montreal, Canada</a>.And if you'd rather <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/overlooked-states-you-should-visit-from-someone-who-visited-all-50-2022">stay closer to home</a>, Idaho is a state that often gets overlooked but provides some of the best views, while my home state of Maryland is so much more than crab cakes and football.<div type="image" title="Caitlyn Clark with a rorschach test in the background" height="1500" width="2000" msid="111190482" hostid="261" sizebytes="259230"></div><h2 id="89bb1f92-625d-4353-b2ff-8bdb89d72830">Caitlin Clark is a Rorschach test</h2>Clark, a 22-year-old Iowa graduate and women's basketball sensation, has inadvertently become the center of an American culture war.Clark doesn't talk politics, instead saying she's focused on basketball. But it's getting harder to focus on the game. Some sports commentators are deriding Black players, saying they're bullying Clark. Another compared Clark to Eminem, saying she doesn't get enough credit because she's white.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-is-a-rorschach-test-for-sports-media-2024-6">What it all tells us about the sports-media ecosystem</a>.<div type="image" title="Photo illustration of a parent with children acting out." height="1500" width="3000" msid="111190486" hostid="261" sizebytes="743114"></div><h2 id="461228f8-3810-4ba5-8cd9-05a0a7baea37">No more gentle parenting</h2>This millennial mom always wanted to be the "cool" parent — and gentle parenting seemed to be the way to do it. The method frowns upon punitive tactics, seemingly aligning with what she wanted from motherhood: peacefulness.But by the time her son approached preschool, it became clear it wasn't working. He was defiant to everyday tasks and struggled to recognize authority. So she gave up gentle parenting.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-parent-who-ditched-gentle-parenting-it-doesnt-work-2024-6">What she does instead</a>.Also read:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gentle-parenting-bust-millennial-parents-helicopter-kids-misbehave-permissive-authoritative-2024-6">Millennials have a favorite parenting style. It isn't working</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="b35e99b4-02dd-4c39-9d82-7ce2af7c1407">Making ultra-processed foods healthy (ish)</h2>Five years ago, nutrition scientist Kevin Hall changed how we view ultra-processed foods. He discovered an ultra-processed diet led to people consuming about an extra 500 calories per day.His findings kicked off a wave of "clean" eating trends, but Hall wasn't convinced that shunning these convenience foods was the real solution. Now, he's on a mission to develop new recipes for ultra-processed meals in the hopes they'll be healthier.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-making-ultra-processed-foods-healthier-in-major-new-study-2024-6">Inside his latest study</a>.<div type="image" title="3d illustration of a laptop with pool items on top." height="1904" width="3809" msid="111190682" hostid="261" sizebytes="210714"></div><h2 id="e0200eae-fc1b-42e2-81fc-3e20ccd30350">Work from vacation</h2>There's a new work trend in town that has people working while being out of town. Meet "quiet vacationing" — where people are working while secretly being on full-blown holidays.It may sound better to answer emails on the beach than at the office. But the idea that people are under so much pressure at work that they can't even tell their boss they're on vacation is a startling reminder of America's broken work culture.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-vacations-work-trends-culture-pto-travel-job-stress-2024-6">Why "quiet vacationing" is a bad idea</a>.<div type="image" title="The best things to watch this weekend." height="1500" width="3000" msid="111190686" hostid="261" sizebytes="138532"></div><h2 id="2c3238f5-f280-4bed-8b14-8f2e5b40392c">What we're watching this weekend</h2><ul><li>"Tell Them You Love Me": Netflix's new documentary tells the controversial true story of a married white professor and the nonverbal Black student she says she developed a relationship with.</li><li>"Orphan Black: Echoes": The long-awaited spinoff to "Orphan Black" finally premieres this weekend.</li><li>"Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood": The new Max docuseries will look at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scooter-braun-profile-manager-bieber-ariana-grande-kanye-taylor-swift-2022-2">public dispute between Swift and Braun</a>.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-tv-shows-movies-streaming-netflix-max-hulu-june-21-24">See the full list.</a><div type="image" title="A red shopping bag surrounded by $100 bills." height="1500" width="2000" msid="111190683" hostid="261" sizebytes="244828"></div><h2 id="a09a70ef-5e7e-4bf4-80b2-3731f70bdc6e">Deals we love</h2><ul><li>Beat the heat: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/best-portable-air-conditioner">We've tested over a dozen portable air conditioner units</a> to find the best ones for keeping cool during this summer's heat waves.</li></ul><ul><li>Don't forget the sunscreen: Combine two steps with these <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/best-sunscreen-moisturizer">10 face moisturizers with SPF</a> — and skip burned lips with a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/best-lip-balm-spf">good SPF lip balm</a>.</li><li>Keep these bags by your side: We tested over a dozen purses to find <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/style/best-crossbody-bags">the best crossbody bags for every occasion</a>, whether you're traveling the world or running errands.</li></ul><h2 id="3a2e4b99-8063-4f80-8653-d1ec4a2af89a">More of this week's top reads:</h2><ul><li>Your guide to running and rucking — and which to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/running-vs-rucking-which-is-best-fitness-routine-2024-6">add to your fitness routine</a>.</li><li>Eight ways to stay safe <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solo-woman-travel-safety-tips-frequent-international-traveler">while traveling solo</a>.</li><li>To get swole, Michael B. Jordan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-b-jordan-uses-yoga-to-build-muscle-2024-6">recommends yoga and meditation</a>.</li><li>The luxury conglomerate behind Cartier is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cartier-van-cleef-richemont-winning-luxury-beating-lvmh-kering-2024-6">beating LVMH at its own game</a>.</li><li>Review: Eating at Disney World's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michelin-star-restaurant-disney-world-victoria-and-alberts-review-2024-6">only Michelin-starred restaurant</a>.</li><li>Gwyneth Paltrow's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gwyneth-paltrow-goop-pizza-review-2024-6">Goop pizza is actually … pretty good</a>?</li><li>Microplastics have been found in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-penis-muscles-for-the-first-time-study-2024-6">penis muscle for the first time</a>.</li><li>People are paying $17,000 a week for Silversea's luxe new cabin. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-ultra-luxury-cruise-cabin-silversea-new-ship-suite-2024-6">See inside</a>.</li><li>Fertility clinics are targeting Gen Z — and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/egg-freezing-fertility-clinics-targeting-gen-z-women-high-cost-2024-6">young women are paying the price</a>.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/joi-marie-mckenzie">Joi-Marie McKenzie</a>, editor in chief of life, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lisa-ryan">Lisa Ryan</a>, executive editor, in New York. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

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