DO MICROPLASTICS HARM MY BODY?
The answer is complicated. Scientists have found microplastics in brains, lungs, hearts, blood, tissues, and in baby’s first bowel movements & placentas. However, they can’t draw a line and say microplastics cause cancer or other diseases. They have evidence that points to increased inflammation, pulmonary and gastrointestinal disease, increased heart disease, immune system irregularities, neurological diseases, and reproductive system issues. Some scientists believe that microplastics can disrupt our genes. Another concern is the 10,000 chemicals used to make different plastics. More than 2,000 are known to be toxic; the rest are untested. Every day each person is estimated to ingest enough microplastic to equal the size of a credit card. Ten million to 40 million metric tons of microplastics are released each year into our environment. The health risks are evident.
Earth Steward Action: Replace plastic food storage containers with glass. (Next week more hints.)