Microplastics: A Growing Environmental Concern
There is yet another reason to opt for glass, metal, ceramic, or wood over plastic. The pollution of oceans and waterways with plastic containers is already a significant issue. However, it has been discovered that synthetic materials, including plastic and polyester, release microscopic particles that are inhaled and consumed after being released into the environment.
Research on microplastics is still in its early stages, but these tiny particles have been linked to potential negative health consequences, including DNA changes and oxidative damage. According to Harvard Medicine, the magazine of Harvard Medical School, microplastics have been found in various parts of the human body, such as blood, saliva, liver, kidneys, breast milk, and meconium, a baby's first stool.
Microplastics appear to cause DNA changes and oxidative damage that are linked to increased risk of cancer and reproductive disorders.
Author's summary: Microplastics pose a significant environmental and health risk.