Check your kitchen – Experts says these 10 foods contain most microplastics

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• Microplasty is found in many daily foods such as rice, tea, bottles and seafood.

• Early studies show that microplasty can contribute to health problems such as oxidative stress, organ dysfunction and metabolic or immune disorders, although more studies are needed.

• Experts recommend reducing the exposition by choosing loose leaf tea, rinsing rice, avoiding plastic bottles and choosing minimally processed or non -plastic packed food.

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Almost everything we eat these days is transported or stored in plastic, and we all residues in the microwave are in plastic containers. But you may not have realized that microplasty can actually be found inside The food we eat.

This is not really a new topic. “The effects of microplastic use continued for several decades,” says Stephani Johnson, DCN, RDN, additional professor, Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Rutgers, New Jersey State University. “However, there is still a lot of learning about the average level of exposure to people, how long the microplastics remain in the body, and the health consequences of them. At this point, microplasty is now known to be everywhere in the environment, so completely avoid complete avoidance.”

Studies have found that microplastics throughout the human body, including the brain, heart, colon, placenta and more. “We are what we eat, eat and are exposed to plastics in our food,” Nicholas Malla, Vice President of Protection of Ocean Conservancy and Weater Conservancy, and co-author of recent microplastics research. “Although we need more research to find out what the effects of plastics cause human health problems, we should be concerned.”

What are the health of microplastics?

The resulting evidence shows that potential damage may depend on several factors, including the amount used, as well as the type, size and shape of microplastic particles. “Cellular studies have shown that microplasty can contribute to oxidative stress, DNA damage, organ dysfunction and metabolic, reproductive and immune dysfunction, as well as neurodevelopmental,” says Johnson.

Unfortunately, we still do not know much about food about microplasty. “Our study shows that further research is needed to better understand the microplasty of the most commonly used foods, including from where this microplasty comes from and the potential risks to human health, ”says Mallos.

Before this, foods have been found to be measured in the amount of microplastics:

Tea

Numerous commercial tea bags are made of polypropylene – this type of plastic used to seal the bags and maintain their shape. “Stuck in hot water, these bags can release microplastics to tea. To prevent the possible use of microplastics using loose leaf tea with stainless steel or other non-plastic tea dressing, is a safer and sustainable alternative,” says Johnson.

Rice

“Studies have shown that rice may contain relatively high levels of microplastics, probably due to soil and irrigation of water,” says Johnson. It has been shown to reduce its microplastic content by approximately 20-40%before cooking rice carefully.

Especially treated food

There is evidence that food treatment is a likely source of microplastic contamination. Studies have shown that highly treated protein products such as chicken nuggets, tofu and plant burgers have significantly more microplastics in one grape than in minimal processed products such as Wild Alaska Pollock and RAW Chicken, says Mallos.

Water in bottles

When exposed to heat, for example, when left in a hot car or physical stress, such as compressing, plastic water bottles can release microplastics into water. “Among different types of disposable plastic bottles usually release the maximum amount of microplastics, followed by reusable plastic bottles,” says Johnson. “On the contrary, stainless steel and glass bottles do not decrease or wash microplastics, making them safer and sustainable for drinking water.”

Salt

Believe me or not, even salt – a naturally occurring mineral – is not safe from microplasty. Studies have found that the salt may contain a large amount of microplastics, reflecting the broader problem of environmental pollution. Himalayan pink salt contains the highest quantities, followed by black salt and sea salt, says Johnson.

Fruits and vegetables

“The widespread environmental contamination in fruits and vegetables can lead to a measured amount of microplastics,” says Johnson. Some types of products are more sensitive than others, such as root vegetables (eg carrots, potatoes and beets) because they absorb microplasty from contaminated soil and rainwater through their root systems. However, all types of plants can absorb microplasty through its roots.

Dear

Even honey can be contaminated with microplastics, which is also a concern for the widespread environmental contamination, says Johnson.

Vegetable foods

In the studyIs it Microplastic particles were found in tofu, plant nuggets, plant fish sticks and vegetable beef.

Fresh seafood

Microplastics in the ocean accumulates in fish and crustaceans, eventually affecting people who consume seafood containing these particles, says Johnson. Fed bottom types such as molluscs, mussels, oysters, catfish, coats, flounder and cod, usually have a higher concentration of microplastics compared to other marine organisms.

Processed seafood

Recycled seafood prices are not better. Studies show that shrimp, Pollock fish sticks and shrimp also have microplastics, says Mallos.

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