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By Veronica Beltran

UVIC microplastic study

UVIC study shows humans are consuming tens of thousands of small plastic particles

Jun 5, 2019 | 11:01 AM

VICTORIA–A new study conducted by the University of Victoria says that humans are unaware of their unintended plastic consumption.

Microplastics are tiny and easy to ingest at under five millimetres in diameter–smaller than a sesame seed.

The plastics come from the degradation of larger plastic products ie.water bottles, plastic packaging, synthetic clothes.According to the study ingesting the tiny plastic particles is as easy as breathing them in, drinking them and consuming them through our food.

“Human reliance on plastic packaging and food processing methods for major food groups such as meats, fruits and veggies is a growing problem. Our research suggests microplastics will continue to be found in the majority—if not all—of items intended for human consumption.”-Kieran Cox, Marine Biology PhD candidate.

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As researchers at the University analyzed 26 previous studies and the amount of microplastics in fish, shellfish, sugars, salts, alcohol, water and air accounted for 15 per cent of Americans’ caloric intake. Leading researchers to estimate that a persons average intake of microplastic consumption is between 70,000 to 121,000 particles per year.

The rates rising up to 100,000 for those who drank only bottled water. Health impacts of consuming the plastic particles are still not known.