This system can be used to identify individual microplastic fragments that are smaller and have unknown health effects. In recent years, numerous studies have found traces of plastic in some of the most remote places in the world, including the Arctic Circle. Due to concerns about this type of contamination, the use of plastic or glitter cutlery was prohibited. This substance contaminates not only the entire object, which decomposes over the centuries, but also the small particles that come off of it. Microplastic fragments measuring from 5 millimeters to a millionth of a meter (pieces 50 times thinner than a human hair) have attracted attention so far, but plastic is known to break down into infinitely smaller pieces.
Nanoplastics reach one billionth of a meter and penetrate all human tissues and pass through the blood until they reach the brain or placenta of the pregnant woman. There are concerns about its health effects, but research is still in its early stages and knowledge of its existence is limited. This week, researchers at Columbia University published an analysis in the journal PNAS that examines whether, what types, and how many nanoplastics are present in bottled water. Using a technique called stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, of which one of the inventors, Wei Ming, co-authored the study, they found that, on average, each liter contains about a quarter of these plastic pieces.
One of the most common components of these nanoplastics was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a material commonly used to make plastic bottles. According to the researchers, these particles can be released when the glass is heated, contracts, opens or closes. One type of nylon is polyamide, but according to a statement from Columbia University in the US, one type of nylon may come from plastic filters used to purify water before bottling it. The remaining most common materials are used in a variety of manufacturing processes that typically involve casting. “Methods have been developed to monitor nanoparticles, but it is not clear what they are looking at,” explains co-author Naixing Qiang. Using the new method, they were able to individually track and calculate the number of nanoparticles contained in seven common plastics. However, this selection represents only 10% of the particles discovered.
It is not clear if the rest is plastic waste or other types of particles. This shows how difficult it is to analyze these small elements and how much is still unknown about the composition of many of the elements we consume. A research review published by eBioMedicine in January warned of growing evidence that exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics can have negative effects on a variety of human organs. However, the authors point out that the mechanisms by which these effects may occur and whether prolonged exposure to these particles increases the risk of disease are unknown. Although we studied the effects of some specific particles to evaluate their toxicity, in general, our study shows that there are many particles that are abundant in commonly consumed products or in the environment and have not been analyzed in detail. . The authors of the article, led by Jorge Bernardino de la Serna of Imperial College London, believe that future studies should investigate the effects of micro- and nanoplastics, taking into account the specific concentration, individual sensitivity to these substances or the required dose. It has a significant negative impact.
The study authors also want to use their technique to analyze tap water, where microplastics are found in much lower concentrations than bottled water. In a world where around 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year and the material is used to make almost everything, the opportunities for plastic nanoparticles to be released and dispersed into the environment or incorporated into living organisms are infinite. More precisely determining the size and composition of these particles is a step toward assessing the scope of the problem, potential health effects, and ways to reduce potential risks.
