WHAT’S IN THE AIR?
It’s now confirmed, we are breathing micro plastics!
You have no doubt heard that micro plastics are everywhere. It’s really not surprising since everyday items like clothing, food packaging, cosmetics, car tires and even toothpaste shred tiny plastic particles which find their way into our bodies. Doctors have discovered plastic in our blood, breast milk, feces and even our lungs. A study published in Environment International detected these tiny plastic particles in the blood of 77% of the participants they tested. The most common types of plastics found were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used in disposable water bottles, and polystyrene, used in food packaging and foam products.
The latest research concludes that we breathe an average of 11.3 pieces of micro plastic per hour or 272 pieces per day. Conducted by Saidul Islam and his team, the research found that the shape, size, and breathing patterns significantly influence where microplastics accumulate in the respiratory system. Particularly during vigorous physical activity, more microplastics are inhaled, while slower breathing patterns during rest allow smaller particles to lodge deeper into the lungs. Most studies focus on the ingestion of plastics because we ingest 39,000 to 52,000 particles of micro plastics per year. But these recent studies focus on a different way that plastic can harm us: by breathing them and how they are deposited and remain in our airways.
Experts are also showing a correlation between micro plastics in our lungs and lung cancer. The research suggests that micro plastics in our airways actually change the composition of the cells in our lungs. A study highlighted by Live Science discussed how microplastics can persist in cancer cells and potentially contribute to their ability to spread. This was observed in lab settings with cancer cells, suggesting that microplastics might facilitate the metastasis process, which is a key factor in the progression of cancer.
Moreover, another study reviewed in Frontiers in Pharmacology discussed how microplastics induce inflammation in pulmonary cells, which can contribute to various lung diseases, including potentially lung cancer. The inflammation is triggered by microplastics’ interaction with the lung tissue, leading to oxidative stress and an imbalance that can severely affect respiratory health.
Dangers of micro plastics in our lungs in much higher for certain groups of people. For example, people working in the plastics industry, oil extraction and refineries and water disposal sites, along with people living near those sites, experience higher rates of respiratory disease and pregnancy and birth complications.
People living in urban areas are also more at risk because they are likely to inhale more microplastics due to higher levels of pollution and dense traffic which generate airborne microplastics from tires and other synthetic materials.
Young children and infants are more vulnerable because they tend to spend more time closer to the ground where microplastics may accumulate, and their respiratory systems are still developing.
Proximity to major roadways can increase exposure to microplastics due to degradation of vehicle tires releasing particles into the air.
Many known human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, such as “forever chemicals,” known scientifically as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are added to plastics to enhance performance. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has evaluated certain PFAS compounds and classified some, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), as carcinogenic to humans. This classification is based on evidence linking these chemicals to increased risks of several types of cancer, including kidney and testicular cancer. The persistence of these chemicals means that they do not break down in the environment or the human body, leading to bioaccumulation over time and increasing the risk of long-term exposure effects.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine (or hormone) systems at certain doses. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. Any system in the body controlled by hormones can be derailed by these disruptors.
Carcinogens, of course, are cancer causing. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormones, potentially producing overstimulation.
Inhaling these plastics is like giving them a superhighway inside our bodies.
Immediately adding a high-quality air filter like Carico’s Nutri-Tech Deluxe is one of the fastest, simplest ways you can start protecting yourself and your family from air borne micro plastics. The Carico Deluxe will remove more than 99.97% of these tiny particles. Add Carico Compact units to your bedrooms to improve the sleep quality of you and your family.