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People in the UK and Ireland breathe more microplastic dust than any other country except China and Mongolia, a new study shows.
The UK and Ireland come third in a study of 109 countries that estimates the amount of plastic people around the world unknowingly eat and breathe.
This is because untreated plastic waste degrades and disperses into the environment.
Fenqi You, Professor of Energy Systems Engineering at Cornell University, said, “Nationwide adoption of microplastics is a critical indicator of plastic pollution and public health risks.”
“Comprehensive global mapping supports local pollution mitigation efforts through improved water quality monitoring and effective waste recycling.”
People in the UK and Ireland breathe more microplastic dust than any other country except China and Mongolia, a new study shows.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, takes into account each country’s eating habits, food processing technologies, age demographic and respiration rate, all factors that contribute to differences in the way Residents of each country consume microplastics.
According to the study, people in the UK and Ireland breathe approximately 791,000 microplastic particles a day.
However, in China and Mongolia the level is much higher: 2.8 million particles per day.
Microplastic particles are defined as particles smaller than 5 mm.
The high result for the UK may be due in part to reliance on a 2019 study by Kings College London that showed dramatically high levels of plastic microparticles in the UK capital’s air, particularly microfibres from acrylic textiles. .
The study also looked at the amount of microplastics people ate. To do this, the researchers collected data on the concentrations of microplastics in subcategories of the main food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, cereals, dairy products, beverages, sugars, salt and spices (file image).
The researchers found that U.S. residents inhale about 300,000 particles per day, while only residents in the Mediterranean and nearby regions breathed less, and countries such as Spain, Portugal and Hungary breathed in between 60,000 and 240,000 particles per month. .
The study also looked at the amount of microplastics people ate.
To do this, the researchers collected data on microplastic concentrations in subcategories of the main food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, cereals, dairy products, beverages, sugars, salt and spices.
The models also use data that details how many of those foods are consumed in different countries.
For example, table salt consumption, per capita, is about the same in Indonesia and the United States, but the concentration of microplastics in Indonesian table salt is about 100 times higher.
Overall, the study found that Malaysians consume about 15 grams of microplastics per month, more than any other country, with the majority of plastic particles coming from aquatic sources such as seafood.
Overall, the study found that Malaysians consume about 15 grams of microplastics per month, more than any other country, with the majority of plastic particles coming from aquatic sources such as seafood (file image).
Indonesians are not far behind, consuming around 13 grams of microplastic per month.
The dietary intake of microplastics in the United States is estimated to be approximately 2.4 grams per month, while the lowest is in Paraguay, at 0.85 grams.
According to the study, the UK ranks 89th in microplastic consumption, with the average person consuming around 1.6 grams per month.
Co-author Xiang You said: “Industrialization in developing economies, particularly in East and South Asia, has led to increased consumption of plastic materials, waste generation and human absorption of microplastics.
“In contrast, industrialized countries are experiencing a reverse trend, supported by increased economic resources to reduce and eliminate free plastic waste.”
