Experts note that plastics are made from petroleum derivatives that are not easily biodegradable, stating that plastics are now found in all oceans worldwide, and marine mammals and bird species consume plastic particles. Emphasizing that microplastics are found in various beverages, drinking water (bottled water contains more microplastics than tap water), and even table salt, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said, “The presence of microplastics in human saliva, hair, and feces indicates that all of us are regularly exposed to these plastic particles.”
Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin from Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine (English) Department of Medical Biochemistry evaluated the issue of microplastics.
Stating that with developments in their use, microplastics have become an indispensable part of personal care, cosmetic, and cleaning products and have emerged as a local source of environmental pollution, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin continued:
“When you look at your current environment, it is likely that you will see plastic. The production and use of plastic products have increased significantly since the 1950s when plastic manufacturing became widespread. Plastics are lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, and these properties make them a useful component of our household items, packaging materials, and other daily necessities. Currently, more than 320 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year. Half of these products are manufactured for single-use packaging. Since only a small portion of plastic products are recycled, most plastic products are discarded as waste.”
Some bird species even feed plastic pieces to their chicks
Noting that plastics are made from petroleum derivatives that are not easily biodegradable, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said, “This means that discarded plastic products accumulate and become permanent in landfills, oceans, and other environments instead of rapidly breaking down. Plastics are now found in all oceans worldwide. Marine mammals and bird species are known to consume plastic pieces, and some bird species even feed plastic pieces to their chicks.”
Nanoplastics also exist
Stating that there are as many as 50 trillion plastic pieces in the oceans today, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin explained the following:
“Every year, 5 million tons of plastic are carried from rivers to oceans. When plastic products enter marine environments, they are exposed to UV radiation, winds, and physical abrasion from wave currents. These forces encourage plastic products to break down into smaller pieces. These pieces are called microplastics or nanoplastics depending on their size. Generally, microplastics are plastic pieces shorter than 5 millimeters in length; nanoplastics are smaller pieces shorter than 1 micron in length.”
Stating that there are countless sources of microplastics released into the environment, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin listed them as follows:
• “Car and truck tire particles
• Clothing fibers (shed during machine washing)
• Makeup products
• Water bottles
• Plastic bags”
Why are microplastics a problem?
Stating that due to their small size, microplastics can easily spread in the air, accumulate in the environment, and be difficult to detect, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin noted the following:
“Microplastics are found in various beverages, drinking water (bottled water contains more microplastics than tap water), and even table salt. Filter feeders such as mussels and oysters can consume microplastics suspended in seawater, and microplastics are found in many types of seafood. Microplastics are also produced for use in toothpastes and other cosmetic products. The U.S. Congress passed the ‘Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015’, which prohibits the manufacture and sale of rinse-off cosmetics containing microplastics (toothpastes, cleansers). Microbeads found in facial cleansers and makeup products have been banned in the U.S. since 2015.”
Do microplastics harm humans?
Explaining that plastic particles can enter the body when people consume food contaminated with microplastics, drink water, or breathe air, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said, “In general, food intake leads to the consumption of up to 52,000 microplastic particles per person each year. The presence of microplastics in human saliva, hair, and feces indicates that all of us are regularly exposed to these plastic particles.”
Noting that some researchers believe microplastics have harmful effects on human health, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin said that microplastics can absorb heavy metals and undesirable chemicals, including pesticides, from the environment, which can result in increased human exposure to these chemicals and lead to toxic effects.
Can enter the skin through hair follicles or open wounds
Noting that microplastics are also found in human lung tissue through inhalation, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin also stated that they can enter the skin through sweat glands, hair follicles, or open wounds. Prof. Dr. Nilgün Tekkeşin continued:
“Since microplastics are very common in our environment, it is not possible to completely prevent contact with these particles. Individuals wishing to avoid exposure to microplastics should consider using water filtration systems to remove microplastics from drinking water; however, this does not prevent exposure to other sources of microplastic particles such as food or air.”
We must prevent the use of plastic products in microwaves…
Tekkeşin, stating that we must prevent the use of plastic products in microwaves, stated that researchers discovered these small particles are released in large quantities when plastic containers are heated in the microwave.