Dealing With the Microplastics Silent Invasion
We’re living in an era where we have never been so heavily subjected to toxicity, coming from so many different sources. The extent to which these toxicities are capable of assaulting our bodies and their ubiquitous nature means that we can never be completely free from their effects.
However, there are ways in which we can protect ourself to minimize their effects. For a list of unprecedented health threats and how we can protect ourselves go here.
Another nasty to include in the list of toxicities is microplastics.
They have been detected in the remotest areas of the world: The Arctic, Antarctic, deepest oceans and other isolated environments, such as, for example, in the glaciers, snow-covered mountainous areas, rivers making up the Gela Dandong Peak in China, untouched by humans.
Not that long ago research was done on the brains of deceased humans to look for plastic content. The research, conducted by Professor Matthew Campen, University of New Mexico, revealed that the plastic content of their brains was found to be 0.5% on average for each individual. -That’s the equivalent of a plastic spoon weighing 5g. Hence the above image showing a plastic spoon pasted on the brain.
The 0.5% result was a 50% increase on comparing average brain plastic content in 2016.
-This disturbing evidence suggests that we are facing an inevitable, unstoppable generational increase in body plastic toxicity. Not just in our brains, but an invasion of microplastics in other areas of our bodies, including other vital organs such the liver, kidneys and heart…
So named the ’silent invasion’ because the microplastics, tiny shards the size of 200 nanometers (0.0002 millimeters) or even smaller, such as nano-plastics (1 billionth of a meter), are too small to be detected by the naked eye. These pollutants are present in the air, land and water.
When ingested or inhaled, they enter our bodies bypassing natural immune defenses, unable to be broken down when in the body.
Bisphenol-A or phthalates are examples of the toxic ingredients that accumulate, having the ability to affect body pH, and mimic or block hormones: The consequences of hormonal disruptions include infertility, pregnancy complications, cognitive impairment and oxidative stress (leading to cell damage) through imbalances…
Further, besides affecting the body’s organs they are able to clog up arteries and veins, leading to cardiovascular illnesses.
As microplastics are present in oceans, soil and reservoirs where our drinking water and food comes from, they have become hotbeds for antibiotic resistant superbugs.
A Boston University study showed that E. Coli bacteria became 5 times more resistant to over several different antibiotics when in a microplastics environment. This disturbing link between microplastic toxicity and increasing antibiotic-resistant superbugs should sound alarm bells ringing.
Consider the implications. For example, consider wastewater (effluent) treatment. This now has superbugs in a microplastic environment that poses a public health threat when released back into the environment if not treated properly. What about the areas where there are poor people and there is a lack of sanitation…?
-In short, the microplastics silent invasion has become a world-wide health emergency threatening both humans and wildlife in the environment.
However, there are a number of necessary precautionary measures we can take to protect ourselves.
The first most logical step to take is to reduce plastic exposure.
With a conscious, concerted effort, reduce your buying of plastic products. Try substituting clingfilm or other plastic packing sources for paper, cardboard or cloth. Buy water in glass bottles instead of plastic. Get reverse-osmosis installed at your taps. Buy plastic alternative utensils such as stainless steel or wood. Leave out synthetic fabrics…
Avoid buying takeaway foods (hot foods in particular) stored in plastic. If the takeaway food is hot, then the plastic will leach out into the food easier than if it were cold.
There are many people, such as office workers who buy their hot foods in this way for their lunch break. Doing this day after working day the body will over the months or years accumulate enough plastic in the body to potentially cause serious health problems… Further, don’t put plastic into your dishwasher as the other items being washed will then get contaminated with plastic.
-Consider the difference this would make if people did all the above things things en masse…
Research shows that you can detox yourself from plastic contamination. For example, kimchi, a probiotic traditionally fermented food, is a source that removes plastics from your body.
In the related research, the active bacterial strains in kimchi were isolated and then treated with bisphenol A (BPA) present in plastics. The bacterial strains effectively degraded the BPA. Therefore, it has been concluded that regular dietary intakes of kimchi contribute to the removing of plastic toxicity in the body. Extracts of the active ingredients in kimchi are also available in tablet (supplement) form.
Other probiotic (beneficial bacteria) foods are capable of degrading BPA present in plastics. For more on this have a look at this insightful video:
EMERGENCY! “Our bodies are turning into PLASTIC” Microplastics in our bloodstream and brains – Redacted News
Avoid ultra-processed foods. These food sources accumulate plastics much more than most foods. The higher plastic accumulation in these foods is due to the food production methods.
Finally
Indeed, there is much at stake when considering that polluting plastics are affecting biological development on a world-wide scale. Plastic pollution has been around for quite some time. However, the extent of the pollution, particularly as tiny particulate matter, has only been really realized in recent times. There needs to be urgent, coordinated global action.
In the name of safety, plastic production needs to be regulated and curbed, while demanding more transparency.
International health agencies need to be continually pushed into getting plastic reduction and removal protocols in place.
Wastewater treatment facilities need to be more tightly controlled.
More research is needed to come up with biodegradable solutions…
-We cannot remain passive. We are all responsible. We, as a global family, are all in this together.
