New research suggests that the average person ingests five grams of plastic particles each week. In a study published in the journal Exposure & Health, researchers at the Medical University of Vienna calculated the amount of microplastics and nanoplastics that enter our food supply. Discarded plastic breaks down into micro and nanoparticles that enter the waterways and soil, and eventually into our fruits, vegetables, and seafood. They can enter our bodies when we drink from plastic bottles. They even enter through some cosmetics. These plastics have been shown to change the gut microbiome. They have been associated with obesity, diabetes, chronic liver disease, and even some cancers. The researchers suggest avoiding plastic packaging when buying food, drinking filtered tap water instead of bottled water, and microwaving food in ceramic dishes rather than plastic containers.
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