New studies say that more than 68,000 microplastic in cars and homes
A new study shows the dangerous levels of microplastic in indoor air within homes and cars, which exceeds more than 68,000 microplastic.
In short
- Cars have more than 2,000 microplastic particles per cubic meters
- Most particles are smaller than 10 micrometers in size
- Microplastics can take toxic chemicals harmful to health
We already know that plastic is everywhere, in our oceans, soil and even in the food we eat. But most of us do not realize that plastic is also in the air we breathe, especially inside our homes and cars.
A recent study in France published in PLOS One found that people could consider thousands of micro plastic particles every day more than before, more than before.
These small plastic bits, called microplastics, are so small that they are invisible to the naked eyes, but they can make their way deep into our lungs with every breath.
Study: Wind check in homes and cars
Researcher Nadia Yacowenco and Universit De Tooluz led by his team, this study saw the air inside his homes and cars to understand how much plastic the plastic could swim around the plastic. They collected air samples from 16 places – from some apartments, other parts of the car during normal driving.
What he got was shocking. The houses had about 528 microplastic particles per cubic meter in the air, while the air in cars was even more – about 2,238 particles per cubic meter. This means that with each breath we take inside the house, we can pull into small bits of plastic without realizing it.
Even more worrying, 94% of these particles were smaller than 10 micrometers in size – so small that they could deepen in the lungs and even pass into the bloodstream.
How much are we breathing?
By combining their results with previous research, scientists estimate that the average adult may be about 3,200 microplastic particles each day that are medium-sized (10-300 micrometers), and 68,000 very small plastic particles (1–10 micrometers) every day.
It is 100 times more than scientists that we thought we are breathing. Most of the earlier studies were focused on large plastic pieces, which do not travel deeply into the lungs. This new study highlights that the smallest plastic particles are very large problems.
Why is this thing?
These particles are not only harmless dust. Microplastics often carry toxic chemicals used in making plastic, such as artificial colors, preservatives or softner. Once inside the body, they can cause inflammation, damage the lungs, disrupt the immune system, affect digestive and intestine microbiomes, and possibly contribute to long -term diseases such as heart problems, hormonal issues or cancer.
Children, large adults, and people with breathing issues can be at high risk, as their bodies are more sensitive to harmful particles in the air.
Indoor wind: new danger area
We often worry about pollution such as traffic, factory and smog. But this study shows that indoor air can be even more dangerous when talking about microplastics.
Our homes and cars are filled with plastic products with upholstery, carpets, plastic packaging, clothing fiber, cleaning products, and all of them can slowly break into air swimming microplastics.
“We get microplastic everywhere – even in the air inside our homes and cars.
This was also the first study to check microplastic levels inside the cars, and the results suggest that the car may be a major-object source of internal risk.
What can you do?
While scientists are still studying how dangerous inhaled microplastics are really, it is wise to start taking simple steps to reduce your risk.
They suggest that regular dust and vacuuming to reduce the microplastic inside the house, use an air purifier with a hepa filter, avoid synthetic materials like plastic-based upholstery, carpet, and clothing, limit the use of plastic packaging and switch to your car, and keep your car well and plastic air. Use fasciosers.
Studies show that plastic pollution is not only in our oceans or food – it is very in the air we breathe.
As researchers continue to examine long -term health risks, one thing is clear: we are breathing in plastic more than what we thought.