Every day we inhale 68 microplastics

According to a recent study, they come from common sources such as synthetic fabrics, carpets, house dust, automotive materials and other plastic products.

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Marevivo Archive 3
We all know by now the damage caused by microplastics which can easily penetrate the lungs through the blood. But a recent study, published in the magazine PLOS One, went beyond general concerns and estimated that an average adult can  inhale approximately 68.000 microplastic particles per day very small in size (1–10 micrometers, small enough to reach the lungs. The same study also calculated approximately 3,200 larger microplastic particles (10–300 μm) per day.

These particles come from common sources such as synthetic fabrics, carpets, house dust, automotive materials and other plastic products that degrade in the airIn reality, the two main sources of microplastics are indoor pollution, especially in homes where plastic objects are used extensively, and traffic emissions.

In particular, the wear of car tyres is considered one of the most active sources of microplastics in urban areas, generally tiny particles of synthetic rubber and plastic that:

  • they settle in the air
  • they end up in rainwater
How much abBottles, bags, packaging and plastic waste break down over time due to:
  • sun (UV)
  • wind
  • where
  • mechanical abrasion

This process is widespread in the oceans. Researchers emphasize the need to reduce the use of plastic items and to be careful about their disposal, so that plastic waste, which then breaks down into microplastics, doesn't leak into the environment.

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