You could be eating plastic every day without knowing it
'Would you care for a little plastic with your dinner?' It may sound like a joke, but studies suggest we are consuming tiny pieces of plastic every day -- without realising it.Plastic waste is choking rivers, polluting oceans, and now, entering our bodies through food. Around 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, two-thirds of which are thrown away after one use. According to Ocean Conservancy, an extra 11 million metric tonnes enter oceans each year.From the Arctic to your dinner plate, plastic is everywhere. Of the 16,000 plastic compounds used globally, over 4,200 are considered hazardous.WHAT ARE MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS?These tiny plastic particles are so small you can't see them. Microplastics range from 5 mm to 1 micron, while nanoplastics are even smaller.Recent studies have found:Microplastics in 90% of animal and plant protein samples.Even fruits and vegetables absorb microplastics from the soil.Himalayan pink salt, sea salt, and black salt contain high levels of microplastics.One plastic tea bag can release over 11 billion microplastic particles when boiled.Boiling 100 gm of rice can expose you to 3-4 mg of plastic; this can rise to 13 mg with precooked rice.Washing rice before cooking can reduce plastic by 40% -- and also remove arsenic.RISK TO HUMAN HEALTHThese plastic bits carry harmful chemicals. They act like sponges, absorbing toxins and entering everything—from our clothes to our bodies.Microplastics have now been found in human lungs, blood, breast milk, and even the placenta. A recent study showed that people with microplastics in arteries near the brain had double the risk of stroke or heart attack.Nanoplastics may carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols, and heavy metals. These particles can reach the liver, kidneys, and even unborn babies.However, it's important to note that scientists haven't yet reached a clear consensus on the long-term health impact of these plastics.FOODS WITH THE MOST PLASTICBreaded shrimp had the highest microplastic count -- about 300 pieces per serving.Plant-based nuggets came next, followed by pollock sticks and chicken nuggets.Apples and carrots had over 1,00,000 microplastics per gram.Tofu, chicken breast, and pork had the least plastic content.Most people may be eating between 11,000 and 29,000 microplastic particles each year, but in extreme cases, this number could go up to 3.8 million -- depending on their food choices and habits.HOW TO CUT DOWN ON PLASTIC INTAKEDrink filtered tap water instead of bottled water.Avoid plastic-wrapped food -- go for glass, foil, or enamel.Use glass or stainless-steel containers to heat food.Eat fresh food and reduce processed or packaged items.Wear clothes made of natural fibres.Plastic has become an invisible part of our daily lives -- and our diets. By making a few simple changes, we can protect our health and the planet.Are you ready to make the shift?- Article by Professor Prabhakar Sharma, Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University (Kohima Campus)
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India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
You could be eating plastic every day without knowing it
'Would you care for a little plastic with your dinner?' It may sound like a joke, but studies suggest we are consuming tiny pieces of plastic every day -- without realising waste is choking rivers, polluting oceans, and now, entering our bodies through food. Around 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, two-thirds of which are thrown away after one use. According to Ocean Conservancy, an extra 11 million metric tonnes enter oceans each the Arctic to your dinner plate, plastic is everywhere. Of the 16,000 plastic compounds used globally, over 4,200 are considered ARE MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS?These tiny plastic particles are so small you can't see them. Microplastics range from 5 mm to 1 micron, while nanoplastics are even studies have found:Microplastics in 90% of animal and plant protein fruits and vegetables absorb microplastics from the pink salt, sea salt, and black salt contain high levels of plastic tea bag can release over 11 billion microplastic particles when 100 gm of rice can expose you to 3-4 mg of plastic; this can rise to 13 mg with precooked rice before cooking can reduce plastic by 40% -- and also remove TO HUMAN HEALTHThese plastic bits carry harmful chemicals. They act like sponges, absorbing toxins and entering everything—from our clothes to our have now been found in human lungs, blood, breast milk, and even the placenta. A recent study showed that people with microplastics in arteries near the brain had double the risk of stroke or heart may carry endocrine-disrupting chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols, and heavy metals. These particles can reach the liver, kidneys, and even unborn it's important to note that scientists haven't yet reached a clear consensus on the long-term health impact of these WITH THE MOST PLASTICBreaded shrimp had the highest microplastic count -- about 300 pieces per nuggets came next, followed by pollock sticks and chicken and carrots had over 1,00,000 microplastics per chicken breast, and pork had the least plastic people may be eating between 11,000 and 29,000 microplastic particles each year, but in extreme cases, this number could go up to 3.8 million -- depending on their food choices and TO CUT DOWN ON PLASTIC INTAKEDrink filtered tap water instead of bottled plastic-wrapped food -- go for glass, foil, or glass or stainless-steel containers to heat fresh food and reduce processed or packaged clothes made of natural has become an invisible part of our daily lives -- and our diets. By making a few simple changes, we can protect our health and the you ready to make the shift?- Article by Professor Prabhakar Sharma, Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University (Kohima Campus) advertisement
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Aspergillus: All about the fungus that could spark a pandemic like in HBO's ‘The Last of Us'
Fungi: Common, Adaptable, and Dangerous Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As global temperatures rise, a new study warns that Aspergillus—a common fungus capable of causing deadly infections—is set to expand its reach into new regions, putting millions more people at by scientists at the University of Manchester, the study used computer simulations to forecast the future spread of Aspergillus, a group of fungi that can cause aspergillosis—a life-threatening lung disease. The findings suggest that climate change will allow certain Aspergillus species to spread further across North America, Europe, China, and research, currently under peer review, comes as fungal infections continue to pose a growing threat to public health. Fungal infections are estimated to kill around 2.5 million people annually—a number that may be significantly underreported due to limited data and are everywhere—in soil, water, compost, and decaying plant matter. While they play a critical role in ecosystems, they can also be deadly. Aspergillus fungi grow as microscopic filaments and spread through spores released into the air. While most people inhale these spores without issue, those with asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, or compromised immune systems—such as cancer patients or organ transplant recipients—are at high risk of severe rates for aspergillosis range between 20% and 40%, and diagnosis is difficult due to its nonspecific symptoms like cough and matters worse, fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal medications, of which only four main classes currently the planet warms, fungal species are finding new regions to thrive in. The study found that Aspergillus flavus, which prefers hot, tropical climates, could expand its range by 16% under high fossil fuel use scenarios—moving into parts of northern America, northern China, and fumigatus, suited to temperate zones, is predicted to shift northward toward the Arctic, with its potential range increasing by 77.5% by 2100, potentially exposing an additional 9 million contrast, some regions—like parts of sub-Saharan Africa—may become too hot even for Aspergillus, creating further ecological temperatures may also make fungi more tolerant of heat, helping them better survive inside human bodies. Meanwhile, extreme weather events like floods and tornadoes can spread spores over long distances. A notable example is the fungal outbreak following the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Economic Times
Aspergillus: All about the fungus that could spark a pandemic like in HBO's ‘The Last of Us'
A new study forecasts that climate change will enable Aspergillus, a fungus causing the deadly disease aspergillosis, to expand its reach across North America, Europe, China, and Russia. This poses a significant threat to individuals with respiratory issues or compromised immune systems. With limited treatment options and rising antifungal resistance, the spread of Aspergillus raises serious public health concerns. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fungi: Common, Adaptable, and Dangerous Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As global temperatures rise, a new study warns that Aspergillus—a common fungus capable of causing deadly infections—is set to expand its reach into new regions, putting millions more people at by scientists at the University of Manchester, the study used computer simulations to forecast the future spread of Aspergillus, a group of fungi that can cause aspergillosis—a life-threatening lung disease. The findings suggest that climate change will allow certain Aspergillus species to spread further across North America, Europe, China, and research, currently under peer review, comes as fungal infections continue to pose a growing threat to public health. Fungal infections are estimated to kill around 2.5 million people annually—a number that may be significantly underreported due to limited data and are everywhere—in soil, water, compost, and decaying plant matter. While they play a critical role in ecosystems, they can also be deadly. Aspergillus fungi grow as microscopic filaments and spread through spores released into the air. While most people inhale these spores without issue, those with asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, or compromised immune systems—such as cancer patients or organ transplant recipients—are at high risk of severe rates for aspergillosis range between 20% and 40%, and diagnosis is difficult due to its nonspecific symptoms like cough and matters worse, fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal medications, of which only four main classes currently the planet warms, fungal species are finding new regions to thrive in. The study found that Aspergillus flavus, which prefers hot, tropical climates, could expand its range by 16% under high fossil fuel use scenarios—moving into parts of northern America, northern China, and fumigatus, suited to temperate zones, is predicted to shift northward toward the Arctic, with its potential range increasing by 77.5% by 2100, potentially exposing an additional 9 million contrast, some regions—like parts of sub-Saharan Africa—may become too hot even for Aspergillus, creating further ecological temperatures may also make fungi more tolerant of heat, helping them better survive inside human bodies. Meanwhile, extreme weather events like floods and tornadoes can spread spores over long distances. A notable example is the fungal outbreak following the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
