Trillions of microplastics released by this popular cleaning tool every month

Courier-Mail

3 days ago

Don't miss out on the headlines from Illness. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A popular cleaning tool might leave your counters sparkling, but new research shows that the household staple is quietly shedding trillions of microplastics into the environment every month.
Those pesky particles don't just disappear. They seep into the food you eat, the water you drink and the air you breathe. Eventually, they wind up in your body, too - and early evidence suggests they could be doing serious damage once they get there.
Scientists from the American Chemical Society took a closer look at so-called 'magic' sponges, popular for their ability to remove grit and grime using water alone, The New York Post reported.
The American Chemical Society took a closer look at the 'magic' sponges. Picture: iStock
Their scrubbing power comes from melamine foam, a lightweight yet durable plastic that acts like ultrafine sandpaper to gently scrape away dirt and stains from surfaces.
But with every use, the sponges gradually breaks down, shedding tiny fibres called microplastics in their wake.
To get a sense of how much plastic is being released, researchers tested sponges from three popular brands by rubbing them against textured metal to mimic everyday wear and tear.
What they found was far from squeaky clean: A single sponge shed around 6.5 million microplastic fibres per gram of worn-down material.
From there, the team turned to Amazon sales data from August 2023. Assuming the average sponge is worn down by about 10 per cent through regular use, they estimated that 1.55 trillion microplastic fibres could be leached into the environment every month.
And that's just from one online retailer - meaning the true number of plastic particles being released by 'magic' sponges could be much higher.
Don't miss a ding!
For Australia's best lifestyle coverage — download the news.com.au app direct to your phone.
An estimated 1.55 trillion microplastic fibres could be leached into the environment every month. Picture: iStock
Once unleashed into nature, microplastics don't just pollute the planet. They find their way inside our bodies.
These sneaky specks been found in human lungs, livers, kidneys, hearts, brains, placentas and testicles, even breast milk and semen.
Millionaire undergoes $100k treatment to remove microplastics
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background
Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
X
Learn More
Loaded :
0.00%
0:00
Close Modal Dialog
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
00:26
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
Millionaire undergoes $100k treatment to remove microplastics
more more founder Simon Beard has undergone a $100k 'blood cleaning' technique in Mexico.
Australia millionaire and Culture Kings...... ... more
Scientists are still figuring out exactly how this affects our health, but early results aren't encouraging. In January, a major scientific review found that exposure to microplastics may pose risks to the human digestive, reproductive and respiratory systems.
Research suggests that these particles can damage cells, disrupt organs and mess with the immune system. They've also been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and certain cancers.
Microplastics have been found in human lungs, livers, kidneys, hearts, brains, placentas and testicles, even breast milk and semen. Picture: iStock
Microplastics may even harm the brain, potentially causing symptoms like fatigue and dizziness. Higher levels have been found in people with dementia.
It's a huge problem for something so tiny — and a costly one too. One study found microplastics carrying 'forever chemicals' in the US food and water supply could be fuelling a $US250 billion ($382.8b) per year health crisis.
To cut down on microplastics, researchers from the American Chemical Society are urging manufacturers to make denser, tougher sponges that don't break down so easily.
They also suggest consumers opt for natural cleaning products without plastics and install filters to catch microplastics in their drinking water.
To lower your overall exposure, experts recommend cutting back on single-use plastic bags, bottles, straws and containers.
Choosing clothes made from natural fibres instead of synthetics and avoiding microwaving food or drinks in plastic can also help reduce your risk.
This story originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Trillions of microplastics released by this popular cleaning tool every month