ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (Online): A new study introduces a new method of detecting tiny nanoparticles \u2014 less than a thousandth the width of a human hair \u2014 of plastic in bottled water. They are so small that they are measured in billionths of a meter.
\nClosely following new research from Consumer Reports\u2019 lab that found microplastics \u2014 from five millimeters to one micrometer in size \u2014 in 84 out of 85 foods tested, plastics seem to have infiltrated the human food chain to an even greater degree than previously understood.
\nIn another recent study from researchers at Columbia University using the new nanoplastic detection method, researchers revealed 10 to 100 times more nanoplastics in bottled water than had previously been documented.
\nThe health effects of this plastic are complex and unclear.
\nThe new study found between 110,000 and 370,000 nanoparticles, most of which were nanoplastics, when they tested three popular bottled water brands.
\nUsing hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, the researchers could observe particles as small as 100 nanometers in the water they examined.
\nThe study is published in PNAS.
\nDetecting plastic nanoparticles in water
\nDr. Sara Bened\u00e9, of the Spanish National Research Council\u2019s Institute of Food Science Research, who was not involved in the study, said:
\n\u201cSince all methods have limitations, and it is not possible to achieve a method that completely covers the detection of the great diversity of micro and nanoparticles found in the environment, any progress made in the development of methodologies that allow the detection of these particles is positive for the advancement of this field.\u201d
\nStudy co-author Dr. Phoebe Stapleton, in collaboration with study co-author Dr. Beizhan Yan, pointed out:
\n\u201cOur instrument was tuned to detect plastics only, so we only know that there are other nanoparticles not included in the seven major types of plastics we focused on.
\nFor bottled water, these particles may also come from the filters used in the filtration process.\u201d
\n\u2013 Dr. Beizhan Yan
\nWhile the study declines to specify the brands tested, Dr. Stapleton noted, in any event, that, \u201cThere was a range in the number of particles that were identified per brand. However, these were still within the hundreds of thousands of nanoplastic particles.\u201d
\nWhy tiny plastic particles can be harmful to health
\nIt is not entirely certain what risks may result from the consumption of such particles. However, research suggests cause for concern.
\nDr. Bened\u00e9 explained, \u201cOn the one hand, these plastic particles can cause physical injury by damaging, for example, the intestine when consuming contaminated food, or the lungs when we inhale them.\u201d She attributed this potential harm to \u201cthe simple fact that plastics rub against tissue.\u201d
\nMoreover, she said, \u201cMicro and nanoplastics can also be a chemical hazard, as they contain additives which are added during their production to give them special properties such as strength, flexibility, stiffness, adaptability to external factors, etc.\u201d
\nSome of the most studied additives, said Dr. Bened\u00e9, \u201care phthalates and bisphenol A [BPA]. Both are considered endocrine disruptors and can alter endocrine system functions leading to adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.\u201d
\nTiny plastic particles may also harbor unhealthful stowaways, said Dr. Bened\u00e9. \u201c[Microparticles and nanoparticles] have the ability to bind all kinds of compounds when they come into contact with fluids, thus acting as carriers of all kinds of substances including environmental pollutants, toxins, antibiotics, or microorganisms.\u201d
\n\u201cOnce inside the cells, [the nanoparticles] could release the compounds, leading to additional health issues.\u201d
\n\u2013 Dr. Stapleton
\n\u201cPlastic particles are not homogeneous,\u201d said. Dr. Bened\u00e9. \u201cDepending on the plastic material they come from, their size and also their shape, they will have different effects on our organism, and the hazardous effects can be very diverse.\u201d
\n\u201cPlastic particles could induce physical stress and damage, apoptosis, necrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and immune responses, which could contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions, among others.\u201d
\n\u2013 Dr. Bened\u00e9
\nIt is also the case that plastics do not readily biodegrade, so once they are ingested, they may remain for an undetermined length of time, potentially posing a long-term health hazard.
\nHigh levels of phthalates, microplastics also found in food
\nThe Consumer Reports study found phthalates \u201cin almost every food we tested, often at high levels.\u201d
\nNo single particular type of food was more likely to contain phthalates than another, nor did packaging type appear to be a factor.
\nThe only tested food that contained no phthalates was Polar raspberry lime seltzer.
\nNone of the foods tested by Consumer Reports contained levels of phthalates that exceeded the current safety standards, but those standards do not necessarily reflect the latest medical knowledge, according to the report. It cites Dr. Ami Zota, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City, who asserted that allowing such chemicals in food \u201cis not evidence-based.\u201d
\nConsumer Reports also found substantial amounts of BPA, though mostly at lower levels than their previous study in 2009.
\nHow to reduce risk from microplastics consumption
\n\u201cHighly processed foods and beverages would be more likely to contain plastic particles,\u201d she noted.
\n\u201cThe best advice is awareness and avoidance,\u201d said Dr. Stapleton.
\nDr. Stapleton recommended switching from disposable plastic bottles to metal or glass. This provides two benefits. In addition to reducing the risk of exposure to plastics, reusable drinking containers lower the number of bottles used, reducing one\u2019s waste stream.
\nDr. Bened\u00e9 also suggested one \u201cgo loose-leaf instead of using tea bags,\u201d rely more on tap water with a filter capable of removing particles, and use a glass container when microwaving.
\nDr. Stapleton noted, that despite her study\u2019s findings, \u201cStaying hydrated is crucial for health. Therefore, we do not advise against drinking bottled water when necessary, as the risk of dehydration may outweigh the potential impacts of nanoplastics exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (Online): A new study introduces a new method of detecting tiny nanoparticles \u2014 less than a thousandth the width of a human hair \u2014 of plastic in bottled water. They are so small that they are measured in billionths of a meter. […]<\/p>\n
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