Melamine foam sponges, commonly used for cleaning, release trillions of toxic microplastics into the environment each month, posing a risk to human and wildlife health, a new study finds.
Vishwam Sankaran reports for The Independent.
In short:
- Melamine foam sponges shed 6.5 million microplastic fibers per gram as they wear out.
- These microplastics can enter sewer systems and the food chain, impacting human health.
- Researchers suggest using denser sponges and natural cleaning products to reduce pollution.
Key quote:
“The sponge wear could release 6.5 million [microplastic fibers per gram], which could suggest a global overall emission of 4.9 trillion [microplastic fibers per gram] due to sponge consumption.”
— Researchers from the study
Why this matters:
Microplastics from everyday cleaning products contribute significantly to environmental pollution. They carry toxic substances that can cause harmful effects on reproductive, immune, and endocrine systems in wildlife. For humans, the stakes are equally high. As these particles accumulate in seafood and other food sources, they pose potential health risks that are still not fully understood but are likely to be significant.
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