In a recent study published in Environmental Pollution, researchers measured microplastic exposure in college students from three cities across China.
In short:
- Microplastics were detected in over 98% of the samples tested.
- Students who ate takeout food more frequently or drank more bottled water had a higher concentration of microplastics in their samples.
- Students who often ate food that had been reheated in a microwave had higher levels of PET plastics, a common ingredient in food packaging.
Key quote:
“There is an urgent need to detect and assess human microplastic exposures in order to investigate their health effects.”
Why this matters:
Plastic use has continued to grow exponentially since the mid-twentieth century, with nearly a metric ton of plastic waste produced for every person on the planet. Over a third of those plastics are used for packaging, with about 83% of flexible food packaging made from plastic. With microplastics being found in all parts of the human body that have been examined so far, the authors of this study emphasize the need for more research to better understand the full extent of their impacts on human health.
Related EHN coverage:
- “We have enough evidence” to act on toxic plastic exposure now
- Food packaging may expose humans to more than 3,500 chemicals
More resources: The Food Packaging Forum provides independent publications and tools based on the latest science on food contact chemicals.
Song, Yongye et al. for Environmental Pollution vol. 364, 2. Jan. 1, 2025
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