The hidden danger can cause infertility, colon cancer, lung problems

This is rubbish!

Deteriorating car tires and decomposing litter are sending tiny plastic fragments into the air, which can fuel infertility, colon cancer and respiratory disease, researchers say.

There has long been concern about how exposure to microplastics — found in cosmetics and toothpaste and shed from food containers and clothing — could harm people. Growing evidence suggests that these particles, smaller than a grain of rice, can damage cells, cause inflammation and disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut.

After reviewing 3,000 studies on the issue, researchers from UC San Francisco (UCSF) concluded that microplastics are “suspected” of harming reproductive, digestive and respiratory health, with a suggested link to colon and lung cancer.

“Microplastics are basically particulate air pollution, and we know that this type of air pollution is harmful,” said senior study author Tracey J. Woodruff, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF.

The research team reports that companies worldwide generate nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic each year – a number expected to rise to 1.1 billion by 2050.

There are two main types of microplastics – primary and secondary.

Primary microplastics serve a specific purpose, such as microbeads in cosmetic products to exfoliate the skin.

Secondary microplastics are formed when larger pieces of plastic waste break down.

The wear and tear of car tires due to road friction is a significant source of airborne plastics, UCSF researchers said.

People inhale and swallow these pieces of plastic, with one study estimating that Americans consume 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles per year.

Microplastics have been detected in human placenta, lungs, liver, urine, breast milk and blood.

UCSF researchers found “high” quality evidence that microplastics harm sperm quality and testicular health and weaken the immune system.

They reported that there is “moderate” evidence that microplastics adversely affect ovarian follicles, reproductive hormones, colon, small intestine and lung function.

The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The researchers noted that their review relied on rodent studies, and future research should investigate additional health outcomes and identify ways to reduce exposure to microplastics.