Microplastics and Cancer: problem overview
Do you drink tea in plastic cups? Or drink water from a plastic bottle while sunlight is glazing? Do you heat food in plastic containers in the microwave or use plastic plates during parties or in the kitchen? If your answer is yes, then you should read this blog to understand how plastic us affecting human body and what can be done to prevent plastic pollution of human body.
Plastic is present in every corner of our daily lives. Staring from first thing in morning while brushing your teeth with a toothbrush till the turning off the lights at the end of the day, we come into contact with plastic without even realizing it.
Plastic is made up of small parts called “polymers,” combined with various additives, stabilizers, and chemicals to create the final product.
Types of plastic in daily use:
Plastic products can be broadly categorize them into three main types:
- Packaging and Disposable Plastics: Also known as single-use plastics.
- These are designed for short-term use, such as water bottles, milk bags, disposable plates, cups, and straws.
- Durable Plastics:
- These are consumer products meant for long-term use, including toys, containers, and polycarbonate eyewear.
- Industrial/Construction Plastics:
- Specially crafted for construction or industrial use, such as pipes, windows, automobile parts, and medical products (like syringes).
Single-use or short-term plastics are major contributors to environmental pollution. Their excessive use and prolonged exposure pose significant health risks.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Polypropylene and polyethylene are among the most commonly used plastics. These man-made plastics do not fully degrade in the environment, making them non-biodegradable. Over time, plastics break down into smaller pieces due to various factors such as water, sunlight, heat, and abrasion.These smaller pieces are known as microplastics and nanoplastics:
- Microplastics: Pieces smaller than 5 millimeters
- Nanoplastics: Pieces smaller than 1 micrometer
Hidden dangers of plastic
Imagine this: You’re at a vibrant party, savoring snacks from disposable plates and sipping your favorite drink from a plastic cup. Now, what if I told you that these everyday items might be silently undermining your health—and could even contribute to cancer? According to the Norwegian Research Council, plastics contain over 4,000 chemicals that might negatively impact human health. Here are the Chemical Culprits Lurking in Plastics:
- BPA (Bisphenol A):
Found in food and beverage containers, water bottles, canned goods, medical devices, sports gear, eyeglass lenses, and even plastic pipes, BPA is a notorious endocrine disruptor. It interferes with your hormone balance, and research links BPA exposure with conditions like PCOD as well as increased risks for breast, prostate, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. - Vinyl Chloride:
Predominantly used in PVC plastics—for pipes, toys, automobile parts, and industrial products—vinyl chloride is a danger. Prolonged exposure has been connected to a rare liver cancer known as angiosarcoma. - Styrene:
An integral component of polystyrene plastics found in disposable cups, plates, food containers, peanut butter jars, and meat packages, styrene is considered a potential carcinogen. Regular exposure has been associated with a greater risk of developing blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. - Perfluorinated Compounds (PFAs):
PFAs are used in creating water- and stain-resistant fabrics, food wrappers, lubricants, and firefighting foams. When these chemicals seep into local water sources, they contaminate our drinking water. Continuous exposure to PFAs can harm the immune system, liver, thyroid, and other vital organs, potentially increasing cancer risks. Because of their persistence, PFAs are classified as persistent organic pollutants. - Phthalates:
These additives make plastics flexible and are found in everything from children’s toys and packaging to vinyl flooring, personal care products, and cosmetics. Phthalates disrupt hormonal balance and have been linked to cancers in reproductive organs. Disturbingly, researchers have detected them in household dust, amniotic fluid, the placenta, and even breast milk. - Dioxins:
When plastic items are burned—especially chlorine-based plastics—they release dioxins, a group of extremely toxic chemicals. Dioxins easily spread through the environment, settle in soil, and accumulate in the tissues of animals and humans alike. With no safe exposure level, dioxins compromise the immune system and are associated with an increased risk of various cancers. - Alkyl Phenol:
Used as an additive in containers for cleaning and personal care products, alkyl phenol mimics the estrogen hormone in the body. This hormonal interference can upset your body’s delicate balance and may elevate the risk of breast cancer. - Flame Retardants:
Added to plastics to reduce flammability, flame retardants are present in appliances, electronics, building materials, toys, textiles, and kitchenware. Even though they are used in small, regulated amounts, persistent exposure can allow these chemicals to accumulate in your body—disrupting hormone balance, impairing reproductive health, and affecting overall well-being.
A Warning Message: According to the Plastic Health Umbrella Review, none of these chemicals is safe. Friends, nature cares for every living creature. As the most intelligent species, it is our duty to protect our environment. Yet today, the unchecked use of plastic not only drives environmental pollution to alarming levels but has also allowed these toxic substances to infiltrate our bodies. Microplastics are now found in our blood, digestive systems, brains, and even the placenta. If we don’t take immediate action, it might soon be too late. Consider this your wakeup call.
How Humans Are Coming into Contact with Microplastics
Microplastics has now become a significant “macro problem.” These tiny plastic particles have infiltrated our environment and food chain to the extent that they easily enter our bodies through breathing, eating, or direct contact. Let’s explore their various sources:
1. Ingestion (Through Eating):
- Marine/ water Pollution:
Imagine strolling along a beach and hearing locals confidently tell you they’ve found plastic in fish. Shockingly, most seafood today is contaminated with microplastics, with an average of 1.4 particles of microplastic per gram of seafood.
Scientists estimate that about 150,000 to 200,000 tons of plastic are floating in the world’s oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch alone is estimated to contain 80,000 to 150,000 tons of plastic—and that’s just what’s visible on the surface; much more lies beneath.
This plastic enters **marine life** and fish, which we then consume, introducing micro and nanoplastics into our food chain. - Food and Crops:
Plastic pollution in soil and water means that when crops are irrigated, microplastics can also be absorbed by the plants, eventually making their way into our food.
Studies have found microplastic particles in various foods:
– Seafood: 1.48 particles/gram
– Sugar: 0.44 particles/gram
– Honey: 0.10 particles/gram
– Salt: 0.11 particles/gram
– Wine: 32.27 particles/liter
– Bottled Water: 94.37 particles/liter
– Tap Water: 4.23 particles/liter
– Air: 9.80 particles/cubic meter - Bottled Water and Other Plastic Uses:
Microplastics were found in 93% of water bottle samples, with up to 94 microplastic particles per liter. Chemicals like Bisphenol A and phthalates can also leach into stored water from plastic bottles.
Drinking hot tea from plastic cups is even more dangerous as the heat accelerates the release of harmful chemicals. Similarly, heating food in plastic containers in the microwave may not be health-friendly despite being microwave-safe.
In India, celebrations used to involve serving food on banana leaves or in eco-friendly plates, but now single-use plastic plates have taken over.
Plastic cups have replaced earthenware and steel glasses at water coolers.
We didn’t need these conveniences, but the slight ease of use-and-throw has increased environmental pollution and compromised human health.
2. Inhalation (Through Breathing):
- Microplastic particles are hidden in every corner of your home, gradually entering your daily life.
– Your favorite synthetic clothes, beautiful curtains, cozy furniture, toys, kitchen items, and electronic devices—all essential parts of modern life—release invisible particles over time as they wear and tear.
– Similarly, plastic bags, food wrappers, body care products, and cleaning products also produce these microscopic particles.
These particles mix with dust and spread through the air in your home and surroundings, creating an invisible net of pollution. Such scenes not only highlight a shocking aspect of modern lifestyle but also raise the question: Are we as cautious about our environment and health as we should be? - Environmental Fallout:
In cities with high plastic pollution, microplastic particles become so light that they float in the air. When these particles descend, they enter our lungs through breathing. Imagine a fine dust showering down that you can’t see, but it’s everywhere—in your food, water, air, and the atmosphere you breathe. This “rain” of microplastics is more prevalent in areas with poor ventilation.
3. Dermal Contact (Through Skin):
Products that Come into Contact with Skin: Some studies suggest that microplastics and nanoplastics hidden in our cosmetics and body care products can enter our bodies in limited amounts. It’s worth thinking about how these tiny particles, which we apply to our skin, could gradually be absorbed. Ongoing research aims to better understand this process.
How microplastics can cause cancer?
Have you ever thought about how plastic can accumulate inside our bodies? A recent study (2024) has revealed alarming findings—microplastics have been detected in tumor cells! Yes, it’s true.
– Lung and Pancreatic Cancer: found in approximately 70% of cases
– Colon Cancer: in 50% of cases
– Stomach Cancer: in 40% of cases
– Cervical Cancer: in 17% of cases
What are the Risks of Microplastics?
- Impact on Immunity: Microplastics can weaken your immune system, reducing its ability to protect you.
- DNA Damage: Interference with cell repair systems can lead to DNA damage.
- Microbiome Changes: They can disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut.
- Chemicals associated with microplastics, such as Bisphenol A and phthalates can also damage DNA within cells, promoting the development of cancer.
Recent scientific evidence shows that microplastics can make cancer cells more aggressive, increase their spread (metastasis), change immune cells, and make them resistant to immunotherapy.
This report serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgency of reducing plastic use. Not only is it crucial for protecting our health, but it’s also vital for safeguarding marine life. Are you ready to take on the challenge of fighting plastic? Try reducing plastic and share your experiences in the comments about how you succeeded in reducing plastic in your life.
cancers related with microplastics?
Recent scientific estimates suggest that microplastics might be linked to the development of various cancers, including
- blood cancers such as leukemia and myeloma
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- thyroid cancer
- prostate cancer
- kidney cancer
- bladder cancer
- brain tumor
- liver cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer.
Further research is necessary to delve deeper into these associations, but this information prompts us to reflect on the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment. By keeping our surroundings free from pollution, we are also taking essential steps toward preserving our health. Let’s all strive to make informed choices that contribute to a cleaner, safer world.
What we can do?
Recycle: Did you know that approximately 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year? Shockingly, only about 9% of plastic is recycled globally. Let’s learn about the different plastic codes—small knowledge can lead to big changes! Recycling plastic is crucial to reducing plastic waste. Recyclable plastics are divided into seven categories. These codes, mentioned on recycled plastic products, help determine which plastics are safe and which are not. Sadly, most people are unaware of these codes. Let’s demystify them:
- Code 1: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate):
Found in water bottles, juice containers, sauce bottles, and peanut butter containers. Generally considered safe but should be used only once. Reuse is not recommended. - Code 2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene):
Used for milk jugs, juice bottles, plastic bags, oil containers, water storage tanks, and shampoo bottles. These are often used in food packaging. - Code 3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride):
Found in pipes, windows, cables, toys, and some food containers. Known as poisonous plastic, PVC should be used as little as possible. For drinking water, use steel pipes instead of PVC. Avoid using PVC for food storage. - Code 4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene):
Found in dry-cleaning garment bags, bread wrapping, frozen food packages, vegetable and fruit bags, tiffin boxes, and small packaging food items. Opt for fabric bags instead of plastic bags when shopping for groceries. - Code 5: PP (Polypropylene):
Used for plastic bottle caps, chip bags, microwave-compatible food containers, and straws. Generally considered safe, but heating food in plastic containers can release harmful chemicals into the food. - Code 6: PS (Polystyrene):
Used for disposable cups, plates, food containers, take-away containers, and foam plastic containers. Styrene from polystyrene can leach into food and is a known carcinogen. - Code 7: Other Plastics (Including Polycarbonate):
Found in baby bottles, water cooler bottles, sunglasses, and other products. Polycarbonate sometimes contains BPA, which can disrupt hormone balance. Avoid using these plastics, especially for children’s food items.
Codes 1, 2, 4, and 5 are generally considered safe if labeled correctly.
Codes 3, 6, and 7 are not considered safe and should be used minimally.
What we can do?
- Avoid Heating Plastics: When plastics come into contact with heat, they release more microplastic particles and additive chemicals. Often, we fill plastic bottles with water, leave them in the car, or in the sun, allowing harmful chemicals to leach into the water. Instead, use steel or glass bottles to keep your water safe.
- Choose Glass Over Plastic in Restaurants: Many restaurants place a plastic bottle on the table, whether you use it or not. Why not ask for safe filtered or RO water served in a glass instead? RO process can remove microplastics from water.
- Avoid Disposable Cups for Hot Beverages: Using plastic disposable cups or paper cups lined with plastic for hot tea can be harmful. According to a study by IIT Kharagpur, these cups can leach microplastics and additive chemicals into your drink. Opt for tea in glass, steel, or traditional earthenware cups instead.
- Avoid Microwaving Food in Plastic Containers: When you heat food in plastic containers, the additive chemicals can seep into your food, posing health risks.
- Be Cautious with Food Delivery Containers: Food ordered from restaurants or online apps often comes in plastic containers, including black plastic, which is not considered safe. The covering is also plastic. Hot food in these containers can lead to the leaching of microplastics, nanoplastics, and harmful chemicals into your food. People often wonder how individuals with healthy eating habits can still develop cancer—microplastics might be a contributing risk factor present everywhere.
- Support Plastic Bans: Recently in Karnataka, a ban was imposed on heating and preparing idlis in plastic containers, with penalties for violations. This is a commendable step for food safety, though such news often goes unnoticed. Meanwhile, plastic bottles promoting soft drinks, water, and more are widely advertised.
- Promote Single-Use Plastic Bans: While many global organizations and scientists support banning single-use plastics, some leaders reversed the ban on plastic straws. A straw used for just two minutes can persist in the environment for over 200 years. As the world strives for plastic reduction treaties, such steps are deemed irresponsible by scientists.
Conclussion
Friends, today we learned how microplastics can accumulate in our bodies and increase the risk of severe diseases like cancer. It’s time to take concrete steps. Let’s adopt these simple changes in our daily lives:
- Switch to Steel or Glass Bottles: Replace plastic bottles with steel or glass ones. This keeps your beverages safe and prevents harmful chemicals from leaching into your drinks.
- Avoid Using Plastic Containers in the Microwave: Heating plastic containers can release harmful chemicals. Opt for microwave-safe glass or ceramic containers instead.
- Reduce Plastic Use in Food and Beverages: Choose safe and clean alternatives to prevent contamination of your food and water.
- Use Only Safe Recycled Plastics: Stick to plastics deemed safe (such as codes 1, 2, 4, and 5).
- Avoid Drinking Hot Beverages in Plastic Cups: Instead, use glass, steel, or traditional earthenware cups.
- Be Mindful in Your Shopping: Prioritize plastic-free options and eco-friendly products.
- Advocate for RO and Filtered Water in Restaurants: Encourage the use of filtered or RO water in glasses to reduce reliance on plastic bottles.
Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments—your small opinion can lead to big changes! Spread this plastic-free challenge and inspire others to join the movement. Together, we can make a significant impact on our health and the environment.
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