Scientists warn of gateway for plastic pollution to enter human body
Microplastics are a source of poisons that can potentially enter a human body through sweat, according to scientists based in Britain, who warned of "potential adverse effects" such as endocrine disruption and cancer.
Sweat appears to leach toxic brominated flame retardants from microplastics, making them "potentially available to be absorbed through skin," a University of Birmingham team has found, after carrying out experiments using "common forms of plastic" which were tested with synthetic sweat made in a laboratory.
The tests showed the effect to be made worse by antiperspirants and foundations, but not by sunscreens and moisturizers.
"The study provides new insights into the risk that arises from our exposure to microplastics in daily life," said Ovokeroye Abafe, Marie-Curie Research fellow at the university.
"Our skin is constantly exposed to microplastics either through our clothing, cosmetics, indoor and outdoor dust particles, or even from the air," explained Abafe, whose team’s findings were published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
"Policy makers need to seriously consider the risks of microplastics and human contact with them on a regular basis," said Mohamed Abdallah, associate professor of environmental sciences at the university and a co-author of the paper.
Research published in January warned that nanoplastics - which are smaller than microplastics - can enter the human bloodstream and organs and can be passed by pregnant women to babies in the womb.
Microplastics and nanoplastics are the by-products of the world’s plastic waste, some of which ends up in rivers and oceans, and which has been estimated at 400 million tonnes a year.
