Have you ever thought of what happens to the microplastic we ingest every day? Microplastics can damage a living cell. Research by the Natural History Museum in London found a new type of disease called Plasticosis present in seabirds which is caused by plastic consumption. This fibrotic disease was caused by microplastics inflaming the digestive system. Alex Bond, the museum’s curator in charge of birds said, “While these birds can look healthy on the outside, they’re not doing well on the inside.” This is because plastics deform the bird’s stomach tissues, the widespread scarring. This disease has many disadvantages to survival as ingestion is affected. The affected birds are not only more likely to get infections and parasites but also lose a certain amount of ability to digest food and absorb vitamins. Furthermore, microplastics are found in the human body. Research from the University of Rome stated that microplastics are found in six pregnant women. The most common PVC plastic was present the most, however, all kinds of plastics from products we touch daily are found. These plastics are not only found in the placental tissue but also in the meconium, which is the baby’s first face, meaning that the plastics can be passed to the fetus. For the better of the world and human generations, take simple actions to save the planet!
