Maya Ellison
Plastic is everywhere, and it's no surprise that we consume it. But how much plastic do we actually ingest? It's a scary thought, but research suggests that adults ingest about 900 plastic particles per day, and we defecate about 200 of those. That leaves 700 unaccounted for. Some of these particles are breathed in and out, and a few leave the body in urine, but researchers are still unsure what happens to the rest. It's not just water that contains plastic, either. A 2024 study found microplastics in 16 different commonly consumed protein products purchased in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of plastic particles ingested by adults per day | 900 |
| Number of plastic particles defecated per day | 200 |
| Number of plastic particles in bottled water per litre | 240,000 |
| Number of commonly consumed protein products found to contain microplastics in a 2024 study | 16 |
What You'll Learn
Microplastics in food
Microplastics are found in our food and water. A 2024 study found microplastics in 16 different commonly consumed protein products purchased in the United States. It is estimated that adults ingest about 900 particles of microplastics per day, and defecate about 200 particles per day. The remaining 700 particles are not currently accounted for, but researchers believe that some are breathed in and out, and a few are excreted in urine.
The amount of microplastics in our environment is a cause for concern, but there is limited research on the health effects of ingesting microplastics. One question that remains unanswered is how much of the ingested microplastics pass through our bodies and how much accumulates or breaks down into potentially harmful chemicals.
The weight of microplastics consumed by a person in a week can be estimated by multiplying the average number of particles by the average weight of a particle, and then multiplying by the amount of water an average human adult consumes. This calculation can be done for different shapes of particles, such as spheres, cubes, or aquatic particles.
While the health effects of ingesting microplastics are not yet fully understood, it is important to be aware of the potential risks and to take steps to reduce our exposure to microplastics in food and water.
The Cost of Making Plastic: Understanding the Price Breakdown
You may want to see also
Microplastics in water
Research on the amount of microplastics in our environment is scarce, and there is even less published research on the health effects of ingesting microplastics. One big question that remains unanswered is how much of the microplastic we ingest passes through us and how much accumulates or is broken down into other chemicals, which may be harmful to our bodies.
A 2021 paper suggests that adults ingest about 900 particles of microplastics per day, and separate studies have found that we defecate about 200 particles per day. This means that 700 particles are unaccounted for. Some are breathed in and out, and a few leave the body in urine, but researchers are still unsure of what happens to the rest.
Microplastics are counted and their size and type are estimated. The average number of particles is then multiplied by the average weight of a particle, and this is multiplied again by how much water an average human adult consumes. This gives an estimate of how much microplastic we consume through water.
Plastic Balls: Understanding Their Cost and Value
You may want to see also
How much plastic we ingest
It is difficult to say exactly how much plastic we ingest, but it is certainly a lot. A 2021 paper suggests that adults ingest about 900 particles of plastic per day, and separate studies have found that we defecate about 200 particles per day, meaning that the other 700 are not currently accounted for. Some of these particles are breathed in and out, and a few are expelled in our urine, but researchers are still unsure what happens to the rest.
One way to estimate the amount of plastic we consume is to count the number of particles, estimate their size, and look for telltale signs of what kind of plastic they are. If researchers know the type and size of a particle, they can calculate its weight. Then, they multiply the average number of particles by the average weight of a particle, and multiply again by how much water an average human adult consumes, and they have an estimate of how much microplastic we consume.
A 2024 study found microplastics in 16 different commonly consumed protein products purchased in the United States. There has also been research into the amount of microplastic in the water we drink from plastic bottles, which was found to contain an average of 240,000 particles per litre.
There is little research on the health effects of ingesting microplastics, but there are a fair number of studies underway, and we should know more in the next few years. One big question still not well understood is how much of the microplastic we ingest passes through us and how much simply accumulates or is broken down into other chemicals, some of which might be harmful to our bodies.
The Cost of Plastic Retainers: How Much Do They Cost?
You may want to see also
How much plastic we defecate
It is difficult to say exactly how much plastic we defecate, but a 2021 paper suggests that adults ingest about 900 particles per day, and separate studies have found that we defecate about 200 particles per day. This means that the other 700 particles are not currently accounted for. Some are breathed in and out, and a few are passed out in urine, but researchers are still unsure about what happens to the rest.
There is a lot of research underway on the health effects of ingesting microplastics, and we should know more in the next few years. One big question is how much of the microplastic we ingest passes through us and how much accumulates or is broken down into other chemicals, some of which might be harmful to our bodies.
The amount of plastic we defecate depends on the number of particles we ingest, which can be estimated by multiplying the average number of particles by the average weight of a particle, and then multiplying this by how much water an average human adult consumes. This gives an estimate of how much microplastic we consume.
The Economics of Plastic Recycling: Costs and Benefits
You may want to see also
How much plastic we breathe in
It is difficult to know exactly how much plastic we consume, as research on the topic is scarce. However, a 2021 paper suggests that adults ingest around 900 plastic particles per day, and defecate about 200 of these. Some of the remaining 700 particles are breathed in and out, and a few leave the body in urine.
It is not yet known what happens to the rest of the particles, but it is likely that some accumulate in the body, or are broken down into other chemicals. A 2024 study found microplastics in 16 different commonly consumed protein products purchased in the United States.
The amount of plastic we breathe in is also influenced by the environment we live in. For example, plastic water bottles have been found to contain an average of 240,000 plastic particles per litre.
Plastic in Our Oceans: A Global Crisis
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Research suggests that adults ingest about 900 particles of plastic per day, and defecate about 200 particles per day. The remaining 700 particles are not currently accounted for.
There is an average of 240,000 plastic particles per litre of water.
A 2024 study found microplastics in 16 different commonly consumed protein products purchased in the United States.
