It’s likely that people practically inhale a credit card every week without realizing it. At least, that’s according to research published in the journal Physics of Fluids. The study indicates that people may inhale microplastics. The specified amount is approximately 16.2 bits per hour. This amount can be equivalent to a credit card if the material is collected for a week.
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People breathe plastic
Study author Mohammad S. Islam clarified that this particulate matter has already been found in water, air and soil. However, this is the first time evidence of microplastics in human airways has been presented, raising concerns about respiratory health. The information comes from the Olhar Digital portal.
According to the published information, microplastics are formed as a result of the decomposition of plastic products in the environment and contain a variety of environmentally harmful and toxic substances that may pose a health hazard.
What did the researchers find out?
The aim of the study is to understand how microplastics move in the environment respiratory system, with the aim of improving measures to prevent and treat these health conditions. It’s worth noting that this survey is from last year. This was the first time evidence of microplastic accumulation in the nasal cavity had been found.
The author of the study clarifies that the process by which the material remains in this region depends on the asymmetric body anatomy in the airways. The flow in the nasal cavity exhibits a complex behavior that ultimately leads to the material being deflected by the flow and thus being deposited even in the back of the throat, beyond the nasal cavity.
Other factors such as flow velocity and particle inertia contribute to this process. The researchers raised concerns about exposure and inhalation of microplastics based on the results obtained, particularly in regions with high rates of microplastics plastic pollution or industrial activity.
With the study, the team led by the researcher Islam would like to contribute to the development of instruments to promote public health.