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Microplastics
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The problem of microplastics has increasingly become the focus of public attention in recent years.
Of particular concern is that we humans are constantly, often unknowingly, coming into contact with these tiny plastic particles.
Whether through the soil, the water or the air we breathe, microplastics are virtually ubiquitous in our environment.
A recent study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, shows how microplastics can spread through our bodies. Particularly in the nose and throat, the particles accumulate and settle there. However, the long-term effects on our health are still largely unexplored.
In 2017, researchers detected microplastics in human respiratory tracts for the first time. Since then, intensive work has been carried out to better understand the effects of these plastic particles on the human body. A research team led by Mohammad Islam has now been able to show that we inhale around 16.2 pieces of microplastic per hour - the equivalent of one credit card per week.
The researchers simulated the movement of the microplastic particles in a model of the human body. In doing so, they took into account various factors such as the shape and size of the microplastic and the speed of breathing. Their results show that the nasal cavity and pharynx are particularly affected by microplastic deposits.
"The complex anatomical structure and flow behavior in the nasal cavity and pharynx cause microplastics to deviate from the flow line and deposit in these areas," Islam said.
Other factors, such as breathing conditions and the size of microplastic particles, also influence the extent to which microplastics can be deposited in the respiratory tract.
The researchers now plan to develop a more detailed model that takes into account other parameters, such as humidity and temperature, to gain an even better understanding of how microplastics spread through the body.
The study underscores the urgency of the issue of microplastics and underpins the need to rethink our behavior towards plastics. Only in this way can we minimize the impact on our health and our planet in the long term.
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