A 2019 WWF International report, based on 50 studies, estimates that the average person ingests around 2,000 microplastic particles each week—about 5 grams, equivalent to the weight of a credit card. That's roughly 250 grams annually.
Microplastics enter our bodies mainly through everyday consumption. The WWF study identifies bottled and tap water as key sources, with seafood, beer, and salt showing the highest concentrations among analyzed products.
Are they harmful? "The truth is, we don't know," states the WWF. Plastics devastate wildlife, and scientists are just beginning to assess human health impacts. While definitive effects aren't proven, ignoring the issue isn't advisable.
Derived from degrading items like synthetic clothing, tires, and contact lenses, microplastics contaminate the planet's most isolated spots—from mountaintop glaciers to ocean depths. Switching to reusable water bottles saves 14 kg of plastic per person yearly, or over 28,000 tonnes for Paris residents alone. All drifting ocean plastic, if collected, would span five times France's size.
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