The Dangers of Microplastics in the Air We Breathe
Microplastics can pose serious health risks when inhaled by humans, as research has shown that individuals can inhale around 16.2 bits of microplastic every hour. These small pieces of debris, generated by the degradation of plastic products, can contain pollutants and toxic chemicals. Inhaled microplastics can cause serious respiratory health hazards, so it is crucial to understand how they travel in the respiratory system to prevent and treat respiratory diseases.
New research published in Fluid Physics, by AIP Publishing, explores the transport and deposition of microplastics in the upper respiratory tract. The researchers from the University of Technology Sydney, University of Western Sydney, Urmia University, Islamic Azad University, Comilla University, and Queensland University of Technology, used a computational fluid dynamics model to analyze the movement of microplastics of different shapes and sizes under slow and fast respiration conditions.
Microplastics tend to accumulate in hot spots in the nasal cavity and oropharynx, or at the back of the throat, due to the complicated and highly asymmetric anatomical shape of the airways and the complex flow behavior in the nasal cavity and oropharynx. Flow velocity, particle inertia, and asymmetric anatomy affect overall deposition and increase the concentration of the deposition in the nasal cavities and oropharynx area.
Breathing conditions and the size of microplastics influenced the overall rate of microplastic deposition in the airways. A higher flow rate led to less deposition, and larger microplastics deposited in the airways more frequently than their smaller counterparts.
The authors of the research believe that their study highlights the real concern of microplastic exposure and inhalation, particularly in areas with high levels of plastic pollution or industrial activity. They hope the results can help inform specific drug delivery devices and improve health risk assessments.
As the production of microplastics is increasing globally, and the density of airborne microplastics is also rising significantly, it is vital to be more aware of the presence and potential health impacts of microplastics in the air we breathe.
New Research Analyzes Airborne Microplastics
Research shows that humans can inhale an alarming amount of microplastics on a daily basis, and the potential hazards it poses to respiratory health are much more significant than one would think. The concerning aspect of this revelation has necessitated the exploration of the transport and deposition of microplastics in the respiratory system. As microplastics typically contain pollutants and toxic chemicals, inhaling them can pose serious health risks.
Through a computational fluid dynamics model, researchers from various universities analyzed the movement of microplastics of different shapes and sizes under slow and fast respiration conditions. The microplastics seemed to accumulate in specific hot spots in the nasal cavity or oropharynx at the back of the throat. Complicated asymmetrical anatomical shape of the airways and complex flow behavior in the nasal cavity and oropharynx caused microplastics to move away from the flow line and deposit in those hotspots.
The findings reveal that breathing conditions and the size of microplastics can influence the overall rate of the deposition of microplastics in the airways. A high flow rate leads to less deposition, while larger microplastics deposit more frequently than their smaller counterparts. Thus, there is a real concern about microplastic exposure and inhalation, especially in areas with high levels of plastic pollution or industrial activity.
Key Takeaways
– Inhaling microplastics can cause serious respiratory health hazards, as these small pieces of debris generated by plastic products can contain various pollutants and toxic chemicals.
– Microplastics tend to accumulate in hot spots in the nasal cavity and oropharynx due to the complicated asymmetrical anatomical shape of the airways and complex flow behavior in the nasal cavity and oropharynx.
– Breathing conditions and the size of microplastics influence the overall rate of microplastic deposition, with high flow rates leading to less deposition and larger microplastics deposited more frequently.
– There is a real concern about microplastic exposure and inhalation in areas with high levels of plastic pollution or industrial activity.
Ways to Limit Exposure
While it may not be possible to avoid exposure to microplastics altogether, there are a few ways to limit exposure. Some of these include:
– Use of air filters and purifiers: These can help reduce the number of microplastics in the air and lower the risk of exposure.
– Avoiding plastic packaging: As most plastic products degrade into microplastics, minimizing the use of plastic packaging can help reduce overall exposure to microplastics.
– Switching to natural fiber clothing: Microplastics often come from synthetic clothing fibers; therefore, wearing more natural fibers reduces exposure.
– Recycling plastic waste: the best way to reduce packaging waste is by recycling, which can help limit the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and oceans.
Conclusion
It is worrying that microplastic particles are present in the air we breathe and its exposure can pose tremendous health risks. With this new research, policymakers and scientists will have a better understanding of the extent of the risk and can work together to mitigate future harm. However, it is also the responsibility of individuals to limit their exposure to microplastics and find ways to lead a more sustainable and environmentally conscious lifestyle.
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Research shows that humans can inhale around 16.2 bits of microplastic every hour, which is the equivalent of a credit card for an entire week. And these microplastics, small pieces of debris in the environment generated by the degradation of plastic products, usually contain pollutants and toxic chemicals.
Inhaled microplastics can pose serious health risks, so understanding how they travel in the respiratory system is essential for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. In Fluid Physicsby AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of Technology Sydney, University of Western Sydney, Urmia University, Islamic Azad University, Comilla University and Queensland University of Technology developed a computational fluid dynamics model to analyze the transport and deposition of microplastics in the upper respiratory tract. .
“Millions of tons of these microplastic particles have been found in water, air, and soil. Global production of microplastics is increasing, and the density of airborne microplastics is increasing significantly,” said author Mohammad S. Islam. “For the first time, in 2022, studies have found microplastics deep within the human airways, raising concerns about serious respiratory health hazards.”
The team explored the movement of microplastics with different shapes (spherical, tetrahedral and cylindrical) and sizes (1.6, 2.56 and 5.56 microns) and under slow and fast respiration conditions.
The microplastics tended to accumulate in hot spots in the nasal cavity and oropharynx, or at the back of the throat.
“The complicated and highly asymmetric anatomical shape of the airways and the complex flow behavior in the nasal cavity and oropharynx cause microplastics to deviate from the flow line and deposit in those areas,” Islam said. “Flow velocity, particle inertia, and asymmetric anatomy influence overall deposition and increase the concentration of deposition in the nasal cavities and oropharynx area.”
Breathing conditions and the size of microplastics influenced the overall rate of microplastic deposition in the airways. A higher flow rate led to less deposition, and larger microplastics (5.56 microns) deposited in the airways more frequently than their smaller counterparts.
The authors believe their study highlights the real concern of microplastic exposure and inhalation, particularly in areas with high levels of plastic pollution or industrial activity. They hope the results can help inform specific drug delivery devices and improve health risk assessment.
“This study emphasizes the need for increased awareness about the presence and potential health impacts of microplastics in the air we breathe,” said lead author YuanTong Gu.
In the future, the researchers plan to analyze microplastic transport in a large-scale patient-specific whole lung model that includes environmental parameters such as humidity and temperature.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230613190832.htm
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