NANO PLASTICS

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Context: 

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland have found that small pieces of plastic called nanoplastics can travel up the human food web, through plants, insects and even fish. Nanoplastics are tiny plastic debris particles smaller than 1,000 nanometre.

Details:

• Due to their small size, nanoplastics can likely pass through physiological barriers and enter organisms.
• The researchers note that the measurement of the absorption of nanoplastics from the soil by vegetables and fruits, will help tell us whether and to what extent nanoplastics can enter our food chain and then our own bodies.
• Results show that lettuce can take up nanoplastics from the soil and transfer them into the food chain
• This indicates that the presence of tiny plastic particles in soil could be associated with a potential health risk to herbivores and humans if these findings are found to be generalizable to other plants and crops and to field settings.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-tiniest-specks-of-plastic-can-enter-the-human-food-chain-finds-study-8164951/