Our drinking water comes from

1. lakes, 2. rivers, and 3.

groundwater aquifers. Any of
these may be tainted with
microplastic. Our bodies can
poop out plastics we’ve
ingested, but no one knows how
long it takes for them to move
through the body, says
Sam Athey. She studies sources
of microplastics at the
University of Toronto in
Canada.
The longer microplastics stay in
our bodies, she says, the greater
our exposure to them.
Researchers don’t yet know the
risks, says Athey. But she finds
reasons to be cautious.
One is that plastic is
made from oil and includes
many different petroleum-
based
ingredients. Scientists don’t yet
know how many of these might
be toxic.
Ingredients in some plastics,
such as polyvinyl chloride,
can cause cancer. And
phthalates (pronunciation:
THAAL-aytes) — used to
soften some types of plastics —
can mimic the activity of
hormones. These false
hormones can cause
unexpected
changes in how cells grow and
develop. Such changes may
lead to disease.
Plastic also can soak up
pollution like a sponge. The
pesticide DDT and PCBs (a
type of
insulating fluid) are two types
of toxic pollution found in
plastics floating in the ocean.
Plastic bits also have been
turning up in fish, birds, corals,
and other aquatic animals.
That’s a problem because
plastic does not provide the
energy and nutrients these
creatures need to grow and
thrive.
Our drinking water comes from
1. lakes, 2. rivers, and 3.
groundwater aquifers. Any of
these may be tainted with
microplastic. Our bodies can
poop out plastics we’ve
ingested, but no one knows how
long it takes for them to move
through the body, says
Sam Athey. She studies sources
of microplastics at the
University of Toronto in
Canada.
The longer microplastics stay in
our bodies, she says, the greater
our exposure to them.
Researchers don’t yet know the
risks, says Athey. But she finds
reasons to be cautious.
One is that plastic is
made from oil and includes
many different petroleum-
based
ingredients. Scientists don’t yet
know how many of these might
be toxic.
Ingredients in some plastics,
such as polyvinyl chloride,
can cause cancer. And
phthalates (pronunciation:
THAAL-aytes) — used to
soften some types of plastics —
can mimic the activity of
hormones. These false
hormones can cause
unexpected
changes in how cells grow and
develop. Such changes may
lead to disease.
Plastic also can soak up
pollution like a sponge. The
pesticide DDT and PCBs (a
type of
insulating fluid) are two types
of toxic pollution found in
plastics floating in the ocean.
Plastic bits also have been
turning up in fish, birds, corals,
and other aquatic animals.
That’s a problem because
plastic does not provide the
energy and nutrients these
creatures need to grow and
thrive.
Our drinking water comes from
1. lakes, 2. rivers, and 3.
groundwater aquifers. Any of
these may be tainted with
microplastic. Our bodies can
poop out plastics we’ve
ingested, but no one knows how
long it takes for them to move
through the body, says
Sam Athey. She studies sources
of microplastics at the
University of Toronto in
Canada.
The longer microplastics stay in
our bodies, she says, the greater
our exposure to them.
Researchers don’t yet know the
risks, says Athey. But she finds
reasons to be cautious.
One is that plastic is
made from oil and includes
many different petroleum-
based
ingredients. Scientists don’t yet
know how many of these might
be toxic.
Ingredients in some plastics,
such as polyvinyl chloride,
can cause cancer. And
phthalates (pronunciation:
THAAL-aytes) — used to
soften some types of plastics —
can mimic the activity of
hormones. These false
hormones can cause
unexpected
changes in how cells grow and
develop. Such changes may
lead to disease.
Plastic also can soak up
pollution like a sponge. The
pesticide DDT and PCBs (a
type of
insulating fluid) are two types
of toxic pollution found in
plastics floating in the ocean.
Plastic bits also have been
turning up in fish, birds, corals,
and other aquatic animals.
That’s a problem because
plastic does not provide the
energy and nutrients these
creatures need to grow and
thrive.
The problem with plastics
(an excerpt)
by Sharon Oosthoek and Maria Temming
January 30, 2020
 
Our drinking water comes from lakes, rivers, and groundwater aquifers. Any of these
may be tainted with microplastics. Our bodies can poop out plastics we’ve ingested, but
no one knows how long it takes for them to move through the body, says Sam Athey.
She studies sources of microplastics at the University of Toronto in Canada. The
longer microplastics stay in our bodies, she says, the greater our exposure to them.
 
Researchers don’t yet know the risks, says Athey. But she finds reasons to be cautious.
One is that plastic is made from oil and includes many different petroleum-based
ingredients. Scientists don’t yet know how many of these might be toxic.
 
Ingredients in some plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride, can cause cancer. And
phthalates (pronunciation: THAAL-aytes) — used to soften some types of plastics —
can mimic the activity of hormones. These false hormones can cause unexpected
changes in how cells grow and develop. Such changes may lead to disease.
 
Plastic also can soak up pollution like a sponge. The pesticide DDT and PCBs (a type of
insulating fluid) are two types of toxic pollution found in plastics floating in the ocean.
 
Plastic bits also have been turning up in fish, birds, corals, and other aquatic animals.
That’s a problem because plastic does not provide the energy and nutrients these
creatures need to grow and thrive.