WHO calls for an in-depth study of the health effects of microplastics

GENEVA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua Liu Qu) The World Health Organization (WHO) released an analysis called "Microplastics in Drinking Water" on the 22nd, calling for more in-depth study of microplastics in the natural environment and their potential impact on human health, as well as for reducing plastic pollution.
reports that microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment and that different concentrations of plastic particles are detected in sources such as seawater, wastewater, fresh water, food, air, bottled water and tap water.
report notes that while the human body is unlikely to absorb microplastics with particle sizes greater than 150 microns and is estimated to have limited absorption of smaller particles, the absorption rate of very small plastic particles, such as nanoparticles, may be high, although this data is currently extremely limited.
Therefore, WHO calls for an in-depth study of the potential impact of microplastics on human health, such as the development of standard methods for detecting microplastics in water to further determine the source of plastic particles in fresh water and the effectiveness of different treatments.
With limited current research, WHO recommends that agencies such as the water sector prioritize measures to remove microbial pathogens and chemicals known to be at risk of health, which can also play a role in removing microplastics. For example, wastewater treatment measures can remove more than 90% of the microplastics in wastewater. In addition, policymakers and the public should take measures to manage plastics as better as possible and reduce their use.
often refers to plastic particles with a particle size of less than 5 mm, but there is no strict scientific definition. It is generally believed that microplastics themselves contain and absorb harmful substances that accumulate through the food chain and may eventually enter the body.