Water is an important substance that constitutes the human body and plays important physiological roles. Adequate drinking water is the foundation for ensuring physical health and can also help us maintain normal physical activity and cognitive abilities. Our daily drinking water sources are very diverse, including tap water, bottled water, and bottled water. Even some people tend to choose bottled or bottled water because they are concerned about the quality of tap water, but is this really healthier? The water you drink may contain microplastics! In recent years, there has been a lot of research on microplastics. The so-called microplastics refer to plastic particles with particularly small sizes, ranging from 1 micron to 5 millimeters in length, and even nanoplastics with lengths smaller than microplastics, only less than 1 micron. A study published in January 2024 pointed out that for the first time, researchers have used new optical imaging technology to observe the presence of "nanoplastics/microplastics" in bottled/bottled water. They found that each 1-liter bottle of bottled water contains about 240000 plastic particles, including 90% nanoplastics and 10% microplastic particles. Moreover, bottled water exposed to high temperatures will contain more microplastics. Microplastics are also present in tap water. A study analyzed 159 tap water samples from 14 countries worldwide, of which 129 contained nanoplastics/microplastics, with a detection rate as high as 81.1%. What are the hazards of microplastics to the human body? Compared with microplastics, nanoplastics are smaller in size and easier to migrate through various tissues and organs in the human body. They can cross biological barriers (such as cell membranes) and enter biological systems, including the blood, lymphatic system, and even the whole body. At present, there are still many unknown effects of microplastics on human health that require further exploration. There is evidence to suggest that these ingested microplastics can affect the absorption of micronutrients in the body; Increased gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and abdominal colic; Plastic particles can also puncture and rub against organ walls, inducing inflammation. In daily life, things containing microplastics are quite widespread. Fish and shellfish, as marine organisms, may also be contaminated with microplastics in their bodies, which can enter our bodies through feeding. Perhaps many people believe that microplastics belong to foreign substances and should be excreted from feces even if ingested. The microplastics we consume do indeed have a portion excreted with feces, but there is still a portion present in other organs and tissues of our body. How to reduce microplastic intake? Although drinking water can lead to the intake of microplastics, there is actually no need to worry too much. Simply boil the water before drinking to minimize the entry of microplastics into the human body and reduce their harm to the body. It is also recommended to allow the water to settle for a period of time after boiling, and to use a filtering device. Previously, a joint study conducted by Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University found that boiling hard water and then filtering it can remove over 80% of nanoplastics/microplastics from the water. The study also found that during the process of boiling water, as the water temperature gradually increases, the removal rate of microplastics in the water gradually increases; The higher the hardness of water, the better the removal effect of microplastics in water. To reduce the intake of microplastics, in addition to boiling water before drinking, it is recommended to do the following: eat less takeout. Most takeout uses plastic boxes or bags to hold food, which may cause us to consume more microplastics. Don't put Spicy Hot Pot, rice noodles and other food in plastic bags directly on the bowl to eat. High temperature will make micro plastic more dissolved in food. After receiving the take out, you should pour the food into your own tableware as soon as possible. Additionally, it is important to consume less food packaged in plastic. Drink less milk tea and use fewer plastic straws. High temperature drinks or foods, including but not limited to hot coffee and milk tea, can release more microplastics. Many people also use plastic straws to drink beverages, which can increase their intake of microplastics. Researchers cut carrots on polypropylene and polyethylene cutting boards and evaluated the average total exposure of microplastics per person when using these two types of plastic cutting boards. It was found that both of them would contaminate carrots with microplastics, and more microplastics would fall off during the process of cutting food with a knife. According to researchers' estimates, if a person uses a plastic cutting board, they may come into contact with 14.5 million to 71.9 million polyethylene microplastics and approximately 79.4 million polypropylene microplastics per year. Not eating seafood and microplastics from visceral organs can enter the bodies of some marine organisms, contaminating fish and shellfish food. Researchers from the Hull York School of Medicine at the University of Hull in the UK systematically analyzed over 50 studies conducted between 2014 and 2020 to investigate the levels of microplastic pollution in marine organisms worldwide. Researchers have found that microplastic pollution is most severe in mollusks along the coast of Asia, found in various parts of marine animals such as intestines and livers, with mussels, oysters, and scallops having the highest levels of microplastics. So, try not to eat seafood raw, be sure to cook it well, and don't forget to remove its gastrointestinal tract, internal organs, and gills when eating. (New Society)