Tiny plastic particles in the atmosphere may be linked to various health issues, such as lung and colon cancer.
Tires and deteriorating waste release minuscule pieces of plastic that become airborne, resulting in a type of air pollution that is not well understood, according to a new review.
“These microplastics are basically particulate matter air pollution, and we know this type of air pollution is harmful,” said researcher Tracey Woodruff, a professor of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.
Microplastics are smaller than 5 millimetres in diameter, which is tinier than a grain of rice, researchers noted in their background information.
Globally, companies generate approximately 460 million tons of plastic each year, with projections indicating an increase to 1.1 billion tons by 2050, as reported by researchers.
One significant source of airborne plastic identified by researchers is vehicular driving. Microplastics are released into the air as tyres degrade from friction with the road.
For the review published on December 18 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers examined data from about 3,000 previous studies.
The findings indicated that airborne microplastics may be linked to cancer, respiratory issues, and infertility.
While most studies included in the review used animal models, researchers remarked that the findings are also likely relevant to humans.
“We urge regulatory agencies and policy leaders to consider the growing evidence of health harms from microplastics, including colon and lung cancer,” lead researcher Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow with the University of Sydney, said in a UCSF news release. “We hope state leaders will take immediate action to prevent further exposures.”
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