Drinking 90,000 Microplastics Annually with a Single Disposable Cup of Coffee

Large Amounts of Microplastics Detected in Disposable Cups
Three Types of Plastics Found Simultaneously in Human Blood

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] A study has found that drinking one cup of coffee per week using a disposable cup could expose a person to 90,000 microplastic particles (plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm) annually.

Researchers from Sichuan University in China reported in the Journal of Hazardous Materials that experiments with three types of plastic cups?polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene (PE)?revealed thousands of microplastic particles detached from the inside of the cups and found in the beverages.

The researchers filled each of the three types of plastic cups used for disposable cups with 400 ml of water, sealed them with foil to prevent airborne microplastics from entering, and shook them for one minute.

As a result, microplastics detached from inside the cups, and after five minutes, the number of microplastic particles in the water ranged from 723 to 1,489 per cup. The highest number of particles was found in the widely used PP cups.

The longer the cups were left, the more particles were released. Hot liquids and shaking during transport caused more microplastics to enter the beverages. The researchers stated, "Assuming people use one plastic cup every 4 to 5 days, they could ingest 37,613 to 89,294 microplastic particles annually," and emphasized, "Considering the potential harmfulness of microplastics, the contamination caused by using plastic cups for beverages should be taken seriously."

The problem lies in microplastics accumulating inside the body. Most microplastics are expelled from the body, but microplastics have also been detected in human blood. Researchers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands analyzed particles sized 0.000508 mm from blood samples of 22 individuals. They found microplastics such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in 17 people, accounting for 77.2%. In one blood sample, up to three types of plastics were detected simultaneously.

The researchers recommended, "The concentration of plastic particles in the entire blood samples is equivalent to one plastic teaspoon per 1,000 liters of water," and advised, "Since microplastic concentrations tend to be higher indoors, opening windows for ventilation and minimizing contact between plastics and food can help prevent microplastic ingestion."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.