Plastic washed up on beaches
Photo: Shutterstock
New report rings alarm bells on plastic consumption
In Israel the use of disposable plastic is common - especially in light of kosher rules requiring different cutlery for different meals - and the country lags far behind in terms of awareness
A new study by researches at the University of Victoria in Canada shows that microplastics have become an integral part of the human diet.
In a report published in the American journal Environmental Science & Technology, the team estimates that Americans eat and breathe between 70,000 and 121,000 particles per year, with drinking bottled water adding a substantial amount to this figure.
Plastic washed up on beaches (Photo: AFP)
These numbers are likely to be low estimates, the researchers say, with extremely grave and under-researched consequences.
The minuscule pieces come from the decay of plastic products, including clothes.
Despite growing awareness of the dangers of plastic for the environment and human health, human consumption of plastics remains high.
Plastic packaging on fruit and vegetables in Israel (Photo: Merav Crystal)
In Israel, the use of disposable plastic is common, and the country lags behind in terms of raising awareness of disposal techniques.
With whole communities affected by strict dietary laws requiring different cutlery for different meals, kosher plastic cutlery is often preferred, even in public institutions forced to follow kosher rules.
