A new study reveals that people in the United Kingdom and Ireland breathe in more microplastic dust than people in any other country except China and Mongolia. The research, conducted by a team including Fenqi You, a Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at Cornell University, provides a comprehensive analysis of microplastic pollution across 109 countries.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, estimates that individuals in the UK and Ireland inhale approximately 791,000 microplastic particles per day. While this number is higher than any other developed Western nation, it is significantly lower than the figures for China and Mongolia, where residents breathe in about 2.8 million particles daily.
Microplastic particles, defined as smaller than 5mm, primarily originate from untreated plastic debris that degrades and disperses into the environment. The high inhalation levels in the UK may be partially attributed to previous findings from a 2019 study by Kings College London. That study reported high concentrations of microplastic particles, particularly microfibres from acrylic textiles, in the air of London.
Additionally, the study examines the ingestion of microplastics through different food categories such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, dairy, drinks, sugars, salt, and spices. The data reveal that residents of Malaysia ingest about 15 grams of microplastics per month, more than any other country. This high intake is predominantly due to the consumption of seafood and other aquatic sources. Indonesians follow closely, consuming approximately 13 grams of microplastic monthly.
In contrast, the United States has an estimated dietary intake of 2.4 grams per month, with the lowest being Paraguay at 0.85 grams. The UK ranks 89th in terms of microplastics consumption, with the average person consuming around 1.6 grams per month.
