Tiny pieces of plastic that break off from shopping bags and packaging blamed for rise of deadly heart disease, dementia and several cancers
Tiny pieces of plastic that have made their way into human bodies could be responsible for the rise of deadly superbugs.
Research has revealed that a build-up of these microplastics – minuscule pieces that break off from items such as shopping bags and food packaging – can be linked to heart disease, dementia and several cancers.
Since plastic can take up to 500 years to completely decompose, these microplastics remain in the environment – across the food chain and drinking water – as well as in the human body.
Now University of Oxford researchers have concluded that they are directly linked to the rise and spread of drug-resistant infections.
These superbugs, which have developed the ability to fight off all but the most potent antibiotics, are thought to be triggered by doctors overprescribing the life-saving drugs.
And experts now believe the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, where the bacteria begin life, is what is causing them to mutate, leading to more drug-resistant infections.
According to the research, microplastics are increasing the spread of deadly superbugs by as much as 200 times.
And the failure to tackle these microplastics could lead to the death of millions.
Research has revealed that a build-up of these microplastics – minuscule pieces that break off from items such as shopping bags and food packaging – can be linked to heart disease, dementia and several cancers (stock image)
Microplastics remain in the environment – across the food chain and drinking water – as well as in the human body (stock image)
Experts now believe the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, where the bacteria begin life, is what is causing them to mutate, leading to more drug-resistant infections (stock image)
The World Health Organisation has estimated that, by 2050, around ten million people will die every year due to the increased number of superbugs
The World Health Organisation has estimated that, by 2050, around ten million people will die every year due to the increased number of superbugs.
Professor Timothy Walsh, with over 25 years of experience in the subject area, author of the study and a microbiologist at the University of Oxford, said: ‘Given the lack of global plastic waste governance and the increasing amount of microplastics infiltrating all aspects of human activity, these findings are very concerning.
‘At the individual level we need to reduce, recycle and reuse – at the global level we need robust plastic waste governance policies.’
Last year the UK Government published its strategy to ‘contain, control and mitigate’ the spread of drug-resistant infections. The report does not include a section on microplastics.
