Gum Releases 1000s Of Microplastics Into Bloodstream

If you’re trying to limit the amount of plastic you ingest, it might be time to skip the gum — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding our exposure to microplastics. Credit: Karina Miranda, Unsplash.

Evidence Linking Microplastic Exposure to Cancer Development

—Van Meter, Lexington, KY

Each year companies produce nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic, a number that is projected to reach 1.1 billion by 2050. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters, or smaller than a grain of rice, have become nearly ubiquitous in the environment. 

Major sources include plastic pellets, personal care products, paint and resins, synthetic textiles and the breakdown of larger plastics like bags and containers. Even driving contributes, as the tire and road wear release plastic fragments into the air.

Tracey Woodruff, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCSF who studied the impacts of microplastics, remarks, “Nothing surprises me about how many places plastic is in anymore, but it is sad and surprising in the fact that these things that are in our food…could be releasing microplastics.” On average, a person consumes 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles annually.

One recent study found chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into the saliva. On average, 100 microplastics are released per gram of gum, with type reaching up to 600 and each piece of gum typically weighing around 2-6 grams. Sanjay Mohanty, the project’s principal investigator and an engineering professor at UCLA remarks that “chewing gum is the only food that is made up of plastics. Yet, most don’t know.” 

Microplastics enter the human body through nasal, dermal and oral routes, contaminating multiple organs. Epidemiological studies link exposure to various chronic diseases. In one review of 34 studies, researchers found increased risk of lung cancer tied to high concentrations PVC microplastic dust. Chemicals found in microplastics, like BPA, phthalates and PFAS, can mimic human hormones, disrupting processes related to reproduction, growth and metabolism.

Guanquan Chen and co authors found that exposure to microplastics caused an acceleration of ovarian cancer tumor growth in mice, which could potentially cause similar patterns in humans. Additionally, the rising rates of colorectal cancer in people under 50, especially those born after 1960, are suspected to be driven by environemntal factors like microplastic ingestion. As microplastics pass through the gastrointestinal tract, they interact with the colon and rectum where they interact and potentially disrupt the protective colonic mucus layer which could increase the likelihood of colorectal cancer.

To reduce exposure, microplastic research recommend avoiding microwaving food in plastic, switching to glass or steel water bottles, eating more grains, fruits, and vegetables, and reducing red meat consumption. Using natural cleaning products like baking soda or vinegar, or products approved by the EPA’s Safer Choice program, can also help reduce contact with harmful chemicals.

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