Stop Microwaving Plastics Now, Says Study

Recent years have seen alarming studies proving plastic is everywhere. Microplastics are in the air, the water, and even in our bodies. Alarming studies have found microplastics deep in human lungs, blood, and even brains. A study carried out by researchers at a University of Nebraska–Lincoln lab shows one way these plastics may be entering human bodies.

Source: The Doctors/YouTube

Researcher Kazi Albab Hussain wanted to know how much plastic was released by baby food containers. As a new dad and environmental nanotechnology PhD student, he became alarmed after a previously published study showed that baby bottles made from plastic shed horrifying amounts of plastic particles which were swallowed by babies drinking from those bottles. Hussain and his team noticed another way babies might be exposed to plastic particles – through baby food containers. They were particularly concerned with the potential effects of microwaving these containers.

Although plastic particulates can be released into foods and beverages without microwaving, putting plastic into the microwave can be especially risky. This is because microwaving plastic is exposing it not only to high amounts of heat but also to UV irradiation and a process called hydrolysis. Hydrolysis refers to a reaction that occurs when chemical bonds are broken by water molecules. This combination of stressors can cause the plastic to shed not only microplastics but also nanoplastics and toxic chemicals. 

In the human body, the kidneys are responsible for filtering out waste. Although they do a decent job at filtering out larger microplastics, they struggle to catch smaller nanoplastics. Nanoplastics are small enough to cross through cell membranes, and can even cross the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier guards the brain against potentially dangerous substances which may be found in the blood. Once plastics are in the body, they can wreak havoc on hormones. Since hormones regulate the majority of the body’s development and functions, disruption by plastic can be extremely dangerous. This is particularly true for babies and children. 

Hussain’s team tested the amount of plastic particulates released by three readily available baby food containers. All containers were plastic. Two of the containers were labeled as “microwave-safe” and made from polypropylene. The third container was a pouch that was reusable and made from an unidentified type of plastic. The team then replaced the contents of the plastic containers with liquids designed to replicate yogurt and oranges. 

Following guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration, the team replicated everyday conditions that the baby-food containers may be subjected to. They subjected the containers filled with the liquids to being stored at room temperature, in the fridge, and in the hot room. Additionally, they microwaved the two containers labeled as “microwave-safe” for several minutes. Then, they examined the contents of the containers and analyzed how many plastic particulates were shed. 

The team found that microwaving released the most plastic particulates. However, even the containers stored in the fridge released a substantial amount of plastic into their contents. 

The team wasn’t done yet. They also examined the effects that the shed plastics would have on the human body. By bathing human embryonic kidney cells in the plastic shed by the containers, the team was able to simulate the effects this type of plastic exposure could have on kidneys. Horrifyingly, exposure to the plastic for two days caused the kidney cells to die off at a rate over three times higher than that of a control group that was exposed to lower amounts of plastic. 

Plastic Pollution advocates have long cautioned against microwaving plastic. They point out that even “microwave-safe” plastics have already been proven to truly be unsafe. Instead of using plastic, opt for glass or stainless steel storage containers. 

Plastic is a huge problem worldwide. It is causing massive environmental Pollution, contributing to the loss of biodiversity, and harming human and animal health. Sign this petition to Urge Countries Around the World to Ban SSingle-UsePlastics!

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• Biodegradable Plastics Don’t Break Down In the Ocean, Research Finds

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