You could be ingesting a credit card worth of plastic a week

A global analysis on the ingestion of microplastics by people found that each person could be ingesting about a credit card worth of plastic in a week.

The findings from the new study commissioned by the World Wildlife Foundation and carried out by the University of Newcastle, Australia, confirmed the urgent need to address plastic pollution in the ecosystem.

Photo courtesy: unsplash.com
Photo courtesy: unsplash.com

The study, named ‘No Plastic in Nature: Assessing Plastic Ingestion from Nature to People’, says that the single largest source of plastic ingestion is through water, both bottled and tap, all over the world. Large regional variations are reflected, with twice as much plastic found in the US or India than in European or Indonesian water.

Of the consumables studied, those with the highest recorded plastic levels include shellfish, beer and salt.

Leakage of plastic into our environment and food chain has been met so far with an inadequate global response by governments, says the study.

“These findings must serve as a wake-up call to governments,” said Marco Lambertini, WWF International Director General. “Not only are plastics polluting our oceans and waterways and killing marine life – it’s in all of us and we can’t escape consuming plastics.”

The study calls for governments to step up and play a key role in ensuring that the entire chain in the plastic system, from manufacturers to consumers, are held accountable to the common goal of ending plastic pollution.  

Author
CtoI News Desk
CtoI News Desk – CtoI

Singapore-headquartered online media company targeting Indian Diaspora across Singapore, US, UK, UAE and India. Connected to India covers developments around NRIs. Covers arts, political, sports, finance, entrepreneurship, business, movies, dramas, entertainment and other news for Indians living worldwide.

Comments
Poll

Which team do you think will win IPL 2023?

  • Chennai Super Kings
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore
  • Mumbai Indians
  • Gujarat Titans
  • Kolkata Knight Riders
  • Delhi Capitals
  • Sunrisers Hyderabad
  • Lucknow Super Giants
  • Royal Challengers Bangalore
  • Punjab Kings
Answer
Write your story

Contribute an Article

Learn more