Tiny pieces of plastic that have entered the human body could be responsible for the proliferation of deadly superbugs.
Research has found that a buildup of these microplastics – tiny pieces that break off from objects such as shopping bags and food packaging – may be linked to heart disease, dementia and several cancers.
As plastic can take up to 500 years to fully decompose, these microplastics remain in the environment – throughout the food chain and in drinking water – as well as in the human body.
Researchers at the University of Oxford concluded that they were directly linked to the increase and spread of drug-resistant infections.
These superbugs, which have evolved the ability to fight off all but the most powerful antibiotics, are thought to be triggered by doctors overprescribing life-saving drugs.
And experts now believe that the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, where bacteria begin their lives, is causing them to mutate, leading to more drug-resistant infections.
According to research, microplastics increase the spread of deadly superbugs by 200 times.
And if we fail to combat these microplastics, millions of people could die.
Research has found that a buildup of these microplastics – tiny pieces that break off from objects such as shopping bags and food packaging – may be linked to heart disease, dementia and several cancers (stock image ).
Microplastics remain in the environment – throughout the food chain and in drinking water – as well as in the human body (stock image)
Experts now believe that the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, where bacteria begin their lives, is causing them to mutate, leading to more drug-resistant infections (stock image)
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, around ten million people will die each year due to the increase in the number of superbugs.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, around ten million people will die each year due to the increase in the number of superbugs.
Professor Timothy Walsh, with over 25 years of experience in this field, study author and microbiologist at the University of Oxford, said: “Given the lack of global governance of plastic waste and the increasing amount of microplastics infiltrating every aspect of human life. activity, these results are very worrying.
“At an individual level, we need to reduce, recycle and reuse; At a global level, we need strong 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.