Immediate action is needed to address the pervasive microplastics health threat

Recent studies have revealed appalling levels of microplastic contamination across the UK’s ecosystems and food supply, putting long term health into urgent question. Investigations have identified the presence of microplastics across many UK beverages, estimating that the average consumer may be ingesting thousands of microplastic particles annually through drinks alone. This follows previous studies establishing that microplastics are already rising in numbers within the human body, including their presence in the lungs and brain.

Similarly, microplastics have been uncovered across 12% of invertebrates, including slugs, snails and earthworms that form the foundation of the UK’s land food chain. Researchers warned that plastic ingestion via insects is already leading to widespread contamination of the entire ecosystem.

These findings call for the urgent need for systemic change in plastic waste management and product design with plastic. Microplastics are no longer just a marine issue, as they have already infiltrated our bodies, food and environment in ways previously underestimated.

‘The extensive presence of microplastics in beverages, across food chains, and even found in the human brain is deeply concerning,’ commented Michael Laurier, CEO of Symphony Environmental Technologies. ‘But these findings only reinforce the urgent need for innovative solutions to address the root causes of plastic pollution.

‘Plastics are incredibly useful, but when they escape into the open environment, they can persist for decades and break down into microplastics. The detection of plastic particles in the human brain and in organisms vital to soil health is not just an environmental problem; it is a public health emergency.

‘At Symphony Environmental, we have long warned of the dangers posed by persistent plastic waste and its breakdown into microplastics. The detection of plastic particles in the human brain and in organisms vital to soil health should constitute a public health emergency, rather than simply being just an environmental issue to be pushed down the line.

‘d2w biodegradable plastic technology is designed to accelerate the breakdown of plastics in the open environment, directly assisting in reducing the formation of microplastics. Unlike compostable plastics that require industrial processing conditions, d2w works wherever air and microbes are present, even in cold and dark conditions.

‘In addition, d2p masterbatch plastics can help reduce microbial contamination and extend product shelf life, contributing to safer and more sustainable supply chains.’

Michael Laurier concluded, ‘A global solution to the issue of plastic pollution, and how pervasive microplastics have become throughout ecosystems, must utilise a scalable, science backed solution as its backbone. It is time to pressure policymakers and industry leaders alike to support plastic design and waste management innovation, urgently, before it is too late.’