A paper published in March 2022 in Environment International on the detection of
microplastics in human blood created a menacing situation for humankind. Microplastics and nanoplastics are the plastic particles defined up to 5 mm and <100 nm in dimensions respectively, making them ubiquitous on earth, from soil, oceans, mountains to human gut, feces and now blood. This shows the extent of exposure to plastic particles that has now paved way in the human system. In a wide range of samples, the major components found were Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) that are usually present in disposable plastic bottles and food packaging. They may be acquired through air, water or food ingested.
Blood constitutes about 6-7% of body volume and is an important connective tissue that transports respiratory gases, nutrients, hormones, immune cells and waste products from one organ to another. Plastic particles infecting blood may alter the microvascular fluid dynamics by getting into capillaries, adhering to surfaces of endothelial cells and blood cells, accumulate in lymphatic tissue, liver, spleen, etc. The accumulation occurs when the rate of absorption of plastic particles exceeds the rate of its elimination through renal and biliary circulation. This is the high time when biodegradable and sustainable alternatives need to be established along with the ways to treat the already existing plastic wastes.
"Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous on earth, from soil, oceans, mountains to human gut, feces and now blood."
A review published in Frontiers in Chemistry firmly establishes the relation of ocean and its residents to treat plastic wastes. A protein extracted from the ringed teeth of arm of a Squid, a mollusk (invertebrate) was used as a powerful alternative. It acts as a biopolymer that can be processed to make self-healing , tensile fibers, highly resistant and elastic materials and even protective clothes for bio hazardous work, photonic devices, LEDs, biomedicines . Most importantly they are biodegradable, eco-friendly, abrasion resistant to avoid microplastic leakage, have thermal and electrical conduction properties and can be produced sustainably through cell culture techniques and genetically modified bacteria. Squid protein comes with a
great promise to tackle plastic pollution and climate change. Its additional processing for commercial use is the pressing priority.
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