Microplastics in Everyday Life: From Chewing Gum to Human Prostate Tissue
How to Reduce Your Exposure to Harmful Microplastics (YouTube link ) Chewing Gum: A New Source of Microplastic Exposure Plastic has become an unavoidable part of daily life, embedded in everyday items like cutting boards, clothing, and cleaning sponges . These products can shed tiny, micrometer-wide plastic particles known as microplastics (MPs), exposing people to them in ways they may not even realize. Now, researchers have uncovered yet another unexpected source— chewing gum . In a recent pilot study, [3] scientists found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva, where they may ultimately be ingested. This discovery highlights how even seemingly harmless habits can contribute to human exposure to these tiny plastic particles, raising new questions about their potential health effects . Microplastics in Human Prostate Tissue In a 2024 study, [1] researchers explored the presence and characteristics of microplastics in huma...