2.28 博闻广识： 我们是否应该担忧微塑料.docxVIP

【2.28】

2.28每日一篇|熊猫外刊精读

Well?informed：Shouldyouworryaboutmicroplastics?

Littleisknownabouttheeffectsonhumans-but?limiting?exposure?tothemseems?prudent

【1】EversinceAustrianscientistsfirstbeganlookingfortheminpeoplein?2018,microplasticshaveturnedupintheblood,lungs,?kidneys,liver,heartandeventhebrain.Theyhavealsobeen?detected?inthe?placenta?and?breast?milk.PandaForeignMagazineIntensiveReading:RespectforOriginality,PiracyMustBePunished

【2】Itisno?mystery?howthesetiny?particles,whichcanrangefrom?5mmacrosstolessthan?2?microns?(μm),getintohumanbodies.Theyare?ubiquitous?intheair,foodandwater.They?accumulate?from?degrading?plastic?waste?andthe?wearand?tear?ofeverydayproductssuchascar?tyres,?paints?and?synthetic?fabrics.

【3】Whethertheyareharmfulisstillunclear.These?“forever?particles”?couldhavearolein?varioushealthproblems,from?infertility?toheartattacksandcancer.Theymaycausephysicaldamagebyblocking?ducts?orscratching?tissues.Ortheymaycause?chemical?damagetocells.Theycouldalsoactas?microscopic?Trojanhorsesforvariousheavy?metals,?allergens?and?bacteria?that?cling?tothem.

【4】Inastudy?published?in?2024?intheNewEnglandJournalofMedicine?scientists?examined?the?plaque?scraped?fromthe?arteries?of?257?patientswhohada?procedure?toremoveit(toreduce?blockages).Microplasticsturnedupinmorethanhalfofcases.Inthenextthreeyears,thosepatientswerefourtimesaslikelytohaveaheartattackor?stroke,ortodiefromanycause,thanthepatientswithout?detectable?microplasticsinthe?plaque.Itisunclear,however,whetherthe?particles?weretoblame.Their?presence?in?arteries?couldhavebeena?byproduct?ofthebiologicalchangesthatcausethesehealthproblems.

【5】Somestudiesinthelabhavefoundthatmicroplasticscancausedamagetocells,?tissues?andDNAandpromotethegrowthofcancers.Butaproblemwithlab-basede