Washington: A new study has revealed that meat and its plant-based alternatives are contaminated with fine plastic particles that have been linked to cancer.
In the research, scientists studied 16 types of protein, in which it was found that no matter how humans get protein from any source, plastic is becoming a part of their body. These foods included chicken nuggets, beef steak, fish fillets and plant-based burgers.
Nanoplastic particles were found in 90 percent of the items studied, which scientists worry could accumulate in the human body and cause unknown health problems.
The sirloin steak studied had the highest amount of rubber particles at 90, while the two plant-based beef samples had 40 and 25 particles of rubber.
According to experts, these fine particles are associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia and infertility problems.
The researchers believe that these foods are likely contaminated by equipment used during production, distribution and packaging and by ingredients or airborne particles.
Dr. Britta Batchelor, associate director of the non-profit Ocean Conservancy and co-author of the study, said: “This is a sobering warning to us about how widespread plastic pollution has become. And it seems you can’t escape it no matter what you eat.
He said that the plastic pollution crisis is affecting us all and we need to take action to tackle its various forms.
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3&appId=770767426360150”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));