The results of a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology indicate that scientists have created a map of microplastic absorption levels in humans across 109 countries.
Microplastics enter the human body through food and air. (Image: earth.com)
According to the study, Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines rank highest in microplastic consumption in terms of per capita dietary intake.
China, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom lead in inhalation of microplastics.
While the salt consumption levels between Indonesia and the United States are similar, the concentration of microplastics in salt in Indonesia is about 100 times higher. Indonesians consume approximately 15 grams of microplastics each month, primarily from seafood, making it the highest in the world. In contrast, Americans consume about 2.4 grams per month, while Paraguayans consume the least at 0.85 grams.
Regarding inhalation of microplastics, residents of China and Mongolia inhale over 2.8 million particles each month, placing them at the top of the global list.
In comparison, Americans inhale around 300,000 particles monthly.
The lowest inhalation rates were found in Mediterranean regions, where residents of Spain, Portugal, and Hungary inhale between 60,000 and 240,000 particles per month.
