Nowadays microplastics are getting mixed in food items and becoming a part of our body. These small plastic particles are not visible but can be dangerous for health.
Kitchen Items With Microplastics : The use of plastic has increased a lot in the modern kitchen. Many things used in the kitchen are made of plastic. From water bottles to food, almost everything is being stored in plastic containers. This plastic may not look harmful, but it is slowly getting dissolved in our blood by turning into poison.
These small particles (Microplastics) which are invisible to the eyes are damaging the kidneys and liver, which can also cause cancer. In such a situation, one should immediately remove these 5 items from their kitchen.
Are there really microplastics in the kitchen?
Researchers at Columbia University published a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that found 240,000 nanoplastics are found in a one-litre plastic water bottle. According to a 2024 study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, microplastics can also start from our kitchens, where food is prepared.
These 5 kitchen items contain microplastics
1. Plastic Containers
Plastic containers and water bottles are widely used in our homes. When hot food or drinks are kept in plastic containers, microplastic particles get released from it and mix with the food and reach the body. Therefore, use glass, steel or ceramic containers. Avoid keeping hot food in plastic utensils.
2. Old plastic pots
Plastic containers can speed up the entry of microplastics into the body. In the 2024 study, Lusher and researchers from the UK and Norway prepared jelly in old or new plastic containers. They heated water, stirred the jelly mixture, collected it, cooled it and cut it into pieces. While the jelly prepared with new plastic containers contained about 9 microplastic particles per sample, the jelly made with old plastic containers had about 16.
Jelly made from worn-out plastic containers contains 78 percent more microplastics than jelly made from new containers. Therefore, it is best to use stainless steel, iron, ceramic cookware and glass containers. Teflon and old non-stick cookware should also be avoided.
3. Chopping Board
Plastic chopping boards can be a major source of microplastics. Researchers say that when you cut food, especially meat, on a plastic cutting board, you can add 196 microplastic particles to your food. This is due to the friction between the knife and the plastic. To avoid this, start using bamboo or wooden cutting boards.
4. Blender with Plastic Jar
Using a blender with a plastic jar causes friction, which can release large amounts of microplastics. In a study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers found that billions of plastic particles are released in just 30 seconds of blending. This is especially worrying when making smoothies or frozen drinks, which require ice or solid food. So, use a blender with a glass jar instead of a plastic blender.
5. Dishwashing Sponge
Cleaning sponges are also very dangerous. While washing utensils with them, microplastic particles break off from the sponge and reach your kitchen. Even if they are washed, these particles go into the environment through water and then reach you back through some medium or the other. Therefore, instead of synthetic sponges, sponges made of cellulose or other biodegradable materials should be used.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, please consult the concerned expert.
