A recent analysis of past studies has revealed a significant health concern. It shows hot food stored in plastic releases far more microplastics.
For example, hot coffee in a plastic cup releases thousands more particles than cold coffee. Heat dramatically increases the leaching of these tiny plastics.
Daily ingestion of microplastics is linked to serious health risks. These include hormonal issues, diabetes, and reproductive problems.
The research also points to an increased risk of several cancers. Scientists say this unintentional consumption is a growing problem.
The primary source is single-use plastic cups and food containers. People regularly consume these particles from everyday packaging.
Globally, an estimated 500 billion disposable plastic cups are used yearly. This widespread use highlights the scale of potential exposure.
