Nano- and micro-plastics: The invisible danger to the body | DW Documentary

From DW Documentary.

All organisms harbor an invisible, omnipresent enemy: plastic. Researchers worldwide have shown that plastic particles can also be detected in humans – in organs and bodily fluids.

The documentary shows the current state of research on the harmfulness of microplastics and the consequences for the human species. Micro- and nanoplastics pollute the environment and pose a threat to humans and animals.
Researchers in Barcelona, Vienna, Bologna, Grenoble and Catania have detected microplastics in human organs and bodily fluids: in lungs, intestines, heart, blood and semen, in placenta and in breast milk.
Detecting plastic in human tissue is a mammoth task, both technically and scientifically. Plastic particles can range from a few millimeters to a single nanometer and are difficult to detect, let alone capture.
Between in vitro and in vivo studies, and work on groups of test subjects, scientists are exploring new leads to understand the effects of micro-plastics on our health. Disruption of the microbiota, saturation of the immune system, inflammation of the lungs and intestines, DNA damage and a risk factor for cancer: these results all raise the serious question of whether microplastic is a danger to public health.
This unprecedented investigation takes us all over Europe to better understand how plastics colonize our bodies and how they could alter them. Is homo sapiens gradually evolving into homo plasticus?

#documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs
______

DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.

Subscribe to: ‬
⮞ DW Documentary (English): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumentary
⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumental
⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdocarabia
⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDochindi
⮞ DW Dokumenter (Indonesian): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDokumenter
⮞ DW Doku (German): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDoku

For more visit: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610
Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/
Follow DW Documental on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwdocumental

We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G