Microwaves pose serious health risks, especially for young children

A study conducted at the University of Nebraska provided clear advice: Do not expose plastic to ultra-high frequency (microwave) radiation. Therefore, you should forget about putting a container of food in the microwave and enjoy lunch, because along with healthy food you risk being filled with harmful substances. The publication spoke about this in more detail. Yahoo!.

Experts have found that our habit of microwaving a container of food or a bottle of baby food results in dozens of tiny plastic particles - in some cases, more than 2 billion nanoplastic particles and 4 million microplastic particles per square centimeter.

This is alarming, although scientists do not yet know for sure how these synthetic materials affect our bodies.

“This study alone should be a wake-up call—not just for new parents, but also for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said Judith Enck, president of the advocacy group Beyond Plastics.

What was learned

Nebraska expert Kazi Albab Hussain and his team microwaved FDA-approved plastic baby bottles in a study that began in 2021. They were filled with water and other liquids simulating food and exposed to microwave radiation for three minutes.

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The results showed that after exposure to microwave waves, children received microplastics along with their food.

“I couldn’t completely stop using plastic for my child,” said Hussain, who became a father during the study. “But I was able to avoid those scenarios that led to increased emissions of micro- and nanoplastics. People need to be aware of this and they need to choose wisely."

What is microplastic

These are tiny particles of plastic, they have been found even on the highest peaks of the Earth and in the depths of the oceans. According to Henry Ford Health, 77% of people tested in one study also had these tiny plastic particles in their blood.

Some plastics contain PFAS - these substances are commonly called "forever chemicals" because they take a long time to decompose. The government estimates that PFAS are in the blood of up to 97% of Americans.

What are the health effects

Experts are still studying how microplastics and PFAS affect the body, but common sense suggests there is nothing good about it.

“Many studies, including ours, show that the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics is largely related to the level of exposure,” Hussain said.

Experts exposed kidney cells to microplastics released during a bottle experiment. About 75% of the cells died, they said, a likely link to how microplastics may be harming our kidneys.

How to avoid exposure to microplastics

First of all, do not use plastic in the microwave. In addition, Hussein suggests that a more advanced material will be created that does not contain harmful particles.

“I hope that the day will come when these products will have microplastic-free or nanoplastic-free labels,” he said.

In the meantime, consider edible plastic-free food wrappers, compostable coffee pods and tea bags, and glass baby bottles, which do the same job without containing tiny plastic particles.