'Microplastics' in water and food can accelerate cancer

TINY pieces of plastic ingested in food and water can cause cancer to spread at a faster rate in the body, research has found.

- Paul Dinsdale

Around 500 million tons of plastic were produced globally last year, including synthetic "fast fashion" garments, which include 16,000 component chemical ingredients.

Many of these have been linked to decreased fertility, heart disease and endocrine disruption. But an alarming study has revealed cancer cells become more aggressive after contact with micro or nanoparticles of plastic. These can be ingested through fish or other seafood, or drunk in water.