TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan faces a growing environmental and health crisis due to the high levels of microplastics found in bottled water and seafood. Recent research, including a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, revealed bottled water contains an average of 240,000 detectable microplastics per liter.
Yen Tsung-hai, director of the Department of Clinical Toxicology at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, stated microplastics are not only present in water but also enter the human body, affecting blood, organs, and waste.
The potential health impacts are concerning, according to Dr. Yen, but the full effects are still under investigation. The issue extends to the food chain, with environmental groups noting significant microplastic contamination in seafood.
Greenpeace Taiwan's plastic reduction project director, Chang Kai-ting, reported that an average Taiwanese person consumes about 16,300 microplastic units annually from seafood alone, equivalent to the weight of a straw.
The consensus among experts is clear: transitioning from disposable to reusable cups and containers is essential for environmental protection. This sentiment is gaining ground in Taiwan, with many businesses offering reusable cup services.
One convenience store's initiative resulted in reducing disposable cup use by about 10,000 per month. The urgency to reduce plastic use, for the sake of both the environment and human health, is becoming increasingly evident, and the responsibility to address this crisis is collective.