The prevalence of plastics isn’t new. Since World War II, mass-produced plastics have increasingly littered sidewalks, oceans, and more across the globe. However, in more recent years, scientists have also started researching the effects these plastics have on human bodies, not just the planet. We now know many plastics persist in the environment, where they break down into smaller and smaller particles. Studies show that these particles, known as microplastics, can find their way into food, the water supply, and even the air we breathe.Â
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