• Health effects of microplastics
    Blog,  Diet,  Health,  Nutrition

    Health effects of microplastics

    Given the rise of plastic contamination worldwide, the health effects of microplastics on humans is a growing concern. As seen in the previous article What are microplastics and nanoplastics?, microplastics (MPs) and (NPs) are tiny plastic particles that can enter the body via foods such as water, sugar, salt, fish, seafood and produce. The good news is that, in theory, we should be able to excrete up to 90% of the ingested particles (1). The extent at which MPs get absorbed into our bodies, organs and cells depends on the size of the particles. The numbers below are estimates: < 150 micrometres in diameter (~0.3% of ingested particles): pass through…

  • What are microplastics and nanoplastics
    Blog,  Diet,  Health,  Nutrition

    What are microplastics and nanoplastics?

    There is growing interest in the threats that microplastics and nanoplastics pose on the health of humans and the environment. In this article we answer the questions: what are microplastics and nanoplastics? where do they come from? and more. What are microplastics and nanoplastics? Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are tiny pieces of plastics measuring less than 5 millimetres and between 1 and 1000 nanometres in diameter, respectively (1). Where do they come from? MPs and NPs can originate from the breakdown of larger pieces of plastic articles that end up in the environment or can be added to manufactured products such as personal care products and clothing (1, 2).…

  • How to reduce food waste
    Blog,  Food

    How to reduce food waste

    Food waste is a massive problem worldwide, particularly in the industrialised world. This happens in all steps of the food chain, so to speak, from production to consumption. While there is little you can do about agriculture and manufacture you can learn how to reduce food waste in your household. Food waste in Australia According to the Department of the Environment and Energy, “In 2016-17… Australia produced 7.3 million tonnes of food waste across the supply and consumption chain. Of this, 2.5 million (34 per cent) was created in our homes, 2.3 million tonnes (31 per cent) in primary production and 1.8 million tonnes (25 per cent) in the manufacturing…