Tiny particles of plastic are seemingly everywhere: So-called microplastics have been found in the ocean, tap water, bottled water and soil. Now, they've even been found in our poop. 
 
 In a small, first-of-its-kind study, researchers have found microplastics in stool samples from people around the world. 
 
 The study "confirms what we have long suspected, that plastics ultimately reach the human gut," study lead author Dr. Philipp Schwabl, a physician scientist at the Medical University of Vienna's Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said in a statement. 
 
 Little is known about the health effects of microplastics, but there's concern that the pervasive plastics may affect our gastrointestinal (GI) health and possibly reach other organs. "Now that we have first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health," Schwabl said. [9 Disgusting Things That the FDA Allows in Your Food] 
 
 Schwabl presented his findings today (Oct. 22) at UEG Week in Vienna, a European gastroenterology meeting. The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. 
 
 Microplastics are bits of plastic that measure under 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) in length — about the size of a sesame seed or smaller. They're formed when larger pieces of plastic pollution break down. Microplastics can wind up in the oceans or the Great Lakes, where the particles are ingested by aquatic life and enter the food chain. Indeed, microplastics have been detected in seafood, including tuna, lobster and shrimp, the researchers said. Humans are also likely exposed to microplastics as a result of plastic contamination from food packaging or processing. 
 
 Still, data on human exposure to microplastics is scarce, and the new study is the first to quantify the particles in human stool, the researchers said. 
 
 In the study, the researchers analyzed stool samples from eight healthy volunteers living in eight countries around the world: Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom and Austria. 
 
 Using a new type of analytical procedure, the researchers found microplastics in all of the stool samples they received. The most common types of plastic found were polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate — two plastics that have a wide range of uses, including plastic bottles. On average, the researchers detected 20 microplastic particles per 10 grams of stool. 
 
 The participants were not told to eat any specific diet, but food diaries showed that six of the participants consumed fish in the week before giving a stool sample, and all of the participants consumed at least some plastic-wrapped foods or drank from plastic bottles. 
 
 Although the study was small, the fact that microplastics were found in all of the samples "indicates a high likelihood that also many other people involuntarily ingest microplastics," Schwabl told Live Science. 
 
 The researchers are planning to conduct a larger study to confirm the findings, and to see if they can identify factors linked with microplastics in stool, such as a person's diet, lifestyle or where they live, Schwabl said. 
 
 The researchers are also planning further studies to investigate the effects of microplastics on human health. Animal studies suggest that microplastics can enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and may reach the liver, Schwabl said. In addition, microplastics may cause damage to the intestines and affect how well the body absorbs nutrients, he said. 
 
 Originally published on Live Science. ||||| Microplastics have been found in human stools for the first time, according to a study suggesting the tiny particles may be widespread in the human food chain. 
 
 The small study examined eight participants from Europe, Japan and Russia. All of their stool samples were found to contain microplastic particles. 
 
 Up to nine different plastics were found out of 10 varieties tested for, in particles of sizes ranging from 50 to 500 micrometres. Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the plastics most commonly found. 
 
 On average, 20 particles of microplastic were found in each 10g of excreta. Microplastics are defined as particles of less than 5mm, with some created for use in products such as cosmetics but also by the breaking down of larger pieces of plastic, often in the sea. 
 
 We are living on a plastic planet. What does it mean for our health? Read more 
 
 Based on this study, the authors estimated that “more than 50% of the world population might have microplastics in their stools”, though they stressed the need for larger-scale studies to confirm this. 
 
 The Environment Agency Austria conducted the tests using a new procedure the researchers said shed fresh light on the extent of microplastics in the food chain. Samples from the eight subjects were sent to a laboratory in Vienna where they were analysed using a Fourier-transform infrared microspectrometer. 
 
 Philipp Schwabl, a researcher at the Medical University of Vienna who led the study, said: “This is the first study of its kind and confirms what we have long suspected, that plastics ultimately reach the human gut. Of particular concern is what this means to us, and especially patients with gastrointestinal diseases.” 
 
 Previous studies on fish have also found plastics in the gut. Microplastics have been found in tap water around the world, in the oceans and in flying insects. A recent investigation in Italy also found microplastics present in soft drinks. In birds, the ingestion of plastic has been found to remodel the tiny fingerlike projections inside the small intestine, disrupt iron absorption and add to stress on the liver. 
 
 “The smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, and may even reach the liver,” said Schwabl, who will report on the study at UEG Week in Vienna on Tuesday. “Now that we have the first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health.” 
 
 Plastic particles in the gut could affect the digestive system’s immune response or could aid the transmission of toxic chemicals and pathogens, the researchers said. 
 
 The sources of the plastic found in the stool samples is unknown. The people studied kept a food diary that showed they were all exposed to plastics by consuming food wrapped in plastic or drinking from plastic bottles. None of those participating in the study were vegetarians, and six of the group ate sea fish. 
 
 Scientists still know little about the effects of microplastics once they enter the human body, though many studies have already found them present in foods such as fish that people are likely to eat. The UK government has launched a study of health impacts. 
 
 Plastic use is so pervasive in modern life that removing it entirely from the food chain would be extremely difficult. A million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute and the number is expected to jump another 20% by 2021. 
 
 Steps are being taken to stem the rising tide of plastic pollution, for instance by the banning of microbeads in some jurisdictions. The 8m tonnes of plastic dumped in the sea each year is also the target of increasing campaigns, by the UN and others, mainly because of the dangers it poses to sea life. Many fish and other marine creatures consume the plastics, sometimes confusing them for food. 
 
 The authors of the new paper stressed the need to reduce plastic use, increase recycling and improve disposal where appropriate. 
 
 Microplastics in our mussels: the sea is feeding human garbage back to us Read more 
 
 Pressure for action is growing. Earlier this year the European parliament voted for an EU-wide ban on microplastics in cosmetics. The European commission has also proposed a ban on single-use plastic products such as cotton buds and plastic straws and urged member countries to put the onus of cleaning up waste on producers in an effort to clean up oceans. By 2025, European nations are supposed to collect 90% of single-use plastic drink bottles. 
 
 Several nations have banned plastic bags completely, and a growing number of cities, including many in the US, are discussing moves to ban straws and other single-use items. 
 
 Following this lead, the British government on Monday announced a consultation on proposals to ban plastic straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds, which can turn into microplastics as they break down. The ban is expected to come into force by October 2020. 
 
 Critics, however, say such measures are late and inadequate to deal with a problem that has reached epic proportions. ||||| Researchers monitored a group of participants from 8 countries across the world with results showing that every single stool sample tested positive for the presence of microplastic and up to 9 different plastic types were identified 
 
 (Vienna, October 23, 2018) Microplastics have been found in the human food chain as particles made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and others were detected in human stools, research presented today at the 26th UEG Week in Vienna reveals. 
 
 Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and the Environment Agency Austria monitored a group of participants from countries across the world, including Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the UK and Austria. The results show that every single stool sample tested positive for the presence of microplastic and up to nine different plastic types were identified. 
 
 Microplastics are small particles of plastic less than 5mm and are used in various products for specific purposes; as well as being created unintentionally by the breaking down of larger pieces of plastic through weathering, degradation, wear and tear. Microplastic may impact human health via the GI tract where it could affect the tolerance and immune response of the gut by bioaccumulation or aiding transmission of toxic chemicals and pathogens. 
 
 The pilot study was conducted with eight participants from across the globe. Each person kept a food diary in the week leading up to their stool sampling. The diaries showed that all participants were exposed to plastics by consuming plastic wrapped foods or drinking from plastic bottles. None of the participants were vegetarians and six of them consumed sea fish. 
 
 The stools were tested at the Environment Agency Austria for 10 types of plastics following a newly developed analytical procedure. Up to nine different plastics, sized between 50 and 500 micrometres, were found, with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) being the most common. On average, the researchers found 20 microplastic particles per 10g of stool. 
 
 Lead researcher Dr. Philipp Schwabl, who is presenting the findings at the 26th UEG Week, commented: "This is the first study of its kind and confirms what we have long suspected, that plastics ultimately reach the human gut. Of particular concern is what this means to us, and especially patients with gastrointestinal diseases. While the highest plastic concentrations in animal studies have been found in the gut, the smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the blood stream, lymphatic system and may even reach the liver. Now that we have first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health." 
 
 Global plastics production has increased substantially from the 1950s and continues to grow every year. For their many practical characteristics, plastics are pervasive in everyday life and humans are exposed to plastics in numerous ways. It is estimated that, through pollution, 2-5 % of all plastics produced end up in the seas. Once in the ocean, plastics are consumed by sea animals and enter the food chain where ultimately, they are likely to be consumed by humans. Significant amounts of microplastic have been detected in tuna, lobster and shrimp. Beyond that it is highly likely that during various steps of food processing or as a result of packaging food is being contaminated with plastics. 
 
 ### 
 
 Notes to Editors 
 
 For further information, or to arrange an interview with Dr Philipp Schwabl, please contact Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu 
 
 About Dr. Philipp Schwabl 
 
 Dr. Philipp Schwabl is a researcher and physician scientist at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Medical University of Vienna, in the research team of Prof. Dr. Thomas Reiberger, and presenting this study at the UEG Week Vienna 2018. 
 
 About Dr. Bettina Liebmann 
 
 Dr. Bettina Liebmann is a consultant on environmental analyses and respected expert on microplastics at the Environment Agency Austria. She guides the method development for microplastic analysis by micro FT-IR spectroscopy and imaging and works on microplastic projects at both national and international level. 
 
 About Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria 
 
 The Environment Agency Austria is the most important national environmental expert organisation and one of Europe´s leading environmental consultants. Since 2007, the organisation has been operating an accredited human biomonitoring laboratory where blood, urine, tissue etc. are analyzed for a variety of environmental contaminants. Furthermore, the Environment Agency Austria is an international pioneer in the analysis of microplastics. 
 
 About UEG Week 
 
 UEG Week is the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting in Europe and has developed into a global congress. It attracts over 14,000 participants each year, from more than 120 countries, and numbers are steadily rising. UEG Week provides a forum for basic and clinical scientists from across the globe to present their latest research in digestive and liver diseases, and also features a two-day postgraduate course that brings together top lecturers in their fields for a weekend of interactive learning. 
 
 About UEG 
 
 UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy. This makes UEG the most comprehensive organisation of its kind in the world, and a unique platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge. To advance standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across Europe and the world, UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including: 
 
 UEG Education, the universal source of knowledge in gastroenterology, providing online and classroom courses, a huge online library and delivering the latest GI news, fostering debate and discussion 
 
 Activity Grants, promoting and funding educational projects in the field of digestive health to advance and harmonise the training and continuing education of professionals 
 
 UEG Journal , published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology 
 
 , published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology EU Affairs, promoting research, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, and helping develop an effective health policy for Europe 
 
 Quality of Care, European-based and English clinical practice guidelines, clinical standards, consensus, position papers and standard protocols in the field of digestive health, are available in the repository. 
 
 Find out more about UEG's work by visiting http://www. ueg. eu or contact: Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu 
 
 References ||||| The bottled water industry is estimated to be worth nearly $200 billion a year, surpassing sugary sodas as the most popular beverage in many countries. But its perceived image of cleanliness and purity is being challenged by a global investigation that found the water tested is often contaminated with tiny particles of plastic. 
 
 "Our love affair with making single-use disposable plastics out of a material that lasts for literally centuries — that's a disconnect, and I think we need to rethink our relationship with that," says Prof. Sherri Mason, a microplastics researcher who carried out the laboratory work at the State University of New York (SUNY). 
 
 The research was conducted on behalf of Orb Media, a U.S-based non-profit journalism organization with which CBC News has partnered. 
 
 Mason's team tested 259 bottles of water purchased in nine countries (none were bought in Canada). Though many brands are sold internationally, the water source, manufacturing and bottling process for the same brand can differ by country. 
 
 The 11 brands tested include the world's dominant players — Nestle Pure Life, Aquafina, Dasani, Evian, San Pellegrino and Gerolsteiner — as well as major national brands across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. 
 
 Researchers found 93 per cent of all bottles tested contained some sort of microplastic, including polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 
 
 10.4 particles/litre on average 
 
 Microplastics are the result of the breakdown of all the plastic waste that makes its way into landfills and oceans. They are also manufactured intentionally, as microbeads used in skin care products. Microbeads are now being phased out in Canada, after significant numbers began to appear in the Great Lakes and the tiny particles were found filling the stomachs of fish. 
 
 Anything smaller than five millimetres in size (5,000 microns) is considered microplastic. 
 
 Using the Red Nile test, researchers identified tiny particles believed to be microplastics in many bottles of water. (Orb Media) 
 
 Orb found on average there were 10.4 particles of plastic per litre that were 100 microns (0.10 mm) or bigger. This is double the level of microplastics in the tap water tested from more than a dozen countries across five continents, examined in a 2017 study by Orb that looked at similar-sized plastics. 
 
 Other, smaller particles were also discovered — 314 of them per litre, on average — which some of the experts consulted about the Orb study believe are plastics but cannot definitively identify. 
 
 The amount of particles varied from bottle to bottle: while some contained one, others contained thousands. 
 
 The purpose of the study was to establish the presence of the plastics in bottled water. 
 
 It's unclear what the effect of microplastics is on human health, and no previous work has established a maximum safe level of consumption. There are no rules or standards for allowable limits of microplastics in bottled water in Canada, the United States and Europe. Rules and standards for other countries from the study are not known. 
 
 Two brands — Nestle and Gerolsteiner — confirmed their own testing showed their water contained microplastics, albeit at much lower levels than what Orb Media is reporting. 
 
 Emerging science 
 
 Plastics are present nearly everywhere and can take hundreds of years to degrade, if at all. Many types only continue to break down into smaller and smaller particles, until they are not visible to the naked eye. 
 
 Plastics have also been known to act like a sponge, and can absorb and release chemicals that could be harmful if consumed by mammals and fish. 
 
 "It's not straightforward," said Prof. Max Liboiron of Memorial University in St John's. 
 
 "If you've ever had chili or spaghetti and you put it in Tupperware, and you can't scrub the orange colour out, that's a manifestation of how plastics absorb oily chemicals," says Liboiron, director of the Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), which monitors plastic pollution. 
 
 The European Food Safety Authority suggests most microplastics will be excreted by the body. But the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has raised concerns about the possibility some particles could be small enough to pass into the bloodstream and organs. 
 
 It's not clear how the plastic is getting into the bottled water — whether it's the water source itself or the air or the manufacturing and bottling process. 
 
 "Even the simple act of opening the cap could cause plastic to be chipping off the cap," Mason said. 
 
 The science behind the test 
 
 The water tested was purchased in the U.S., Kenya, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mexico and Thailand, and represented a range of brands across several continents. It was shipped to the specialized lab at SUNY in Fredonia, N.Y. 
 
 Scientists used Nile Red fluorescent tagging, an emerging method for the rapid identification of microplastics, as the dye binds to plastic. Scientists put the dyed water through a filter and then viewed samples under a microscope. 
 
 Prof. Sherri Mason carried out the laboratory work at the State University of New York (SUNY), on behalf of Orb Media. (Dave MacIntosh/CBC) 
 
 Mason's team was able to identify specific plastics over 100 microns (0.10 mm) in size but not smaller particles. According to experts contacted by CBC News, there is a chance the Nile Red dye is adhering to another unknown substance other than plastic. 
 
 Mason leaves open that possibility but leans strongly to the smaller particles being plastic. 
 
 The developer of the Nile Red method agrees. 
 
 Fluorescing particles that were too small to be analyzed should be called "probable microplastic," said Andrew Mayes, senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of East Anglia in the U.K. 
 
 Orb consulted several toxicologists and microplastics experts throughout the entire process who also reviewed the findings. 
 
 "This is pretty substantial," Mayes said. "I've looked in some detail at the finer points of the way the work was done, and I'm satisfied that it has been applied carefully and appropriately, in a way that I would have done it in my lab." 
 
 CBC News also asked multiple experts to review Orb's study; while similar questions came up with the Nile Red dye, they were convinced there was some level of microplastics in the water and further research was warranted. 
 
 Big brands respond 
 
 Nestle said in a response that it had tested six bottles of water from two of its brands — Nestle Pure Life and San Pellegrino — and found between two and 12 microplastics per litre, much lower than what Orb found in its study. The company suggested that Nile Red dye is known to "generate false positives." 
 
 Gerolsteiner also said its tests showed a "significantly lower quantity of microplastics per litre" in its products. 
 
 "We still cannot understand how the study reached the conclusions it did," the company said. "The research results do not correspond to the internal analyses that we conduct on a regular basis," the company said in a response. 
 
 Danone, the company behind Evian and Indonesian brand Aqua, told Orb it is "not in a position to comment as the testing methodology used is unclear. There is still limited data on the topic, and conclusions differ dramatically from one study to another." 
 
 Brazilian brand Minalba told Orb that it abides by all quality and security standards required by Brazilian legislation. 
 
 The American Beverage Association, which represents many of the biggest brands across North America, including Nestle, Evian, Dasani and Aquafina, told Orb that "the science on microplastics and microfibres is nascent and an emerging field…. We stand by the safety of our bottled water products and we are interested in contributing to serious scientific research that will ... help us all understand the scope, impact and appropriate next steps." 
 
 Brands Biserli and Wahaha did not respond to Orb's request for comment. 
 
 Plastics, plastics everywhere 
 
 Within three decades, there will be more plastics in the oceans than fish. They are having a profound effect on the environment. In the oceans, vast quantities float on the surface, trapping sea life and blocking the sun's rays from entering the waters. 
 
 Mason points out people can choose to not buy water in a plastic bottle, and to carry a refillable bottle instead. But for other products, there is no choice. The majority of products on grocery and retail store shelves are contained in plastic. 
 
 "It's portable, it's lightweight, it's convenient, it's cheap — that just makes it easy," Mason says. "It's so difficult to get people to care about things they can't see."
– It was only a matter of time. Scientists, following up research showing tiny particles of plastic in everything from bottled water to salt, say they've found "the first evidence for microplastics inside humans." All stool samples taken from eight participants of a small study by Environment Agency Austria were found to contain plastic particles ranging in size from .002 to .02 inches, with 20 particles per 10 grams of excrement on average, report the New York Times and Guardian. Up to nine varieties of plastic were identified, with types used in bottles and caps (polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate) appearing the most often. The participants were as varied. Hailing from eight countries including the UK, Japan, and Russia, all ate food wrapped in plastic or drank from plastic bottles. Six consumed sea fish. This suggests plastic contamination during food processing or packaging and "indicates a high likelihood that also many other people involuntarily ingest microplastics," Philipp Schwabl, lead author of the study yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, tells Live Science. Indeed, study authors say "more than 50% of the world population might have microplastics in their stools," per the Guardian. While further research will explore what this means for human health, researchers say microplastics could transmit toxic chemicals and pathogens and affect the digestive system's immune response. "The smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream, the lymphatic system, and may even reach the liver," says Schwabl, mentioning particular concerns for people with gastrointestinal diseases. (Proper contact lens disposal may help.)