It turns out that a huge number of plastic particles are released when a plastic food container is heated in a microwave oven

Supermarkets and convenience stores sell ``food and lunch boxes that can be heated in the microwave while still in plastic containers,'' and some people probably store cooked food in plastic containers. A new research team led by Kazi Albabu Hussein, who is enrolled in a doctoral course in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Braska-Lincoln in the United States, said, ``When a regulatory-approved plastic food container is heated in a microwave oven, An enormous number of plastic particles are released,' the results of the experiment were announced.

Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health | Environmental Science & Technology
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942

Nebraska study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers | Nebraska Today | University of Nebraska–Lincoln
https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/nebraska-study-finds-billions-of-nanoplastics-released-when-microwaving/

Microwaving 'Safe' Plastics Can Release Billions of Particles, Scientists Warn : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/microwaving-safe-plastics-can-release-billions-of-particles-scientists-warn

Mr. Hussain had been researching microplastics released from baby bottles for some time, but when he became a father in 2021, he noticed that the container for baby food for babies was also made of plastic. . Despite the fact that many parents use plastic baby food containers, there was no research on the plastic particles emitted from these, so he decided to experiment himself.

The research team put water or 3% acetic acid water simulating various foods in polypropylene baby food containers and polyethylene food containers approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and microwaved at 1000 W. heated for 3 minutes. After heating, the research team analyzed how many plastic particles were released into the liquid in the container.

The research team that analyzed the experimental results found that 4.22 million microplastics (particles with a diameter of 1 μm to 5 mm) and 2.11 billion nanoplastics (particles with a diameter of ^less than 1 μm) were liquid from a plastic of only 1 cm 2 estimated to be released to

The number of plastic particles released by microwave heating depends on many factors, such as the container and the liquid. However, considering the amount of liquid in the container, the number of plastic particles released, and the weight of the person who ingests it, it is likely that ``children who drink liquid in a plastic container heated in a microwave oven or eat food'' are relatively safe. The research team points out that the intake of natural plastic particles is the largest.

At the time of writing, the specific effects of microscopic plastic particles on the human body have not been clarified. However, when the research team exposed embryonic kidney cells to high concentrations of plastic particles released from plastic containers, 76.7% of the total died after 48 hours.

In addition, another research team discovered in experiments using intestinal organoids (mini-organs) produced from human cells that small plastic particles were taken up by the cells of the intestinal organoids and invaded, resulting in inflammation.

Experimental results that finally reveal the danger of microplastics and cause inflammation that causes serious damage to the human intestine - GIGAZINE

Of course, just because a cell or mini-organ has been shown to have an adverse effect on plastic particles, it does not necessarily mean that the same reaction will occur in the living human body. However, these findings do raise concerns about the use of plastic containers.

“When we eat certain foods, we are informed and thought about their calories, sugars and other nutrients,” Hussein said. We believe it is equally important.' 'Knowing the amount of plastic particles we consume, in the same way that calories and nutrients affect our health, is important for understanding the harm they can cause.' Many studies, including ours, show that the toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics is highly related to exposure levels.'