Ground breaking research published Thursday reveals that microplastics have been found in the blood of farmed animals such as cows and pigs.

At the Plastic Health Summit in Amsterdam, Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva! – Europe’s leading vegan campaigning charity, interviewed both Dr Heather Leslie, (an environmental pollution scientist of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Maria Westerbos, Director of the Plastic Soup Foundation (an environmental non-profit against plastic pollution) about their research.

Speaking to Juliet Gellatley, Dr Heather Leslie explained that this was the first official study to expose how microplastics are being absorbed into the blood of animals farmed for food. But it comes as no surprise to vegan campaigning group Viva!, who are well aware of how pervasive microplastics are in harming both animals and ecosystems.

When asked if consuming animals meant humans were also consuming microplastics, Dr Heather Leslie replied: “Yes there’s probably nobody left on the planet that can avoid drinking or eating microplastics.”

“We did a pilot study on the presence or absence of microplastic particles in samples from cows and pigs and we found in all of them, at least some traces of plastics. These are not the additives we are talking about, but the particles themselves.”

Maria Westerbos, Director of the Plastic Soup Foundation added that microplastics had reached critical consumption saying; “50 per cent of the air pollution out there is plastic already, and it’s entering our lungs, entering our blood and is really attacking our immune system.

“We have to stop overproducing plastic. We must stop adding all these softeners and endocrine disrupters to food and products because it’s attacking unborn babies as it’s in the placenta.
“I think we only have 10 years left to turn the tide because then there will be too much plastic in the world. If we keep producing it at this rate, we will leave no future for the next generation.”

Maria Wesbros added: “humans are consuming so much plastic, that we are plastifying ourselves.”
This is only the second Plastic Health Summit to take place which sees research and testimonials presented by scientists, campaigners, activists and legal experts worldwide. Their aim is to demonstrate how plastic, in its entire lifecycle from production, use and disposal, poses a huge threat, to animals, humans and the environment.

Juliet Gellatley, Founder & Director of Viva! said: “The stark fact is that new research is showing that meat and dairy contain microplastics. The implications for human health are potentially disastrous. Microplastics disrupt our immune system, poison our nerve cells and increase cancer risk. It is crucial that we all reduce our plastic use and consumption – and that governments act responsibly to protect the world’s citizens and all life.”