[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/pollution-is-everywhere-whether-you-see-it-or-not\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/pollution-is-everywhere-whether-you-see-it-or-not\/","headline":"Pollution is Everywhere \u2013 Whether You See It Or Not!","name":"Pollution is Everywhere \u2013 Whether You See It Or Not!","description":"“Don\u2019t litter. Switch on the air-conditioning only when necessary. Try to reduce single-use plastics. Recycle, reuse, reduce!” Growing up, such were the mantras that were drilled into every curious individual. As we got older, such learnings tended to get pushed to the back of our minds, as we start to place more emphasis on convenience. […]","datePublished":"2020-12-30","dateModified":"2022-04-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/#Person","name":"E-lyn Tham","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/e-lyn-tham\/","identifier":66,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/722f685b02ed9cd4b78c8df212ebc1654b73489382b53ce430214c5fa92c0d0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1609300351720_S3_Featured_Image.png","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1609300351720_S3_Featured_Image.png","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/pollution-is-everywhere-whether-you-see-it-or-not\/","about":["Community","Environment","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":952,"articleBody":"“Don\u2019t litter. Switch on the air-conditioning only when necessary. Try to reduce single-use plastics. Recycle, reuse, reduce!”Growing up, such were the mantras that were drilled into every curious individual. As we got older, such learnings tended to get pushed to the back of our minds, as we start to place more emphasis on convenience. Indeed, it takes a concerted effort to reduce or recycle our waste, so much so that most people are inclined to simply close one eye. After all, if only one person doesn\u2019t do their part, there won\u2019t be much impact on the world, right?Now, that\u2019s where most of us are wrong. It\u2019s true that one person won\u2019t make much of a difference \u2013 but what if many \u201cone person(s)\u201d think the same way? Change always starts small, but it has a rippling impact. If all of us do our part, the world will indefinitely be better off!And if you need further convincing, here\u2019s a piece of horrifying news: a new study by Environment International has detected traces of microplastics in human placentas. Can you believe that?!What are microplastics?Microplastics, albeit small, can have adverse long-term effects on human health and well-being. They are particles that are smaller than 5mm in size, and originate from the degradation of plastic objects. Microplastics are mobile and transmissible, having the ability to move from the environment to humans and mammals in general. They can even be broken up further until they resemble dust; at this stage, they transform into nanoplastics. Yes, plastics are not just restricted to their physical form in landfills or oceans, now, they can be found in our bodies too!Studies have shown that an average individual takes in about 330 tiny pieces of plastic on a daily basis. These originate from synthetic fibres, plastic packaging, and more. A study published by PubMed.gov sees microplastics as a vessel that\u2019s capable of carrying toxic substances. And if these can travel to an unborn fetus, who knows what damage there will be in the long-term?Where were these microplastics found, exactly?Alarmingly, microplastics were found in all parts of the placenta, including the fetal, maternal, and amniochorial membranes, which is basically where the fetus develops. These microplastics all contained traces of dyes and pigments, meaning that they probably came from packaging, paints, and other similar items or substances.As Antonio Ragusa, Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Rome, so aptly put, \u201cIt is like having a cyborg baby; no longer composed only of human cells, but a mixture of biological and inorganic entities.\u201d. Elizabeth Salter Green of Chem Trust summarises it succinctly, claiming that \u201cbabies are being born pre-polluted\u201d.\u00a0Chesapeake Bay Program\/Flickr Creative CommonsBesides, even if we don\u2019t see the immediate impact of microplastics on humans, a quick look at how they affect marine life might very well be a telltale warning sign. The ingestion of microplastics by marine life can stunt growth, damage tissue, and even disrupt reproduction systems! And who\u2019s to say that humans won\u2019t bear the brunt of such damage \u2013 and more! \u2013 in the future?What can be done to help?Let\u2019s face it, plastics are everywhere. They\u2019re in the things we touch, the packaging that we use to hold our food, and even the clothes that we wear. But if we put in the effort now, we might be \u2013 slowly, but surely \u2013 creating a better future ahead for ourselves and our loved ones! Here are some ways you can make a difference:Reduce the consumption of bottled waterDaniel Orth\/Flickr Creative CommonsBottled water has a high level of plastic contamination. A study published by Frontiers in Chemistry analysed 259 bottles of water from nine different countries, and found microplastic contamination in up to 93 per cent of the bottles! Another way to help is to invest in a water filter, where most carbon block filters with a micron rating of 2 or less can help to vastly reduce the amount of microplastics.Try not to use washing machines and dryers so oftenWhile this might not be possible in the situation of Singapore\u2019s often unpredictable weather, it might be better to air dry your clothes, instead of using a dryer, whenever possible. Microplastics often enter the environment in the form of textile fibres via dryers and washing machines.In fact, it\u2019s estimated that one cycle of the washing machine can release up to 700,000 textile fibres! However, if washing machines and dryers are pretty much an indispensable part of your lifestyle, getting a laundry ball to catch the fibres might prove to be an enormous help.Do not use products with microbeads or non-biodegradable glitterSchooner Adventuress\/Flickr Creative CommonsMicrobeads are often used in toiletries or cleansing products with exfoliating properties. However, these beads are often too small to be filtered out during wastewater treatment processes, and often wash out straight into the ocean. How\u2019s this for size: a cleansing product can contain up to 360,000 microbeads; imagine that!And it’s easy to check if your facial cleansers have microbeads. Look out for the words ‘polypropylene’ and ‘polyethylene’ in ingredient lists. If you’d like to go one step further, use products that are listed as biodegradable or eco-friendly. Phosphate, surfactants, and triclosan\u00a0can actually cause harm to the environment, such as promoting algae-growth in water bodies or are toxic to marine life.It might be easier said than done but remember, every little bit counts. Will YOU do your part today?\u00a0 Join the conversations on THG’s\u00a0Facebook\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram, and get the latest updates via\u00a0Telegram."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Pollution is Everywhere \u2013 Whether You See It Or Not!","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/pollution-is-everywhere-whether-you-see-it-or-not\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]