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■ Broadcast: Kim Sung-joon's current affairs observatory (FM 103.5 MHz 14:20 ~ 16:00)
■ Progress: SBS Kim Sungjun anchor
■ The broadcast date and time: Tuesday, October 23, 2018
■ Dialogue: Director Ahn Jin-geul
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- Fine plastic, it's spread all over our lives.
- Specific human pathways are not yet known.
- Approximately 10 million tons of plastic in one year to the sea ... Exposure to marine life
- Contains micro-plastics for toothpaste and exfoliation
- Detection of fine plastics in domestic sun-salt
- There are no substitutes for plastic yet ... Research and effort required

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

It has been confirmed for the first time that micro-plastics have entered the human body. Research results of the Austrian Environment Agency. The microplastics were detected on the sides of all eight subjects. It means that the plastic that we have used will eventually return to our bodies. It's a little surprising and frightening. Let me share with you a professor in the Department of Environmental Systems Engineering at Korea University. Professor Hello.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

Yes. Hello. It is Choi Seungil.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Does micro plastic mean that plastic is present in powder or fine form?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

That's right. The plastics that we use are broken down by sunlight, ultraviolet rays, various natural phenomena, and they are called micro-plastics. If it is about 5mm, it is considerably bigger among micro plastic. The ones that are now in trouble are usually from 100 μm to 500 μm. 0.1mm to 0.5mm have been detected.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

I was told by the Austrian Department of the Environment. In the meantime, there was a family, but is this actually confirmed? What is the outcome of this study?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

In the Austrian Environment Agency, Professor Philip Schwabe of the University of Vienna. In fact, eight people from eight countries to eat, to live everyday life. I analyzed it by analyzing it. I found about 20 plastics in 100g. They typically drink beverages in plastic bottles, and foods packaged in plastic bottles. I usually eat fish, everyday life. Then I actually came out. We were able to make estimates during that time. Because the fine plastic spread all over the place. We had expected enough that we would have entered our bodies because there was no place in tap water or salt. It is meaningful that you have practically confirmed it in medical school.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

But when we think of fine plastic. We do not have to chew something like micro plastic. It is not common sense to understand that plastics like flour are floating in the air. Is there anything specific about the path through which micro-plastics enter our bodies?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

There is nothing definite. Because microplastics have to be a lot of research from now on. What we can think of is this. We are spreading over the ocean where the plastic is broken and crumbled. Usually in the ocean, about 10 million tons of plastic are going into the sea a year. That is the sunlight, the waves, and the buoys. They all break and become micro-plastics. I usually think about 15 to 51 trillion micro-plastics in the sea.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Are you talking about the number of pieces?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

That's the number. But that's also because we do not have a clear way to detect micro-plastics. I usually dye it and count the number, and I'm counting the size from 150μm to 300μm. It means that there can be a lot of smaller fine plastics. And these things do not mean we eat plastic, but the toothpaste we're using. Or cosmetics containing abrasives used to exfoliate. It is said that the amount of cosmetics containing about 150ml of such a keratinous abrasive contains about 2.8 million fine plastics. I use it to strip the keratin. If these things are used in all kinds of places and then they are washed away, they will enter the sewage treatment plant. I can not get rid of all those fine pieces in the sewage treatment plant. Then it goes to the rivers and rivers, and when we go out into the sea, we are caught in the food chain and come back to us. We think that this is happening.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Then, for example, fish basically eats fine plastics that have flowed into the sea, and when we eat the fish, indirectly, micro-plastics may come in.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

right.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

That said, there was a study last month that found microplastic in domestic sun salts. This is obvious, is not it?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

It is natural. It should almost be taken for granted.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

And most of the fine plastic, of course, there is a standard of less than 5mm fine plastic. Most micro-plastics are not visible?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

right. If it is visible, will people eat it? It's too small to be visible, and in fact, it could be smaller. That's the problem.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

There is also a study that Korea's rivers have a high level of micro-plastic pollution. What is that research?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

I looked at samples from rivers, rivers and fisheries around the world at Manchester University Medical School and found that our country is the second and third most. But I can not help it. Is not plastic a thing that people have used? So, the population density is high, there are a lot of people activities. Of course there are many places like this. Then, in the Han river estuary of our country, even Seoul metropolitan area will be 10 million and 20 million. The Nakdong River estuary. There is a lot of out there. In fact, if it had taken samples from more places in Manchester Medical School, it would probably have been plentiful in India, China, and rivers and rivers in this densely populated region.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

So basically, we are found more in densely populated areas than in particular. I'll look at it like this.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

Of course there are many places where people are active.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

So what's important is that if this micro-plastic comes into your body, what's the problem?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

It's still not clear. Because this is the initial stage of research, it is a step to confirm. It is very important to observe and observe how these things affect people. Nothing is clear yet. Just as we have guessed, the bigger microplastics - for example 150μm and 200μm - are actually present in the digestive system and will continue to be released through the digestive system. We are making this prediction.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

I'm glad you did.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

But the problem is that there may be a smaller one. Because this is because we do not know how to measure micro-plastics is not clear yet. Small pieces of broken plastic can actually be broken down anyhow. Also, some researchers predict that if this is up to nanosize. We do not only stay in the digestive system, but also go through the mucous membranes and spread to various bodies. This is what we are forecasting and estimating. It's just that it has been proven or confirmed. There is no such thing, so I think that more research on this part will be concentrated in the future.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

There is still some problem when micro plastic comes in a certain amount and remains in the body to some extent. Is there any reason to talk like this?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

There is no such thing yet.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Yes. But this is true. Micro-plastics, basically it's not yet a way to easily break down plastics without causing problems?

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

If you get rid of micro-plastics altogether, there is no problem. When we used to look at plastic, there was a rotting plastic in it. They do not have plastic itself, but they can easily break down into smaller pieces by putting the material that can break apart between the plastic and the plastic, not removing the plastic itself. In the end, it is essentially plastic, and it may continue to cause problems with micro-plastics because they break up the plastic more finely and easily in some way. There is such a concern.

There has not yet been a substance that completely replaces plastic. The reason we use plastic a lot is because it is cheap, convenient, easy to make and easy to distribute. Lightweight. But if we want to replace it with a new one because of environmental problems or microplastics. We must be prepared to pay for it. That way, we will create new alternatives that cost them, create things that do not burden the environment, I have to do this. If we are not prepared to pay for it, then no substitute material will come out.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Once the paper straw, stainless steel straw. These are also being introduced. In a coffee shop, we prohibit the use of plastic cups. These efforts are a small effort, but I hope that these efforts will be combined to become a safer world anyway. In the meantime, scientists should quickly find a substitute for plastics.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

We should replace it with cheap and good ones.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

Okay. I heard you today. thank you.

▶ Seung-il Choi Professor, Department of Environmental Systems Engineering, Korea University:

Yes. Thank you.

▷ Kim Seong-joon / Host:

So far, I have talked with Choi Seung-il, Professor of Environmental Systems Engineering at Korea University.