A private GP has outlined the things she would never have in her home, including a seemingly innocent kitchen item that many of us have in our homes. Dr Asiya Maula, private GP at The Health Suite, explained that everyday choices we make determine our health and wellbeing, whether it’s movement or diet. However, there are other habits and daily activities to be aware of when it comes to looking after our bodies.
Dr Maula revealed that plastic chopping boards are something she would never have in her kitchen. Recent studies have shown that microplastics can come off your plastic chopping board when you are using it. In fact, a 2023 study published in Environmental Science & Technology titled ‘Cutting Boards: An Overlooked Source of Microplastics in Human Food?’ suggested that “plastic cutting boards are a potentially significant source of microplastics in human food“.
The study found that there was, on average, a “per-person annual exposure of 7.4-50.7 g of microplastics from a polyethene chopping board and 49.5 g of microplastics from a polypropylene chopping board”.
While Dr Maula says there is not enough research done to conclude that “throwing away one kitchen item” will prevent things like cancer.
However, she revealed: “Our homes shape what we eat, breathe and do every day. I prefer to remove certain things so healthier choices become automatic, while concentrating most on risks supported by strong evidence.”
“Research into microplastics and human health is continuing, and we cannot currently say that using a plastic chopping board causes cancer,” she added. “This is a precautionary preference – not a reason to panic. Whichever material you choose, clean it thoroughly and replace it when badly damaged.”
It comes as concern around microplastics becomes more common amongst the general public. Recent studies have found microplastics in human bloodstreams.
A 2024 study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are “emerging as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in preclinical studies”.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
