Average person swallows plastic equivalent to a credit card every week, report finds

The average person now ingests five grams of plastic each week, the equivalent of a credit card, a new report by WWF has found.

Researchers found that people are consuming up to 102,000 tiny pieces of plastic of less than 1mm - 250 grams each year - with nearly 90 per cent coming from water, both bottled and tap. Other foods with highest plastic levels include shellfish, beer and salt..

In Europe around 72 per cent of tap water now contains plastic with nearly two plastic fibres found per 500ml.

Some types of plastic carry chemicals and additives which have been shown to influence sexual function, fertility and increase the occurrence of genetic mutations and cancers.

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