KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21: The Ministry of Health has recommended a reduction in the use of plastic containers and packaging, given their widespread use globally and locally in daily life. The ministry emphasizes the importance of minimizing exposure to plastic in various forms, including water bottles, food containers, and other materials.

Instead, the recommendation is to opt for alternatives such as glass, metal containers, or other safe materials. Addressing concerns shown recently by international and local media about the potential contamination of plastic water bottles with NATO plastic chips, public health specialist Dr. Muhammad Al-Saeedan told Al-Seyassah Daily, that a 2023 study conducted by a university in Colombia, which developed a powerful optical system for the rapid analysis of nanoplastic materials concluded that human exposure to these tiny particles resulted from consuming bottled water stored in plastic containers, with the potential for these particles to enter various biological cells.

Dr. Al-Saeedan explained that while the study provides theoretical conclusions about potential health problems arising from exposure to these nanoplastic materials, it does not specify the necessary quantity of water consumption or the duration required to cause such changes or health issues. He emphasized that studies focusing on the health impact of exposure to plastic materials are relatively recent, considering the issue of plastic pollution a complex subject that requires extensive research to fully understand the health implications resulting from exposure to these materials.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff