Malaysians are eating too much microplastics


Microplastics are plastic waste particles smaller than 5mm that pollute the world's oceans, where they are ingested by marine life that are in turn consumed by humans. — © 2023 The New York Times Company

EVERYONE should know this damning statistic by now: Malaysia is ranked the highest among 109 countries for consuming microplastics, which are plastic pieces smaller than 5mm. Malaysia is also among the top 10 countries whose population inhales the most microplastic particles – at an estimated 494,000 particles a day per person.

According to a study published in June in the Environmental Science & Technology journal, each Malaysian swallows an average of 502.3mg of microplastics daily.

Subscribe now and receive free sooka plan for 1 month. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
pollution , plastic waste , microplastics ,

Next In Environment

How polluted are Malaysian cities?
Planetary Health Matters: The time for faith in action is now
Cloning concerns: Should we bring back extinct animals?
'Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky'
Planetary Health Matters: What you can do about a world drowning in plastic
Asbestos: The tiny fibres that threaten our lives
Ecowatch: How you can help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint
Ecowatch: Why did that sea turtle die?
Ecowatch: Safeguarding Malaysia’s heritage seeds
Planetary Health Matters: Staying green despite Trump

Others Also Read