大米样品中发现有高含量的微塑料
昆士兰大学的一项研究发现，大米，特别是速溶大米，含有大量的微塑料。
All samples in the study contained microplastics, however researchers found a 100 gram serve of instant rice, which undergoes more processing, contained up to 13 milligrams of plastic fragments, Nine News reports.
新闻报道称，研究中的所有样品都含有微塑料，然而研究人员发现，经过更多加工的100克速食米饭含有高达13毫克的塑料碎片。
The same quantity of regular uncooked rice contained three to four milligrams of microplastic.
同样数量的普通生米含有3到4毫克的微塑料。
While packaging was partly to blame, other processes involved were also identified.
虽然有包装的因素，但其他过程也不可忽略。
"In the processing of the rice before it gets put into a bag or while it's being grown - so, agricultural processes," Dr Jake O'Brien from the University of Queensland said.
昆士兰大学的Jake O'Brien博士说：“在大米被装入袋中或种植过程中的加工过程中，农业过程也是如此。”。
“Rice is a staple food around the world, so it is important we understand the quantity of microplastics we could be consuming.”
“大米是全世界的主食，因此了解我们可能食用的微塑料的数量非常重要。”
Microplastics are present in a number of consumable foods such as shellfish, beer, and salt.
微塑料存在于许多消费性食品中，如贝类、啤酒和盐。
Another 2019 study estimated humans consume about five grams of plastic every week, the equivalent to the weight of a credit card.
另一项2019年的研究估计，人类每周消费约5克塑料，相当于一张信用卡的重量。
"At this stage we don't know about any health implications from ingesting microplastics via food consumption but we do know that where there is exposure there is some form of risk," O'Brien said.
O'Brien说：“在现阶段，我们不知道通过食物摄入微塑料会对健康产生什么影响，但我们确信，哪里有问题，哪里就会有某种形式的风险。”。
“Importantly, we also found washing rice before cooking reduced plastics contamination by 20 to 40 per cent.”
“重要的是，我们发现，煮饭前洗米可将塑料污染减少20%至40%。”
Researchers tested for seven different plastic types ranging from the most common plastic, polyethylene to plastics used in clothing and food production, laminates, technical engineering, polystyrene, acrylics and tube piping.
研究人员测试了七种不同类型的塑料，包括最常见的塑料、聚乙烯、以及于服装和食品生产的塑料、层压板、技术工程、聚苯乙烯、丙烯酸和管材等。
