PLASTIC IN OUR BODIES: LIZ BONNIN TO FRONT NEW BBC TWO DOCUMENTARY

Recent studies show Brits are increasingly worried about the potential health impacts of microplastics, with new scientific results regularly bringing new tabloid headlines, but how worried should we be? And what does the latest science really tell us?

Plastic in Our Bodies (w/t), presented by biologist Liz Bonnin, follows a world first experiment at the University of Lincoln, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School, where scientists are dissecting a human body to better understand how much microplastic is in it, and where it is. In 2018, Liz’s award-winning film Drowning in Plastic shone a light on the devastating impact of plastic in the flora and fauna of the natural world, now Liz asks what is it doing inside us?

As well as guiding us through the science of the human dissection, Liz will meet scientists leading research across the UK and beyond to ask not just where plastic is in our bodies but whether it is having an impact. Liz will discover where most microplastics in our daily lives are coming from - whether it is from food, clothes, household items or the air we breathe - giving viewers clear, useful tips on what they can realistically do to reduce microplastics in their lives.

Liz Bonnin said: “Ever since we discovered the impact of plastics on our ocean and wildlife, the big question has been what it might be doing to us too. The research is still in its early stages, but it’s gathering pace - the scientific race is now on to answer some crucial questions about plastics in our bodies. So, it’s the perfect time to delve into the subject, and this groundbreaking dissection, the first of its kind, is set to reveal important new insights into research methods and results.

“Our goal is to sort the facts from the headlines, help viewers reduce their exposure, and if this is indeed a serious human health issue, as some scientists say, the emerging data could also help to inform the legislative changes needed to deal with the root cause of this problem: the ever-increasing production of plastics, that are so pervasive in our world today."

Plastic in Our Bodies (w/t) isa 1x60’ is made by Lion Television Scotland, for BBC Two and iPlayer.