How much plastic are you eating? You probably think that the correct answer to that question is none, but the real answer may surprise you.

Tiny pieces of plastic have been found in the most remote locations, from the depths of the ocean to arctic ice. These tiny pieces of plastic are also making their way into our bodies in our water and in the marine life we consume as food.

Reuters has illustrated our plastic consumption over the past few years based on a survey by the WWF. This study combined data from over 50 studies on plastic particles and the results were quite alarming. The rate of ingestion could get worse without some kind of intervention. We are currently consuming approximately 2,000 tiny pieces of plastic every week, which equates to 5 grams, or the size of a credit card. According to this study, the average person consumes about 9,000 tiny pieces of plastic in a month, enough to fill half a rice bowl.

Science is now assessing the the possible damage to health over a period of time. Plastic production has surged over the past few years, and it is almost impossible to get rid of naturally, much of it cluttering the countryside and beaches, damaging the environment as a consequence.

In the space of a year, we can consume a dinner plate of tiny particles, which is rather too much by anyone’s standards.

It is time we started thinking more seriously about all plastics and their effect on us as well as the environment.