A cutting board can contain millions of unwanted particles

Cutting boards are often made of plastic, and get scratched when chopping or slicing vegetables, for example.

So researchers at North Dakota State University investigated the fine particles that are created when chopping carrots on a plastic cutting board.

The study found that cutting carrots on cutting boards made from two common plastics, polyethylene and polypropylene, can release up to 79 million plastic particles annually.

The researchers point out that this is an estimate, and that the amount of plastic particles released depends, among other things, on the material and age of the cutting board and the amount of force you apply to the knife.

The researchers also studied the effect of microplastics from cutting boards on cells in mice.

Although millions of microplastics were created when cutting carrots, the researchers concluded that the microplastics released from the polyethylene and polypropylene cutting boards did not alter the mice’s cells.

However, the findings highlight the need for more research into the effects of microplastics in our diet.

The researchers also recommend replacing the cutting board as soon as the surface becomes damaged.