Plastic from our oceans is getting into our airways

Auckland University scientists have tested for microplastics in indoor air to find how much plastic New Zealanders are inhaling.

They found plastic levels indoors in Auckland are up to 20 times higher than outdoors in rural Southland.

But senior Lecturer and research lead, Joel Rindelaub says the air off the Southland coast still contains a lot, with the ocean acting as a reservoir of particles propelled into the air.

He says the ocean is so filled with plastic that crashing waves send the particles into the air, which we then breathe in.