What You’ll Learn
Plastic is everywhere, and tiny plastic particles called microplastics can get into our bodies in surprising ways. This guide will show you how microplastics enter your body through the air, your skin, and your food and drinks. You’ll also learn about the potential health effects and simple steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
Understanding Microplastic Exposure
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, often smaller than a grain of rice. They come from larger plastic items breaking down. These small particles are now found everywhere, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. Because they are so widespread, it’s almost impossible to avoid them completely. They can enter our bodies through three main pathways: breathing them in, absorbing them through our skin, and eating or drinking them.
How Microplastics Enter Your Body
1. Through the Air You Breathe
You breathe in microplastics every day. The number of particles you inhale depends on where you live and spend your time. For instance, cities and indoor spaces often have more airborne plastic particles than quieter, rural areas. Scientists estimate that most people breathe in tens of thousands of these tiny plastic particles daily. These particles can travel through your respiratory system.
Expert Note: While the exact long-term effects of inhaling microplastics are still being studied, inflammation in the lungs is a known concern. This inflammation can make breathing more difficult and may worsen conditions like asthma or pneumonia.
2. Through Your Skin
Many personal care products contain microplastics or chemicals used in plastic production. These can include certain lotions, makeup, and shampoos. When you use these products, plastics and associated chemicals can be absorbed through your skin. Once inside, nanoplastics, which are even smaller than microplastics, are small enough to pass through skin cells and settle into your body’s tissues.
Tip: Check the ingredient lists on your beauty and personal care items. Look for terms like polyethylene, polypropylene, or PET, which are common types of plastic.
3. Through What You Eat and Drink
This is the most common way microplastics enter our bodies. While processed foods can contain a lot of plastic, particles have spread to farms and oceans. This means they end up in many foods we eat, including seafood, meat, and fresh produce. Plastic packaging itself is a major source of contamination.
For example, a single liter of bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles. Even items like metal cans and paper wrappers often have plastic linings inside. At home, plastic cutting boards and non-stick cookware like Teflon can release particles into your food as you prepare it. Microwaving food in plastic containers is particularly bad, potentially releasing millions of particles.
Warning: Always be cautious when heating food in plastic containers. Consider using glass, ceramic, or microwave-safe alternatives instead.
How Microplastics Affect Your Health
Once microplastics enter your body, they can cause harm. Your body sees these plastic particles as invaders and tries to fight them off by causing inflammation. However, your body cannot break down plastic. This means the inflammation can happen over and over, leading to long-term damage.
These particles can travel throughout your body. Inflammation can cause more blood to flow to an area, helping the plastic particles spread. They have been found in organs like the liver, spleen, muscles, bones, and even the brain. Beyond the plastic itself, there are thousands of chemicals used in plastic production. When plastic enters your body, these chemicals can too.
Some of these chemicals are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Examples include phthalates, PFAS, and BPA. These chemicals can interfere with your body’s hormones. Hormones control many important functions, like metabolism and growth. EDCs can affect how your body uses energy, increasing the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. They can also trick your body by acting like natural hormones, potentially disrupting your development and reproductive health.
Research has linked high levels of phthalates to problems during pregnancy. In men, high BPA exposure has been connected to lower sperm counts. These chemicals may even contribute to the global decrease in sperm count seen over the last 50 years. Some studies suggest exposure to EDCs before birth can affect a child’s development later in life.
Simple Steps to Reduce Your Exposure
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of plastic in our lives. There’s no quick fix to remove microplastics already in your body. Studies show we tend to keep more plastic particles than we get rid of through sweat, urine, or feces. However, you can make small changes in your daily routine to lower the amount of plastic entering your body.
- Choose Natural Fibers: When buying clothes, try to pick items made from natural materials like cotton, wool, or linen instead of synthetic fabrics.
- Rethink Your Kitchenware: Swap plastic cutting boards and food storage containers for alternatives made from wood, stainless steel, or glass.
- Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Cut down on items like plastic straws, disposable cutlery, and plastic water bottles.
- Buy Fresh, Unpackaged Food: Whenever possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are not wrapped in plastic.
- Be Mindful of Bottled Water: A single bottle can contain a huge number of plastic particles. Consider using a reusable water bottle and filtering your tap water if needed.
Looking Ahead
Reducing plastic consumption starts with individual choices. When more people choose to buy less plastic, manufacturers will produce less of it. However, solving a problem this large requires bigger changes. Plastic is a major product made and sold globally. Therefore, new laws and regulations at all levels of government are needed. These changes will help make plastic safer and control how much enters our environment and our bodies.
Source: 3 surprising ways microplastics can enter your body (YouTube)
