Microplastics have become a growing concern to environmentalists and health experts over the course of the last several years. But what exactly are they? Microplastics are small plastic pieces that can range from being less than five millimeters long to being smaller than what the human eye can even see. Not only do microplastics make a significant impact on our environment, but recent research findings have also pointed to the possibility that they are poorly impacting our health as well. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, “Of more than 200 people undergoing surgery found that nearly 60% had microplastics or even smaller Nanoplastics in a main artery. Those who did were 4.5 times more likely to experience a heart attack, a stroke or death in the approximately 34 months after the surgery than were those whose arteries were plastic-free.” Based on these troubling findings, many health experts raise the important question, how much impact are these microplastics having on our health?
Many health experts aren’t entirely sure about the extent to which microplastics are effecting human health, but what they can all agree on is that they are widespread. In fact, perhaps more disturbing than the potential health effects of these plastics, is the fact that scientists have discovered microplastics in just about every place they’ve looked including our air, water, food, blood, and even in organs such as the lungs and placenta. Giuseppe Paolisso, an internal-medicine physician, and his colleagues at University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli found that “among 257 people undergoing a surgical procedure to reduce stroke risk, 150 participants had a build up of plaque in an artery in their neck’s partially consisting of microplastics”. Further analysis of the samples of plaque concluded that the majority of the particles were made of either polyethylene, which is commonly used in food packaging and shopping bags. In addition to the concern of microplastic buildup in arteries, some experts believe these plastic particles can disrupt other parts of our body.
According to an article co-published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and American Chemical Society, “In experimental models, microplastics have shown some evidence in disrupting our bodies metabolism, oxidative stress in cells, liver and intestines, and even our reproductive systems.” Due to a lack of direct research from humans, this study relied largely on findings from tests run on human cells which they exposed to microplastics in order to determine their effects. Researchers involved in the study theorize that part of the reason for these effects has to do with the chemicals these plastics are made of interacting with our cells as well as the microplastics serving as carriers for pollutants to enter biological tissues and organs. While these findings are disturbing, there are ways that we can adapt our lifestyles to limit our exposure.
The first step in attempting to avoid these plastics is asking ourselves where exactly do they come from? As mentioned previously, microplastics are prevalent in a variety of things we use on a regular basis. Not only are many of the items we use packaged in plastic, but some may actually have plastic in them. Prime examples of this are shampoo and liquid body washes that many of us use to shower. Microbeads are very tiny pieces of polyethylene plastic that are commonly added to body washes, skin products, and even toothpaste as an exfoliant or abrasive material. These microbeads do not break down naturally and easily pass through water filtration systems and get recirculated into our food and drinking water, where they can potentially absorb into human and animal cells. In addition to food packaging and skin products, many types of clothing, electronic accessories, and kitchenware have all shown to be potential sources of microplastics. While this information can make it seem like an impossible task to avoid micro and nanoplastics, it is important to note that there are ways to at least decrease your exposure to them.
According to experts at Yale University’s Office of Sustainability, “consumers can significantly reduce their exposure to these materials by avoiding single-use plastics”. An example of this would be opting for reusable glass bottles and containers and avoiding the use of products with microbeads such as exfoliating cosmetics. Yale’s experts also recommend avoiding single-use plastics and trying to seek out products that are reusable or biodegradable to limit your exposure. Some other ways to avoid exposure are to use alternatives to plastic cutting boards, using glass and metal kitchenware, filtering your water, and microwaving food in glass containers instead of plastic or takeout containers. Following these practices while keeping your space regularly dusted and vacuumed can help make a big difference in decreasing your absorption of these potentially harmful materials and ultimately improve your health.
Works Cited:
Fleming, A. (2023, July 10). They’re in the air, drinking water, dust, food …’ how to reduce your exposure to microplastics. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/10/air-drinking-water-dust-food-how-to-reduce-exposure-microplastics
Chinese Academy of Sciences, & American Chemical Society. (2023). Potential health impact of microplastics: A review of … ACS Publications. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/envhealth.3c00052
Kozlov, M. (2024, March 6). Landmark study links microplastics to serious health problems. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00650-3#:~:text=People%20who%20had%20tiny%20plastic,during%20a%20three%2Dyear%20study.
Yale experts explain microplastics. Yale Sustainability. (2020, December 1). https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-microplastics
Parker, L. (2023, May 8). Microplastics are in our bodies. how much do they harm us?. Environment. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/microplastics-are-in-our-bodies-how-much-do-they-harm-us
Microplastics are everywhere. why don’t we know what they do to our health? (n.d.). https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/03/11/microplastics-health-impacts-unknown
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