Here’s how microplastics are harming our health

We all know that our extensive use of wasteful plastic products is polluting the environment and piling single-use trash up in landfills. But the impact of plastic pollution doesn’t stop there. 

Tiny plastic particles called “microplastics” can find their way into our bodies and threaten our health. Despite our initiatives to reduce our dependence on plastic, microplastics are everywhere in our lives. They have been found floating in drinking water, airborne in household dust, and in our food and bodies.

A report compiled by the California State Policy Evidence Consortium analyzed peer-reviewed research on the subject in order to answer, “What are the human health effects from microplastics exposure?” Here’s what they found:

Microplastics could harm our gut microbiomes

A healthy digestive system necessitates a healthy gut microbiome, which includes all the bacteria and other microorganisms found in our stomachs. Research shows, however, that the presence of microplastics in the digestive system led to a decrease in healthy bacteria and an increase in pathogens and harmful microbes. The study was conducted on two species of seabirds, but the findings clearly indicate that through weakening gut health, microplastics can hinder many of our body processes and increase the likelihood of disease.

Microplastics can harm our lungs

Surrounded as we are daily by microplastics, we unknowingly breathe them in all the time. Once these plastic particles settle in our lungs, their resistance to decomposition and breakdown means they stay there. Over time, this could pose a risk of significant damage to our lung tissue. People who are exposed to microplastics in the air on a daily basis might experience lung inflammation. Once in the lungs, components of the plastic or its additives might also be absorbed by the body and result in negative health impacts like reproductive damage or even some forms of cancer.

Microplastics can harm our reproductive systems

The harmful effects of microplastics on our reproductive systems have also been documented, with plastic particles found in breast milk, the placenta, and the testicles. In particular, the link between microplastics exposure and male infertility is well-established. In addition, microplastics can also disrupt certain endocrine chemicals vital to healthy fetal development, causing an increase in these children’s susceptibility to metabolic and reproductive disorders later on. 

How to reduce your microplastic exposure

Scientists are finding microplastics almost everywhere they look, but there are still some simple things you can do to reduce your exposure to microplastics at home.

1. Avoid heating plastic food packaging. Any time food or drink is packaged in plastic, tiny plastic particles can shed off the packaging and into the food. However, this process is increased by heat. Avoid heating food wrapped in plastic to cut down on the amount of microplastics you may be eating.
2. Clean your home often. Staying on top of vacuuming your home can also cut down on lots of microplastic exposure. Carpets and furniture are often not made of fully natural materials, and so as they degrade they can shed tiny plastic fibers. These microplastics accumulate in household dust – so vacuuming them up often can help reduce your exposure.
3. Drink filtered tap water. Drinking water is another common source of microplastics. Some brands of bottled water contain thousands of miniscule plastic particles. When you can, opt for tap water over bottled water, and filter it if possible.
4. Reduce your use of plastic. It’s not always possible to avoid single-use plastic in your daily life, but cutting back on plastic use whenever you can will still help reduce your exposure to microplastics. Try buying clothes made of natural fibers, or using glass or metal reusable containers instead of plastic ones for food. Every little bit can help. 

What other dangers are posed by microplastics?

Future research will be able to uncover more detail about the impact of microplastics – both for the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems, and for the human body in general.

The full impact of microplastics on both our bodies and our environment is still not fully understood. But one thing is for sure: Flooding our environment with plastic waste is an unacceptable risk.

Together, we can act to cut back on the worst forms of plastic and slow the flood of microplastics polluting our environment. Take action to put a stop to one dangerous form of plastic pollution: