Dangers of Microplastics

Did you know we ingest the equivalent of one credit card per week in micro plastics.

They are in the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the air we breathe; particles are even in tea bags, seafood, meat, and bottled water. They’ve pervaded every ecosystem in the world, from coral reefs to Antarctic ice. Researchers discovered that plastic fragments were being spread by wind and water, contaminating everything from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Mount Everest.

Evidence is growing that this exposure could be harmful. Interestingly, more than 10,000 chemicals are used to make plastic; two-thirds have not been assessed for safety, while over 2,400 are considered potentially toxic. Studies in animals and human cells suggest micro plastics exposure could be linked to cancer, heart attacks, reproductive problems, and a host of other illnesses. Yet few studies have directly examined the impact of micro plastics on human health, leaving us in the dark about how dangerous they really are.

One of the first papers to directly examine the risks of micro plastics exposure in humans, published in The New England Journal of Medicine in March 2024, studied patients undergoing surgery to remove plaque from their arteries. More than two years after the procedure, those who had micro plastics in their plaque had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and death than those who didn’t.

Potential Toxic Effects of Micro plastics and Nano plastics on Human Health

Several studies have shown that micro- and nano plastics were able to cause serious impacts on the human body, including physical stress and damage, apoptosis (cell death), necrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and immune responses .

How do we protect ourselves from micro plastics?

While avoiding micro plastics is impossible, experts at Stanford Medicine point out that individuals can take steps to reduce their exposure.

All of us need to stop using plastic as much as we can to protect our health, especially single-use plastics. Avoiding nonstick and plastic cookware, wearing clothes made of natural fibers, and seeking out plastic-free toiletries and cosmetics. When possible, only buy products in glass jars. When ordering out, ask restaurants to put food in a glass container that you bring along. Avoid plastic wrap and only buy metal or wooden toys for babies and small children.

We have only witnessed the tip of the iceberg regarding micro plastics’ impact on our health. The best protection is to be aware and avoid as much as possible using plastic containers, cookware, and other plastic products related to food that we ingest and take food based antioxidants to help counteract the affects off the micro plastics.