- The link between microplastics and health is a rapidly evolving area of science.
- A recent commentary reviews this relationship, particularly focusing on brain health.
- The authors also outline ways to reduce exposure to microplastics.
A new commentary article, which appears in the journal Brain Medicine, discusses microplastics and their links to health.
Below, we outline the main topics touched upon in the commentary and ask whether it is possible to reduce exposure to these omnipresent shards of polymer.
Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it slowly breaks down into ever-smaller pieces. Microplastics, as the name suggests, are the microscopic debris that packaging will eventually become.
Because of the way in which plastic gradually breaks down, microplastics come in a wide range of sizes. This means that they are the right size for every animal on Earth to swallow or breathe in.
Because of this variety in size and their sheer ubiquity, they are present in every food chain and on every dinner plate in the land.
According to the authors of a review on the topic: “Emissions of microplastics to the environment are estimated to be between 10 and 40 million tonnes per year, and under business-as-usual scenarios, this amount could double by 2040.”
Research into microplastics is still in its infancy, but already, scientists are unearthing worrying links. For instance, there is some evidence that microplastics in blood might negatively impact heart health.
Other scientists have also found microplastics in lungs and evidence that they might impact fertility and the
Similarly, a study published this year found more microplastics in human brains than in any other organ.
It also showed that people who died in 2024 had, on average, 50% more microplastics in their brains than people who died just 8 years earlier. Clearly, this is a growing issue.
The term “microplastics” first appeared in a scientific paper just over 20 years ago. Since then, interest has grown exponentially, but scientists are still trying to understand what factors influence an individual’s exposure and how to minimize it.
Although avoiding them entirely is impossible, the authors of the recent commentary include some science-backed ways to reduce exposure. Below, we outline their advice, including input from other experts.
1. Water: Bottled, tap, and boiled
A study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology concludes that switching from bottled water to tap water could reduce intake of microplastics from 90,000 each year to 4,000.
While that is a sizable reduction, it is worth bearing in mind that these calculations compare someone who only drinks bottled water with someone who only drinks tap water. Most people are likely to be somewhere in between these two scenarios.
In the same study, bottled water was the second greatest source of microplastics. In first place, was the air that we breathe — not something we can easily avoid — and seafood was in third position.
According to the authors, these three “accounted for the large majority of microplastic intake.”
In another study, scientists identified a relatively simple, although time-consuming method of reducing microplastics in water.
They showed that boiling water then pouring it through a coffee filter could remove up to 90% of the microplastics.
2. Are teabags safe?
Historically, teabags were made of paper. Today, as with so much else, they contain plastics. A 2019 study, also in
When they steeped a single teabag in 95 °C water, it released well over 14 billion microplastics into the final drink.
For people who enjoy tea, it might be worth searching for manufacturers who produce teabags without plastic or switching to loose-leaf teas and a good old-fashioned tea strainer.
3. How to reduce exposure around the home
MNT contacted Aidan Charron, associate director at Global Earth Day, who organize the yearly Earth Day event.
“It is inside our homes that we are the most exposed,” he explained. “Anything made of nylon or polyester — clothes, furniture, curtains, carpets, cushions, toys, pet toys, you name it — are shedding microplastic fibers all the time.”
He recommended sweeping or vacuuming as much as possible and, “if you can, do not buy polyester or nylon covered bedding, towels, underwear, furniture, rugs, or carpets,” which all shed microplastics.
MNT also reached out to Lisa Erdle, PhD, director of science and innovation at the 5 Gyres Institute, a research-based non-governmental organization with 15 years of expertise studying microplastic pollution.
She suggested “installing a microfiber-catching filter to laundry machines and dryers, opting for home textiles (curtains, couches, rugs) made from natural fibers instead of synthetic.”
4. Avoid plastic utensils in the kitchen
“When we heat up food in microwavable plastics, microplastics leach directly into our food,” Charron explained to MNT. He recommended not heating food in plastic containers or on plastic plates.
“It’s the same when we use plastics utensils, straws, chopping boards, pans, plates, anything,” he continued. Instead, he suggested opting for natural materials, like glass, wood, bamboo, and cotton where possible.
Along similar lines, Erdle recommended “avoiding plastic packaging — especially when microwaving, and using metal or glass for cooking and storage.
She also suggested avoiding ultra-processed foods, which are often sold in plastic containers and have many opportunities to pick up plastic contamination during manufacture.
5. Reduce use of beauty products
“Use as few toiletries as possible because they often contain plastic chemicals like phthalates,” Charron also advised. “Plus, the plastic packaging used in the beauty and personal-care market creates vast amounts of plastic pollution.”
According to him, in the United States in 2018 alone, the beauty industry alone produced 7.9 billion units of rigid plastic packaging.
Similarly, Erdle suggested “choosing personal care and cleaning products without plastic microbeads.” Microbeads are tiny plastic spheres found in a wide range of cosmetics.
Although the
We asked Erdle about the future of packaging and whether there any hopeful innovations on the horizon.
She explained that certain biomaterials may eventually help wean society off plastic. However, there are many challenges. Plastic is popular for a reason: It is incredibly cheap to produce, easy to mould and shape, and, unfortunately, lasts for a very long time.
Regardless, Erdle has hope. “While biomaterials are not functional replacements for all plastic products, we’ve seen a lot of potential in using biomaterials to replace thin film,” she told us.
Sadly, because consumers are now looking for more eco-friendly products, some manufacturers are using eco-friendly claims to make their products more appealing.
For instance, packaging labeled “biodegradable,” does not specify under which conditions it will degrade. Research by 5 Gyres Institute shows that the thickness of the material and the environment it is placed in make a sizable difference to whether something truly biodegrades.
Microplastics and their role in Health is a rapidly developing and concerning field of research. For now, following the above recommendations may limit an individuals exposure, but we need much more research to understand how microplastics influence Health and to develop new materials that can finally kick plastics out of our homes.
