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While my primary profession is as a cardiac anesthesiologist, my recent passion project, and unofficial “side job”, has been cosmetic formulation. As I delved into the formulation process to find a solution for my child’s eczema, I quickly realized that storing my products without using plastic is a real challenge. The options are limited, and for now, avoiding plastics seems nearly impossible. I’m hopeful, though, that as we continue to learn and share information about the health and environmental impacts of everyday plastics, more sustainable alternatives will become available.
The Plastic Problem We Don't Want to Admit
Producing and using new plastic is cheaper than sterilizing and reusing metal
There are plenty of new plastic alternatives emerging, but they aren’t yet widely available or easy to access. Through my experience, and a fair bit of research, I’ve also discovered some uncomfortable truths about recycling. It’s marketed as an easy way to feel better about our consumption, but once you look deeper (as I did when our hospital switched from reusable metal laryngoscope blades to single-use plastics), it becomes clear that financial interests often outweigh environmental ones. Ultimately, it’s cheaper to produce and use more plastic than to sterilize and reuse metal. The reality is, recycling is often simply too expensive to be the solution we hope for. Isn’t that wild?! Watching recent documentaries and reading articles about plastic pollution and microplastics has made me even more concerned, not just for the planet, but especially for our children. This led me to take a closer look at microplastics and their impact on health and share my insights with you.
What Are Microplastics and Why The Health Concern?
Microplastics are tiny plastic bits, smaller than 5 mm, that result from degradation of larger everyday plastic items. These little particles seem to be everywhere: in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the soil beneath our feet. It’s unsettling to realize just how easily we can inhale, ingest, or come into contact with them on a daily basis.
The health concerns around microplastics revolve around the fact that their surface can collect and transmit bacteria, viruses and heavy metals, and potentially cause cell and DNA damage associated with worse health outcomes.
Where Do Microplastics Come From in Everyday Life?
Microplastics (< 5mm) and nanoplastics (< 1 μm) are a result of environmental degradation or direct industrial use, meaning they result from plastic breaking down, or they are manufactured (for example cosmetic plastic beads – found in scrubs or toothpaste, synthetic clothing, synthetic carpets, and upholstery). As such, they can be found in water, soil, and air.
How Do Microplastics Enter the Human Body?
Microplastics primary enter human body through ingestion (contaminated food and water), inhalation (airborne particles), or through dermal contact (less so). There are some estimates suggesting that a person ingests or inhales > 120,000 micro- or nanoplastic particles annually.
Microplastics in Humans: What the Latest Research Shows
Most studies appear to focus on detecting evidence of microplastics in human tissues (blood, urine, stool, placenta, breast milk), but there is very little evidence of association, and no direct evidence of causation of such exposure and accumulation with specific health outcomes. An interesting fact is that the exposure to microplastics appears to be increasing when looking at the longitudinal samples over the years.
Potential Health Effects of Microplastics on the Body
The evidence linking microplastics to negative health outcomes in humans remains limited. For instance, one review noted that the data regarding microplastics’ impact on birth outcomes was “non classifiable” due to poor evidence quality. While microplastics are “suspected” of affecting sperm quality and causing digestive or respiratory issues, robust and convincing research is still lacking.
That said, a recent NEJM study published in 2024 offers a compelling finding: among patients undergoing surgery for carotid plaques (endarterectomy), those with micro- and nanoplastics identified in their plaques had a 4.5-fold increased risk of death. The strength of this association is striking. My knee-jerk reaction to this was checking kitchenware, cleaning routines, and personal care products and textiles used to identify if my household exposure to microplastics could be reduced.
Microplastics and Children’s Health: What Parents Should Know
You’ve probably seen the label “BPA free” on many plastic products you bought for your baby; bottles, supplies, toys, and so on. It’s reassuring to know that the law protects us from the effects of BPA, but it’s unsettling to realize how long it took for that to happen. BPA stands for bisphenol A, a chemical invented in a lab in 1891. Many years later, BPA found its way into everyday plastic products, despite early signs of toxicity in animals in the early 1900s. In fact, in 1999, the FDA asserted BPA’s safety; however, as evidence of its toxicity grew, the government acknowledged its health risks, and major retailers began removing BPA-containing products from their shelves.
I’m referencing BPA to draw a parallel to microplastics. What history shows us is that science and regulation often lag, so until more knowledge is acquired, the wise approach is to avoid plastics when possible. Some ways to do this (more complete list below): don’t let your kid chew on plastic toys, use stainless steel or glass bottles, avoid nonstick pots and pans, avoid heating food in plastic containers, and opt for natural fabrics.
Can the Body Remove Microplastics?
We know that microplastics are found in human feces, urine, and sweat, meaning that they can be excreted. However, there is also evidence that these particles accumulate in tissues. The truth is, we really do not know much about the elimination process, but we do know that synthetic polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene) are not biodegradable by human enzymatic systems, and we still need to learn what the implications of tissue accumulation are. Some have suggested drinking more water and eating more fiber to minimize gut absorption.
How to Reduce Microplastic Exposure in Daily Life
Here are practical ways to cut back your exposure. Stay informed, there’s always more to learn!
Skip plastic containers: use glass, metal, or ceramic instead
Cutting boards: switch to wood or metal
Cookware: Choose stainless steel or cast iron; avoid nonstick pans
Filter Tap Water: Use NSF-certified filters
Avoid Plastic Tea Bags/Pods: Go for loose-leaf tea and filtered coffee
Avoid Microwaving Plastic: Never microwave food in plastic or with plastic wrap
Switch to Bar Products: Bar soaps and shampoos cut out plastic packaging
Check Ingredients: Avoid products with plastic microbeads (look for polyethylene or polypropylene)
Choose Natural Fibers: Wear cotton, wool, linen, or hemp
Adjust Laundry Routine: Wash synthetics less, use cold water, and try a microfiber-catching laundry ball
Clean Frequently: Vacuum (HEPA filter if possible) and wet-dust to reduce plastic fibers
Use Air Purifiers: They help remove airborne microplastics
Key Takeaways
- Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in the air, food, and water, making everyday exposure unavoidable.
- They can carry harmful substances like bacteria and heavy metals, raising concerns about potential health effects.
- Microplastics enter the body mainly through ingestion and inhalation, with estimates suggesting tens of thousands of particles annually.
- Research has detected microplastics in human tissues, but clear evidence of direct health harm is still limited.
- Some emerging studies suggest possible links to serious health risks, though more robust data is needed.
- Children may be more vulnerable, and past examples like BPA show that safety regulations can lag behind science.
- The body can eliminate some microplastics, but others may accumulate, and their long-term impact remains unknown.
- Reducing plastic use, especially in food storage, clothing, and personal care, is a practical way to lower exposure.