What is Pollution?
Microplastics and our health: What the science says
Whether we like it or not, our bodies are now home to tiny bits of plastic that just won’t break down in our environment. So, what does this mean for our long-term health, and what can we do about it?
These tiny particles are everywhere—in the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and even the air we breathe. They’ve made their way into every corner of the planet, from vibrant coral reefs to the icy expanses of Antarctica. And they’ve found their way into our bodies, settling in places like brain tissue and reproductive organs.
Microplastics
those pesky plastic fragments that are up to 5 millimeters long—are simply unavoidable. It’s estimated that between 10 to 40 million metric tons of these particles are released into the environment each year, and if we keep going at this rate, that number could double by 2040. Most of these microplastics come from larger plastic items that break down over time, but some are intentionally added to products we use every day, like paints, cleansers, and even toothpaste.
"Plastic never really disappears; it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces," explains Desiree LaBeaud, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Stanford Medicine and co-founder of the university's Plastics and Health Working Group.
As public concern about the health effects of microplastics grows, we’ve seen a surge of alarming headlines over the past year about these particles lurking in tea bags, seafood, meat, and bottled water. Scientists estimate that adults might be ingesting the equivalent of one credit card worth of microplastics every week. Research involving animals and human cells suggests that exposure to microplastics could be linked to serious health issues like cancer, heart attacks, and reproductive problems, among other risks. However, there’s still a lack of direct studies on how microplastics affect human health, leaving us somewhat in the dark about their true dangers.
While it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid microplastics, experts at Stanford Medicine suggest that there are steps individuals can take to minimize their exposure. Tackling this issue on a larger scale will require action from industry leaders and policymakers alike.