Plastic has become an essential part to daily life, but its widespread use extends far beyond the visible pollution. Plastic leads to the creation of microplastics, and while they used to be considered solely environmental problems, research has detected microplastics within the human body. The growing presence of microplastics and the new research showing its impact on human health leads to growing concerns globally.
Understanding what microplastics are, how humans get exposed to them and the consequences of that exposure is essential in addressing this emerging public health concern.
Understanding Microplastics
Microplastics have become one of the most common forms of pollution, yet many remain unaware of how they came to enter the environment. Microplastics are the small particles of plastic that form due to the degradation of industrially produced plastics, essentially most microplastics originate from larger pieces of plastic that deteriorate over time. Due to how small microplastics are, some are not visible to the naked eye and tend to get transported to oceans and other environmental regions through weathering. Microplastics also primarily exist due to their intentional creation to be used in certain products. Despite the different reasons behind microplastic existence, the result is the same; they end up in the environment. Once microplastics enter the environment, they become present in water, soil and air within which they move around and spread.
Hence, the omnipresence of microplastics makes them difficult to avoid, and their ability to persist in the environment and enter ecosystems have caused microplastics to emerge as a growing public health concern.
Exposure to Microplastics and the Consequences
Exposure to microplastics over the years has become nearly unavoidable. Microplastics can enter the body through simple acts of drinking or eating, and with the continuous detection of these plastics in the human body concerns are growing. Understanding both the factors affecting exposure and the numerous possible consequences of that exposure is essential in assessing the risks that are posed by this rising global health issue.
Exposure:
The widespread presence of microplastics is extreme, they are present within the food we eat and the air we breathe. Regardless of its omnipresences, there are certain courses that heighten exposure to microplastics.
- Inhalation - As microplastics break down they make their way to the atmosphere as well. Hence, they are heavily present in the air we breathe as well, the simple action of inhaling means that people expose themselves to microplastics.
- Ingestion - Through the process of ingesting food and water, people subject themselves to a significant amount of microplastic exposure. With its presence in the environment, microplastics are heavily found within water bodies and agricultural fields, causing them to make their way into our sustenance.
Consequences:
Research into microplastics is still developing, yet scientists have found a few of the potential concerns they pose for humans. The ability of microplastics to enter the body has caused heightened research into how these microplastics affect the body’s function and its health over time.
The most significant consequence includes:
- Cellular and Tissue Damage - Microplastics present in the environment can contain traces of heavy metals, which increases the toxicity of the microplastic. The traces of metal can cause damage to cells and tissues in the human body.
- Disorders - Chemicals in plastic products have the ability to leak into tap water. The consumption of the affected water can be linked to developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune disorders.
- Risk of Chronic Diseases - Long term absorption or consumption of the toxic pollutant in microplastics have been associated with a high risk of contracting chronic diseases. Studies have shown potential links between respiratory diseases, cancers, cardiovascular diseases and microplastic traces in the human body.
Although research in this field still persists and there is much to be discovered, there are signs of clear link between microplastics and health concerns. The existence of microplastics in the human body is a large issue, and mitigating its presence is crucial for health maintenance.
Reducing Exposure
While the complete avoidance of microplastics is not possible, there are many careful steps that can be taken to limit the amount of plastic entering the environment. Small habitual changes mixed with strategic actions can play an important role in addressing the growing issue of microplastics.
Tips to Reduce Microplastic Intake:
- Reduce the usage of plastic and non-stick utensils, opt for stainless steel
- Never heat your food in a plastic container, heat forces plastic to leach into your food
- Filter your water, water filtration can reduce 90% of microplastics
- Rinse your rice, proper cleansing can reduce the microplastic by 20-40%
- Use clothing made from natural fibers, synthetic ones such as polyester shed microplastics
Along with habitual changes, governments and communities can take action by creating policies that limit the usage of plastic, and manage its disposal. The efforts to reduce the content that microplastics are becoming has to be a community effort with changes from people in their actions and consumption.
The listed tips are just 5 of numerous actions that can be taken to reduce the presence of microplastics in your life. While fully eliminating microplastics is not possible, responsible decisions and management can contribute to limiting the spread of microplastics and their potential effect on health.
From the air we breathe to the food that we consume, microplastics have spread throughout the environment and now are entering the human body. While scientists still work to fully comprehend their long-term effects, growing evidence suggests the huge risk microplastics pose for human and environmental health. Addressing the issue of microplastics has become more important than ever. Through combined efforts, society can work towards reducing the spread of microplastics and limiting the impact they will have on future generations. Actions taken today can do much to protect the future of human and environmental health.
Sources:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9920460/
- https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
- https://cruzfoam.com/post/what-are-microplastics-and-how-are-they-formed/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950305124000214
- https://www.epa.gov/plastics/impacts-plastic-pollution
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250919-how-to-eat-less-plastic