What You Should Know About Microplastics
So many of today’s everyday items—dinnerware, electronics, toys, clothing—are made with plastic. Not surprisingly, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually, and at least 14 million tons end up in the ocean each year, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. From there, the particles can be ingested by animals and risk entering the human food supply chain. As such, the reality is that microplastics are everywhere, including the water, soil, air and even your food.
This article explains microplastics, discusses their impact on your body and explores how you can help reduce exposure to them.
What Are Microplastics?
Plastic is durable and difficult to break down, making it practically impossible to degrade in the natural environment. Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some microplastics start this small during production or can result from larger plastics breaking apart over time. When they become this small, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart from the natural environment, which is what makes these pollutants so harmful.
Not only do animals ingest tiny plastic particles in their environments, but human food is also contaminated by microplastics during production and packaging. According to research from the Environmental Science and Technology journal, Americans eat, drink and breathe between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles each year. Furthermore, if you exclusively drink bottled water rather than tap water, that could add up to 90,000 plastic particles to the estimated annual total.
Their Impact on Humans
Microplastics can enter the human body through ingestion and inhalation. They may be taken up in various organs and affect health; for example, they can damage cells or induce inflammatory and immune reactions. Despite that, the full impact of microplastics on humans’ health isn’t known at this time.
Reducing Microplastics in Your Life
A plastic-free lifestyle may seem impossible, but even small choices can help make a difference. Consider the following ways to help reduce microplastics in your life:
Reduce the utilization of single-use plastics. Your use of plastic over time can add up, so reduce your use of plastic straws, cups, plates and containers. Bring a reusable mug to the coffee shop, sip your drinks with no straw, and consider getting takeout from places that use biodegradable containers.
Be aware of microbead product use. Many personal care products contain microplastic beads, including toothpaste, body washes and facial scrubs. The beads can bypass filtration systems and end up in the water supply.
Avoid plastic bottled water. Invest in a reusable glass, stainless steel or silicone bottle and fill it with filtered tap water. A carbon block or distillation water filter can effectively filter out microplastics.
Don’t microwave your food in plastic containers. Such containers leach plastics when heated, even if labeled as “microwave-safe.” That means the container won’t melt in the microwave—not that it won’t transfer chemicals to your food.
Install a laundry filter. Most of your clothing likely has polyester or other microplastics that can leak into the water. In fact, a single load of laundry can release over a million microplastic fibers. A filter in your washing machine can help catch these plastics so you can properly dispose of them.
Buy natural or organic clothing. Similarly, you could purchase clothing made of less synthetic fabrics like cotton, linen, wool, hemp, viscose, modal and lyocell. Such natural clothing fabrics don’t shed plastic microfibers.
Clean regularly. Many dust particles around your home are likely made up of microplastics. Try to vacuum and dust at least once a week to keep your home fresh and clean. There are also air filters available that specifically capture microplastics.
Although microplastics are seemingly everywhere, you can take small steps to help reduce your exposure to them and keep these potentially harmful pollutants from entering the natural environment.
To learn more about microplastics, visit NOAA’s website.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional. © 2022 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.