Microplastics aretiny particles of plastic.
The usualdefinitionis anything under 5mm in length or about the diameter of a grain of rice.
Microplastics may becreated and intentionally addedto consumer products, such as the tiny beads in face and body scrubs, or formed when larger plastic items degrade over time.
Primary microplastics are manufactured at that size – for instance, in industrial exfoliants or commercialcosmetic productscontaining microbeads.
Secondary microplastics come from the breakdown oflarger plastic materialssuch asdisposable water bottles, packaging, straws, car tyres or toys.
Read more about where microplastics come fromhere.
Microplastics are everywhere, but their health hazards within the human body are largelyunknown. However, the prevalence of microplastics in human organs is cause for concern among researchers. Studies suggest they could increase the risk of various conditions such asoxidative stress or cardiovascular disease.
Stephanie Wright, an environmental toxicologist at Imperial College, London,told the Guardianthat despite a lack of epidemiological and in-human data, “reducing particle exposure in general (including microplastic) is likely to be beneficial”.
Animal studies have linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, a disrupted endocrine and immune system, and impaired learning and memory.
Read more about how to reduce your exposure to microplasticshere.
It is not known how long microplastics remain in the body before being excreted. But microplastics have been found inhuman poop, meaning that at least some of the plastic ingested is excreted, while some microplastics have accumulated within bodily organs. Studieshave also shownthat microplastics can be passed from pregnant people to the placenta.
No. Microplastics are tiny shards and specks of plastics less than 5mm in diameter.Pfas, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is an umbrella term for a family of thousands of chemicals prized for their indestructible and non-stick properties.
Pfas can take hundreds, if not thousands, of years to break down after they are thrown away, and can leak into soil or water and remain there for centuries.
But like microplastics, Pfas are ubiquitous and potentially pose health hazards.
Read more about Pfashere.
In short: everywhere.
People consume the tiny plastic particles infood(includingseafood),water,teaand bybreathing them in.
They’ve been found inhuman blood,semen,lungs,breast milk,bone marrow,placenta,testiclesand thebrain.
These tiny shards of plastic have been found in air,dust,remoteanddeep ocean environments, inclouds, in theice of Antarcticaand on the summit ofMount Everest.
Their spread has prompted researchers to call for further study, and actions to reduce plastic pollution.
According to one review study, independent testing in many countries found microplastics in virtuallyall drinking water samples tested, and otherresearchestimated the average person ingests about 4,000 particles in drinking water annually.Oceanand lake sampling has also found microplastics, sometimes atlevels “unsafe for wildlife”.
Because microplastics are so small, it’s challenging to remove them. Wastewater filtering practices docapture some of the particles. Researchers have explored innovative ways of doing so. For example, in 2021, a team of researchers engineered abacterial biofilmthat could trap microplastics for easier removal – though it was just a preliminary experiment. Another research team created asponge from cotton and squid bonethat removed up to 99.9% of plastics in testing, though again, not at scale.
Plastic iseverywhere in fashion– including pleather, or vegan leather, and harder to spot instances, such as microplastics that shed from synthetic fabrics.
Polyester and nylon, both common plastics, make up almost 70% of all material used in clothing. Microfibers, which typically shed from synthetic materials, are a significant contributor to microplastic pollution.
Here’s how to avoid plastic in clothing:
Always check the garment care label, looking to avoid common culprits such as nylon, acrylic and elastane. Look up unfamiliar fabric types online and prioritize brands that use natural materials.
For buttons used on clothing, look for those made from corozo nut or wood, and for hooks and eyes made from metal. Zips are often set in plastic fabric, so if you want to avoid microplastics, avoid garments with zips where possible.
The materials that create stiffness and reinforcementsin clothing often contain plastic, such as padding in a bra. But the simpler the piece, the easier it is to avoid plastic.
Clothing liningoften contains polyester and nylon. Look for silk or viscose rayon.
Sequins and beads are almost always plastic.Sequins can be made from recycled Pet, but these can still break into microplastics. Avoid purchasing these to begin with or be sure to mend items regularly so that plastic trims don’t fall off.
Vegan leather and faux furcontain synthetic components and shed microplastics. Real leather – including the abundance of vintage leather pieces – is an incredibly durable and repairable material that should last for years, if well cared for.
Read more about the hidden plastics in our clothes – and how to avoid themhere.
The highest exposures to microplastics are likely to come from packaged and processed food and drinks, saysWright,the environmental toxicologist. The risk of microplastic shedding increases when plastic is exposed to heat.
Avoidheating anything in plasticor drinking hot liquids that were exposed to plastic, such as the lining of a disposable coffee cup. Arecent studyfound that when hot liquid is poured into a single-use coffee cup, it can shed trillions of bits of plastic.
The good news for consumers is that almost every plastic kitchen product – including coffee makers and tea bags –has asafer wood, glass, silicone or stainless steelalternative.
When it’s time to replace a spatula, try wood, stainless steel or silicone instead. Avoid plastic cutting boards and instead opt for one from a single piece of wood that has not been glued (as glue can contain formaldehyde) and is unfinished or treated with a safe finish, such as beeswax or fractionated coconut oil.
When it comes to storing food,opt for glass containers. Instead of plastic wrap, look for unbleached paper or paper that uses soy wax.
The World Economic Forum ranked pollution among its10 biggest global risks. Just9% of virgin plastic gets recycled, according to a 2017 scientific paper. The remaining plastic is either incinerated or accumulated in landfills, where it could then leak into the environment.
The most consequential action to contain the “global plastics crisis” would be a cap on plastic production, saidDr Philip Landrigan, an anti-plastic advocate. While some plastics are essential for use in the fields of engineering or medicine, Landrigan calls for a curb on “stupid plastics” – or single-use throwaway items.
As of 2023, single-use plastics accounted for 40% of the more than 400m tonnes of plastic produced each year. Production is onlyincreasing, with a 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimating production is on track to almost triple by 2060.