HOW PLASTICS HARM HUMANS - TIPS TO AVOID EXPOSURE

New Study Links Microplastics to Serious Health Harms in Humans

A SUMMARY: 

Microplastics have been found all over the world, from Antarctica to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and even in clouds.

A recent study suggests the presence of microplastics in human carotid arteries may double the risk of stroke or heart attack in people with heart disease.

Scientists are finding microplastics in almost every part of the body, including the lungs and stomach.

Microplastics can be contaminated with toxic chemical additives, which can leach into the body and harm the hormone and reproductive systems.

Similarly, pollutants or microorganisms can also jump on microplastic particles and pose health risks to humans.

Scientists have researched the impact of microplastics on animals. Studies on mice showed exposure to microplastics can disrupt the gut biome, lower sperm quality and testosterone, and impair learning and memory.

Plastic doesn’t decompose. Instead, it breaks down into tinier and tinier pieces. When the size of a piece of plastic is about the width of a small paperclip, the particles are known as microplastic. When they become smaller than a micrometer, they become nanoplastics, which can breach the cell barriers in plants and animals.

Microplastics and nanoplastics have found their way into nearly everything, including animal products, water and even air.

A standard-size water bottle (.5 liter) contained an average of 120,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics, of which 90% can be nanoplastics according to one new study.

Plastics contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health…EDCs disturb the body’s hormone systems and can cause cancer, diabetes, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments in developing fetuses and children.

Tips to Reduce Exposure

1. Dust and vacuum regularly. Removing excess dust can help cut down on the amount of microplastic fibers you breathe.
2. Avoid drinking from disposable plastic water bottles. 
3. If you must use them, keep them out of the sun, in a cool, dry environment.
4. Filter your water. Tap water can contain nanoplastics.
5. Home water filters reduce contaminants including micro/nanoplastics.
6. Avoid plastic cutting boards. 
7. Use wood, glass, or steel.
8. Microwave your food in glass containers. Plastic containers can release millions of microplastic particles into your food.
9. Dispose of all plastic safely either by recycling what can be recycled or by trash disposal to a sanitary landfill.
10. Avoid cutting, sanding, or grinding plastics, especially with power tools. If you must do this work, wear an N95 quality mask.

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Webliography - and original sources for further study

Main Article: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2024/03/new-study-links-microplastics-serious-health-harms-humans

Antartic Plastic: https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/2127/2022/

Atlantic Ocean Bottom: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/microplastic-pollution-is-found-in-deep-sea

Clouds: https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2023/november/microplastics-found-in-clouds-could-affect-the-weather.html

Carotid Arteries Study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822

Human Lungs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722020009

Human Stomach: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36182891/

Hormone and Reproductive Systems:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723062939#:~:text=According%20to%20this%20review%2C%20flame,brain%20development%20and%20kidney%20functions.

Microorganisms and pollutants: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37695231/

Animal - Gut Biome: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653519327328

Animal - Lower Sperm quality/testosterone:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389420314199

Animal - Impaired learning/memory
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389422002199

Animal Products: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352?via%3Dihub

Water: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/wash-documents/microplastics-in-dw-information-sheet190822.pdf

Air: https://www.ciel.org/breathing-plastic-the-health-impacts-of-invisible-plastics-in-the-air/

Water Bottles: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2300582121

Water Bottle Caps: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/10/whats-your-water-bottle-concerns-about-microplastics-caps

PET plastic Water Bottles and UV exposure:
https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/how-uv-light-impacts-pet-containers-and-rpet-options

Plastic Leaches hazardous Chemicals: https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2020/plastics-pose-threat-to-human-health