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Whether through the news or worst-case-scenario social media forums, you’ve likely heard about microplastics and the potential impacts they can have on your health. Some of these sources suggest that microplastics are no big deal, while others claim they are, well ... slowly killing us.
If you’re wondering how anxious you should actually be about microplastics, and if there’s anything you can do to limit your exposure to them, here’s what is important to know.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are very small particles of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in length and width. When plastics that we see and use in our everyday life break down, they often create microplastic particles.
Microplastics are … everywhere. They pollute the oceans, are in trash, dust and fabrics, and can be found in your food and drinks and, unfortunately, in the tissues in your body.
While it’s certain you’ve been exposed to microplastics, there are still a lot of unknowns.
“We don’t really know how long microplastics stay in the body,” says Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, associate director of the University of Washington Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development. “But we do know that some harmful chemicals can leach from microplastics and get into the body. They can also be expelled through stool.”
What is known about the health impacts of microplastics?
Research on microplastics is still so new that there’s still a lot to learn, but researchers know for certain about some health effects.
“What’s well known is the toxicity from chemicals in plastics,” says Sathyanarayana. “When they leach from the plastics, many of them are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they can affect the hormones in your body.”
Some of the chemicals that can be found in plastics are more toxic than others, but Sathyanarayana says you can think of it like a “soup” of chemicals when you consider all the different types that are in plastics.
What is still unknown about the health impacts of microplastics?
Researchers are still unsure about how much microplastics are affecting our health.
“What’s not as well known about microplastics is the impact of the physical particles on our bodies,” says Sathyanarayana. “It’s similar to a splinter — it may not be highly impactful, but if you get a lot of splinters, it could be problematic.”
It’s also unclear which groups of people are at greater risk of adverse health effects from microplastic exposure; however, Sathyanarayana hypothesizes that pregnant people, young children and older adults are at increased risk of health impacts.
What is the best way to limit exposure to microplastics?
Sathyanarayana says there are simple things you can do to limit your exposure:
- Take off your shoes when you enter your home to avoid tracking microplastics into the home.
- Keep dust in your home to a minimum, as dust particles can contain microplastics.
- Try to drink from glass and stainless steel bottles when possible.
- Store your leftovers in glass Tupperware instead of plastic.
- Don’t reheat your leftovers in plastic containers.
- Don’t use plastic in cooking or food preparation (such as plastic cutting boards, spatulas or mixing bowls)
Are microplastics something to be concerned about?
Yes … and no. It’s important to think about microplastics and your potential exposure to them, but don’t let your anxiety take over.
“People have measured microplastics in lots of different tissues in the body, so we know we are all exposed,” says Sathyanarayana. “But the bigger question is: Do the particles have health impacts separate from the chemical exposures that we have known about for many years now?”
It’s possible that the effects outside of chemical exposures could be significant, but for now, researchers just don’t know if that’s the case. In addition to doing what you can to limit your exposure to microplastics, continue taking care of your health and body in the best ways you know how — such as a healthy diet and staying active — and stay up to date with your routine screenings.
