Microplastics, Plasticizers, and Your Health

“One word … plastics,” a famous quote from the 1967 film, “The Graduate,” was a prophetic statement about the role plastics would play in our modern world. As a highly functional material, plastics are integral to modern life. What was not predicted in the 1960s was how sick they would make us. As with many modern conveniences, there are unintended consequences.

Microplastics, the tiny products of degradation of plastics, are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed. They are found universally in our blood and travel through our bodies to wherever blood goes, which is everywhere. They are found in our brains and reproductive organs and can even alter our DNA, allowing harm to be transmitted. They are found in breast milk and travel through the placenta into a developing fetus, eventually found in a newborn’s first poop.

Why does this matter? While science is evolving, there is reliable evidence that when plastics degrade, they expose us to the many harmful chemicals used to make plastics, known as “plasticizers,” such as BPA and phthalates. The evidence surrounding the health effects of plasticizers is alarming. They are endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are linked to reproductive harm, cancers, infertility, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy/fetal outcomes. While all are affected, our most vulnerable are our most precious: pregnant moms, babies, and young children. Medical societies we rely on for guidance have advised the medical community to discuss these risks with patients. While the evolving science is acknowledged, their policy statements on microplastics/EDCs summarize that waiting for further proof of harm is a risk to human health.

What can we do? While policy solutions are ideal, they are challenging to enact. Individual actions are within our sphere of control. There are many ways to reduce exposure to microplastics. Some big ones: avoid packaged and processed foods and drink/cook with filtered water. Other suggestions: use glass or stainless steel water bottles, store and reheat food in glass, minimize canned food (BPA lining), avoid daily coffee in “paper cup” (also chemical lined)—bring your own mug instead, wear cotton/linen/wool instead of lycra/polyester/fleece, use an air purifier with a HEPA filter in your home, avoid heavy fragrances in cosmetics/lotions/detergents…

Want to know more? Check out these trusted sites. endocrinesociety.org, ewg.org, consumerreports.org

The more you learn, the more you can do to protect our planet, yourself and those you love.

Healthy Planet <-> Healthy People