Plastics and Your Health
Plastic isn’t just a litter problem, it’s a health problem.
Tiny particles called microplastics are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. As a result, they are in our bodies, too
These tiny particles — called microplastics and nanoplastics — are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. As a result, they are in our bodies, too.
Microplastics have been found in the human brain, intestine, lungs, liver, spleen, and heart, as well as in blood, breast milk, and the placenta.
In May, 2024, investigators reported finding microplastics in 100% of the human and dog testes they studied.
In March, researchers reported finding microplastics inside of plaque taken from patients’ carotid arteries. These patients had a 450% increased chance of suffering heart attacks and strokes.
What do microplastics do inside the body?
Microplastics may be contributing to increases in cancer, obesity, diabetes, autsim spectrum disorders, ADHD, and reductions in sperm count and fertility.
Much of the danger comes from the many chemicals used to manufacture plastics.
Over 16,000 chemicals can are involved in the production of plastic.
Of these, over 3,200 are classed as “chemicals of concern.” Some are carcinogens. Some are neurotoxic and impact brain development and IQ.
Inside the body, microplastics act like tiny trojan horses, releasing their chemicals directly into organs, blood, and tissues.
Many of these chemicals disrupt hormones. There are no safe levels of hormone disrupting chemicals.
Hormone disruptors derail vital processes all over the human body.
They interfere with metabolism and contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
They are especially dangerous for babies and children. Fetal exposure to hormone disruptors has been linked to the development of autism spectrum disorders and ADHD
They contribute to early puberty in girls and declining fertility in both women and men.
They are associated with a dramatic reduction in human sperm count since the 1970s.
In the lab, cells and organs placed in contact with microplastic are visibly harmed.
Cells become inflamed and undergo oxidative stress, which means they can’t process toxins or repair themselves well.
Mitochondria, the organelles that provide energy to cells, don’t function well.
Not infrequently, cells die.
How do we solve this?
Presently, there is no known method for “cleaning up” the microplastics in our bodies.
The only way to protect ourselves is to reduce the production of non-essential plastics.
For more information on plastics and human health, click here.
