Microplastics – insidious specks of synthetic doom that have infiltrated every corner of our world. They’re in our water, our food, our air, and, quite possibly, our souls. Okay, maybe not our souls…yet.
But what are these microscopic menaces actually doing to us? And more importantly, how did we let things get this bad?
Let’s dive into the unsettling reality of microplastics, their omnipresence in our daily lives, and what, if anything, we can do about it.
Microplastics are everywhere, they never go away, and they are linked to a wide variety of bad health conditions (cancer, hormonal changes, inflammation, etc)…Feeling unsettled? Good. You’re paying attention.
These plastic particles (less than 5mm and as small as 1nm, which is small enough to be both invisible and infuriating) are the stubborn offspring of our throwaway culture. Unlike organic materials that decompose like responsible citizens of the ecosystem, microplastics just… linger. Forever. They break down into smaller and smaller pieces but never truly disappear.
You often hear things like “plastic bags can’t decompose”. That isn’t true. At least not entirely. It just takes them a very long time to do so. All along the way to this “decomposition” (20 years-ish), the environment (sun, rain, wind, soil) weakens the molecular forces that hold plastic molecules together, and they begin to break off in little chunks.
Think of pebbles in a river. They didn’t start as pebbles. Likely, they were once part of something bigger like a mountain, which eroded away to become a cliff, which dropped huge boulders that exploded into smaller rocks, which tumbled around and broke up into even smaller…you get the idea.
So eventually, all those plastic bags become tiny little individual plastic molecules, but the covalent bonds, yes I went there, holding the atoms together don’t break down with time. Thus, the individual plastic molecules stay just as polyethylene-y as ever, for ever.
But remember, that it isn’t just the plastic bags:
These tiny plastic pieces get spread through the environment by wind and rain, and eventually infiltrate almost all soil and bodies of water.
As you might imagine, this means that the microplastics come right back to us in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They’ve been found in humans from fetuses to geriatrics. It’s the circle of life, except they don’t die and we do.
While research is ongoing, early findings suggest microplastics may:
Water – the elixir of life, the foundation of existence, the thing you’re supposed to drink eight glasses of a day, but probably don’t. Unfortunately, it’s also become a convenient delivery system for microplastics.
Whether you’re sipping from a pristine mountain spring, chugging a bottle of overpriced “artisanal” water, or filling straight from the tap at home, chances are you’re getting a little extra something in every gulp.
Scientists have consistently found microplastics in:
………….feeling a strong side-eye from Mother Nature.
Think bottled water is safer? Think again. Studies show that bottled water often contains more microplastics than tap water.
Why? The plastic bottles themselves shed tiny particles into the water they hold. “Wait,” you might say, “my bottled water is brand new; how can it already be shedding?” Good question.
In an ideal world where the water has been passed through a reverse osmosis filter, freshly filled into a brand new bottle that had been rinsed thoroughly before filling, then delivered to you without ever being exposed to sunlight or temperatures over 70F, you’re probably in good shape. But do I even need to explain how unlikely that is? Likely, the plastic bottle had already been exposed to high heats during shipping to the water filling facility. And then again when shipped to your local grocery. And then again as it sat in your car.
Short of developing gills and moving to an untouched underground spring (good luck finding one), your best bet is filtration.
Mind you, not the junky Brita or pitcher filter, and not your refrigerator filter either (guess what – it’s the exact same type as the pitcher filter). You need some serious business. I always recommend an at-home reverse osmosis system, which can filter out microplastics, PFAS, bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.
One good one I have at home is the iSpring RCC7AK but there are a lot out there and they effectively all do the same thing.
This isn’t the end-all solution to all our woes, but until we figure out how to un-plastic the planet, it’s a solid start.
Whether you’re a devoted carnivore, a proud vegan, or someone who just eats whatever’s in the fridge, chances are you’re consuming microplastics with every bite. Bon appétit?
Let’s start with seafood. Fish, shellfish, and other ocean dwellers are basically swimming through a never-ending buffet of plastic debris, often mistaking it for food (to be fair, some of it does look suspiciously like plankton). When we eat seafood, we’re also eating whatever plastic they’ve ingested.
But that’s not the extent of it. Microplastics have also been found in salt, honey, and even fruits and vegetables. That’s right—your carefully curated organic, locally sourced produce might still come with a side of synthetic particles. How? Because microplastics are in the soil and water used to grow our food. Plants, being the overachievers they are, absorb not only water and nutrients, but, apparently, plastics too.
And let’s not forget food packaging. That convenient plastic wrap keeping your cheese fresh? The plastic container holding your takeout sushi? They’re all potential sources of microplastic contamination. Processing and packaging can introduce tiny plastic fragments into food, meaning that even if your meal started out plastic-free, it might not stay that way by the time it reaches your plate.
Solution? Grow all your own food in a hermetically sealed greenhouse. Alternatively, you can minimize exposure by choosing fresh, unpackaged foods whenever possible, supporting brands that prioritize plastic-free packaging, and filtering your water that you cook with or clean foods with. Not perfect, but a start.
Well, the short answer is: nothing good. The long answer is a swirling vortex of scientific concern, ominous studies, and a growing suspicion that our bodies were never meant to double as plastic storage units.
As previously alluded to, researchers have found these tiny particles in human lungs, blood, and even placentas (yes, babies are now born pre-loaded with plastic). Once inside, they can trigger inflammation, disrupt hormones, and potentially contribute to chronic diseases.
Some studies also suggest that microplastics also interfere with gut health, potentially altering the delicate balance of your microbiome. Given that your gut is the command center for digestion, immunity, and even mood regulation, this is less than ideal. Though it does give us something to blame for our existential dread…
And if that’s not unsettling enough, microplastics are known to carry harmful chemicals like BPA, BPS, and BPF – infamous endocrine disruptors linked to everything from metabolic disorders to fertility issues. (For a deeper dive into that particular horror show, check out our article: BPA, BPS, and BPF—Oh My!).
Of course, scientists are still piecing together the full impact of our accidental plastic diet, but the early findings are enough to make anyone reconsider their bottled water habit. If you’re in the mood for some light bedtime reading that may or may not keep you up at night, check out this study on Microplastics and Human Health.
Bottom line? While we wait for more definitive answers, it’s probably best to assume that ingesting plastic on a daily basis is not, in fact, a health hack.
What can you, a single, well-intentioned human, do against the tidal wave of microscopic plastic nonsense infiltrating your life?
While you probably can’t single-handedly reverse decades of plastic pollution (unless you have a secret time machine, in which case, please use it wisely), you can take steps to minimize your personal exposure and maybe—just maybe—nudge the world in a less plasticky direction.
Microplastics have invaded everything from tap water to bottled water to – somehow – rain itself. Your best defense? A solid filtration system.
✅ Best option: Reverse osmosis filters, like the iSpring RCC7AK, which can help remove these pesky particles, because caffeine is the only thing you should be ingesting in microscopic doses before 9 a.m.
Wrapping everything in plastic isn’t the genius idea we once thought it was.
✅ Best option: glass containers, though metal and paper can also be good.
Every time you wash that cozy fleece or those trendy polyester leggings, they shed thousands of microplastic fibers into the water supply. Your laundry is part of the problem. Sorry.
✅ Best options: Cotton, wool, linen
Microplastics have infiltrated everything from seafood to sea salt to—brace yourself—honey. Even the bees aren’t safe. The bees.
✅ Best options: Eat fewer processed foods (less handling and packaging = lower plastic contamination; support brands that prioritize plastic-free packaging and sustainable practices.
Because nothing says “I care about the planet” like bombarding your friends with alarming statistics about plastic in their tea.
✅ Best options: Share articles and research; support policies that reduce plastic waste; have an awkward but necessary conversation with your favorite coffee shop about ditching plastic lids.
The dream: a world where we sip tea without ingesting microscopic plastic confetti, where fish swim in actual water instead of a polymer-infused broth, and where we don’t have to wonder if our bloodstream is slowly turning into a Tupperware container. But are we anywhere close to that reality?
Well, not exactly. Microplastics are already so thoroughly embedded in our environment that even if we all collectively stopped using plastic tomorrow, we’d still be dealing with the fallout for decades.
That said, all hope is not lost. Scientists are working on plastic alternatives that actually break down. Governments are slowly waking up to the problem, banning microbeads and pushing for better waste management. And on an individual level, we can make choices that reduce our plastic footprint—because while you may not single-handedly save the planet, you can at least avoid drinking your weight in plastic over a lifetime.
So, what’s the takeaway? Until we figure out how to undo decades of plastic dependency, the best we can do is minimize our exposure, and push for systemic change.
