The Nightmare of Plastics

Plastics are ubiquitous in our lives.  They are in the food that we eat, the water that we drink, the air that we breathe, the products that we use and the dust on our floors.  We wrap our groceries in plastics, we heat up food in them and even cook with them, we eat from them, we store food in them and we use fancy plastic mugs to carry our water.  Plastic microbeads are routinely used in medicines, cosmetics, personal care products, detergents and fertilizers. We even wear clothes that have plastics woven into them.

In addition, it is not only the plastics that we use intentionally that we have to worry about.  All plastic breaks down over time and, as it degrades, an abundance of smaller particles known as microplastics and nanoplastics are created.  Smaller fragments of plastic from items such as discarded plastic bags and containers, synthetic rubber tires and textiles are easily spread. Studies have discovered microplastics in the Arctic snow, on Hawaiian beaches and inside the bodies of the residents of this planet.  (1)  These hidden plastics  are regularly ingested by humans, and indeed, by virtually all living creatures on the Earth.    (2)

It is estimated that the average person living in North America eats and breathes in about 5 grams (1 teaspoonful) of microplastics every week.  (2)

NOTE: 

Plastics become microplastics when they measure between 5 millimeters and 1 μm (micrometer or micron) in size in one direction.  Microplastics are visible to the naked eye.

Plastics become nanoplastics when they are less than 1 μm (micrometer or micron) in size which is the equivalent of .001 mm (1 thousandth of a mm) or .000001 meter (1 millionth of a meter).  These infinitesimal particles are definitely not visible to the naked eye and have to be detected through scientific analytical techniques such as spectroscopy or fluorescent analyses.

The widespread use of plastics has been convenient and inexpensive for the makers of many products but do we ever think of its possible effects on health?

Very small bits of plastic have long been considered inactive.  But there is now evidence that they are far from inert.  Disturbingly, it has been confirmed that microplastics can leak from the gut to the rest of the body and be deposited in various tissues including the brain, heart and blood vessels, liver, kidneys, spleen, joints and the reproductive organs. (1,2)

• Microplastics that end up in the brain may be contributing to the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
• Adverse effects on the immune and nervous systems have been linked to the presence of plastic particles.
• Microplastics in the heart and blood vessels are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease.
• Microplastics in the colon are linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease and liver disease.
• Inflammation caused by microplastic pieces can disrupt important barriers in the body. Researchers have evidence of microplastics crossing the blood-brain-barrier and dispersing into the brain.  Microplastics have also breached the placenta and been detected near babies developing in the uterus.

The community of microorganisms that reside in our gut, making up our microbiome, is directly related to our health.  Microbiological studies show that microplastics promote imbalances in the population of gut microbes which lead to inflammation and dysfunction of the gut.  Pathogenic microbes (those linked to disease) are particularly invigorated by plastics while the growth of healthy microbes is inhibited.  This leads to a reduction in the richness and diversity in the species of microbes in the gut.  Greater microbial diversity confers stability and health in the gut whereas diversity loss leads to an unhealthy poorly functioning gut state. (1,2)

Some of these damages arise due to the chemicals used in the manufacture of plastic products.   Chemicals such as bisphenols and phthalates are plasticizers, added to plastics to make them softer and more flexible, and they end up in a wide variety of packaged foods.  Both of these chemicals are linked to a long list of health concerns even when they are present at very low levels.  There is clear verification that they disrupt the endocrine and hormone systems (by interfering with the production and regulation of estrogen and other hormones) and are also associated with neurodevelopmental problems, metabolic disorders and reproductive issues.  Moreover, there are more chemicals than just bisphenols and phthalates in plastics; they number in the thousands and many of them have not been tested for safety.  National biomonitoring surveys by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US have found plastic chemicals, including bisphenols and phthalates, inside virtually everyone they have tested.  (4,5)

 

How Can We Protect Ourselves From Plastics?

Various governments have been working towards reducing the use of plastics.  For instance, in the US, microplastics have not been allowed to be added to toothpaste and face washes as abrasives since 2015.  In 2023 the European Union passed legislation to restrict and even block the addition of microplastics in all products.  The United Nations Environment Assembly approved an agreement in 2024 to search for the means to make and enforce policies regarding the exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics in humans.   However, with an abundance of plastics everywhere in the environment this will not be an easy problem to fix.  (1,2,3)

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take in your own daily life to lower your interactions with plastic particles. (6)

• Start by taking an inventory of your kitchen, zooming in on plastic items. Examine the dishes on which you serve your food, the utensils you use to prepare food and eat it; the pots, pans and devices that you use for cooking your food; and the containers in which you store your food.  Once you discover where plastics are lurking, you can replace them with healthier kitchen tools by choosing wood, stainless steel or silicone items.  Also check out your cutting boards and ditch your plastic ones for wood or silicone boards.
• Reduce your use of plastic wrap and food containers by choosing glass or steel food storage containers. Be sure to keep the level of the food being placed in these containers below the top of the container to avoid contact with lids that are often made of plastic. If you do use some plastic containers, do not choose them to store hot foods or for heating up food as higher temperatures can increase the leaching out of plastic ingredients.
• Get rid of your plastic mixing bowls and aim for glass or steel bowls.
• Invest in glass or steel water bottles and avoid plastic straws.
• Avoid fast foods as much as possible. They contain some of the highest levels of phthalates found in foods.  It is postulated that this may be due to people wearing vinyl gloves while preparing the foods.  Vinyl gloves are known to be extremely high in these chemicals.
• Avoid high-fat foods. Plasticizers are fat-soluble and are easily taken up by fat, ending up in your own body. A 2020 review reported plastic levels in the body that were five to ten times higher in cream than in milk (7).
• Eat fresh, minimally processed food such as unpackaged fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. They are not highly processed so have a lower chance of coming into contact with plastic chemicals.  A 2014 study found that people eating more ultra-processed foods had higher phthalate levels in their bodies compared to those eating less ultra-processed foods.  (8)
• Check your cosmetics such as skin creams, cleansers, shampoos and perfumes for evidence of plastics and find a plastic-free replacement product. An app like “Yuka” can help you to check for unwanted ingredients like endocrine disruptors.
• Refuse paper receipts, especially if they are glossy. They are often coated in bisphenols.
• Open the windows and vacuum your house regularly. Phthalates are used in items like furniture, flooring and curtains and they can accumulate in household dust.
• Limit your use of vinyl which uses plasticizers as key ingredients.

Sometimes it seems like the world around us is becoming more and more hostile to our health.  It is good to know that there are often lifestyle choices that can make a difference in your wellbeing.

 

SOURCES:

1  https://pfascentral.org/news/what-to-know-about-microplastics-phthalates-bpa-and-pfas

2  Sofield, C.E., Anderton, R.S., Gorecki, A.M. Mind over Microplastics: Exploring Microplastic-Induced Gut Disruption and Gut-Brain-Axis Consequences. Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 2024; 46(5):4186-4202. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050256

3  https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/chemicals/reach/restrictions/commission-regulation-eu-20232055-restriction-microplastics-intentionally-added-products_en

4  https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/how-plastic-can-harm-your-health-a2854312421/

5  https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/the-plastic-chemicals-hiding-in-your-food-a7358224781/

6  https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/how-to-reduce-exposure-to-plastic-in-food-everywhere-else-a9640874767/

7  Giuliani,A., Zuccarini, M., Cichelli, A., Khan, H., Reale, M. Critical Review on the Presence of Phthalates in Food and Evidence of Their Biological Impact. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Aug 5;17(16):5655. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165655. PMID: 32764471; PMCID: PMC7460375.

8  Buckley, J.P., Kim, H., Wong, E., Rebholz, C.M. Ultra-processed food consumption and exposure to phthalates and bisphenols in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2014. Environ Int. 2019 Oct;131:105057.Doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105057. Epub 2019 Aug 6. PMID: 31398592; PMCID: PMC6728187.