Are microplastics a problem?

Are Microplastics A Problem?

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, diet, or supplement use, especially if you have existing medical conditions or take medications. The information presented here should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Microplastics are everywhere—air, water, food, and even your bloodstream. While the news continues to inform us of horrible new findings related to microplastics, people seem generally unbothered. So, are microplastics a problem? Do they matter? Unfortunately, they do, as they seem to have pronounced health and environmental effects. Within our own bodies, they have been shown to cause organ damage and endocrine disruption, microplastics are interfering with our bodies and environment.

Microplastics are a growing biological threat. This brief article highlights some of the problems posed by microplastics. 

Microplastics Are Already in the Human Body

Microplastics have been detected in virtually every environmental medium: freshwater, seawater, the atmosphere, the soil, and food sources [5,6,9,10]. Studies have even found them in remote mountain ranges and Arctic snow. They’re seemingly everywhere [11].

As they’re ubiquitous in our environment, it makes sense that they’re in our bodies, too. Microplastics have been identified in human blood, lungs, brains, urine, kidneys, stool, and even placental samples [2,12–19]. Of concern, they’ve also been found in carotid artery plaques, raising fear that they’re contributing to chronic inflammation and cardiovascular damage [20,21]. Understandably, more research is needed. But, this level of saturation suggests that microplastics are now part of modern human biochemistry.

The Food Chain Is Contaminated By Microplastics

Microplastics are in the air, water, and soil. Consequently, they’ve been found in many plants and agricultural foods. Once in plants, they’re consumed by other agricultural animals or directly by us, making their way into our bodies. This is a dramatic simplification of the process, but they’re also found in the aquatic ecosystems. 

Small marine organisms consume microplastics in seawater, and the particles move up the food chain to larger animals. This means that seafood, salt, and even drinking water are all potential delivery systems [5,10,15,22,23]. Outside of the land and sea, microplastics can also enter animals and humans via the air. 

For example, synthetic clothing, textiles, and air filters all shed microplastic fibers that end up in indoor air, dust, and eventually, your lungs [6,24]. 

The Damage Microplastics Cause Inside the Body

Microplastic exposure has been shown to trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system disruption [1,17,18,20,25–27]. Microplastic particles interact with our tissues and generate free radicals, causing immune responses. 

Additionally, microplastics are small enough to penetrate cell membranes, causing structural damage to organelles like mitochondria. This leads to DNA disruption, cell death, and long-term tissue inflammation [17,26,28]. Their shape and surface chemistry allow them to mimic biological molecules and interfere with cellular processes.

Inflammation Alone Makes Microplastics A Problem

Studies have linked microplastic exposure to a wide range of chronic conditions. Inhaled particles can lodge in lung tissue and potentially trigger conditions like asthma or pneumoconiosis. Because microplastics persist in lung fluid, they may provoke prolonged immune responses and respiratory damage [10]. Of course, significantly more research is needed to demonstrate causation.

Microplastics have also been found in atheromas—plaque deposits in arteries—and some studies suggest their association with increased inflammation and future adverse cardiovascular events [13,20,21,35]. Again, while more research is needed, this points to systemic effects. 

The digestive tract is also significantly influenced by microplastics. Microplastics can disrupt the microbiome, promote intestinal inflammation, and damage the protective gut lining [17,18]. This opens the door to metabolic disorders and broader immune dysfunction. 

Hormonal Chaos, Reproductive Harm, and Tumor Growth

Microplastics have demonstrated the ability to interfere with hormone production and signaling. This includes altering testosterone levels, disrupting the blood-testis barrier, and damaging sperm viability [1,29,30,32,33]. Animal studies have shown placental dysfunction and growth retardation in embryos exposed to plastics in utero [25,34]. 

Some studies go further, connecting microplastic exposure to tumor promotion. Microplastics have been found in higher concentrations within colorectal adenocarcinomas and have been shown to accelerate tumor metabolism in live animal models [26].

They also appear to affect blood glucose regulation, with different outcomes depending on dietary conditions [36]. In summary, microplastics impact the endocrine, metabolic, and other bodily systems.

Why Microplastics Are So Persistent In Us And The Environment

Microplastics are difficult to remove from the environment and our bodies because they don’t degrade easily. Most are non-biodegradable, fragmenting over time into even smaller particles that are harder to detect and remove [2,4,5,37]. 

Studies have also shown that microplastics can act like magnets for other pollutants. Heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals cling to their surface, piggybacking into tissues and amplifying toxicity [6,38,39].

Where Microplastics Come From

Because we use plastic for nearly everything in our lives, there are a seemingly endless number of sources of microplastics. However, studies have shown that some sources produce more than others. For example, plastic packaging and containers, and their production and waste, are one of the most common sources [1,3,4,40]. Additionally, synthetic textiles, like polyester clothing, and the washing of these textiles, can create significant amounts of microplastics [37]. Moreover, food containers and cosmetics can leach microplastics directly into our food and onto our skin [22,41–43].

The agricultural industry also contributes to microplastic production via plastic mulch, plastic films, and irrigation tubing [37, 44]. Finally, but not exhaustively, industrial runoff, vehicle tires, and more can release microplastics into water systems [37]. Without intervention, microplastic exposure will continue to rise.

What Can I Do About The Microplastic Problem? 

Many people don’t believe that microplastics are a problem. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. In a short period of time, hundreds of studies have shown that microplastics impact our environment, ecological food chains, and our own health. This is why we developed the Deplasto platform. 

The Deplasto platform, consisting of a science-backed supplement, a microplastic intake calculator, and lifestyle recommendations is intended to help you avoid microplastics. Our supplement is formulated to support your body’s natural detoxification defenses, including oxidative stress management, cellular repair, and antioxidant support. Our microplastic intake app is designed to show you an estimate of your daily exposure, with every datapoint backed by scientific studies, to help you understand how you can best avoid microplastics. Lastly, given that it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid microplastic exposure, we have a plethora of lifestyle recommendations designed to help you make small changes for big impacts. 

Overall, we believe that the best way to eliminate microplastics begins with you and the changes you make to your daily life. Over time, collectively, we can make a significant difference. 

Sources

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