Do microplastics stay in your body forever?

Do Microplastics Stay in your Body Forever?

⚕️ 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.

While most microplastics appear to pass through your body, other microplastics stay in your body, circulate through your blood, and interfere with everything from your immune response to your metabolism. There is still a considerable gap in human studies assessing how many microplastics pass through you, and how many remain.

Here’s what current research reveals about microplastic accumulation, clearance, and why we should be concerned that they remain in our bodies much longer than we’d think.

Yes, Microplastics Stay in Your Body

Microplastics have been found in the lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines, spleen, and brain. Studies have shown that microplastics are retained in tissue, which points to active accumulation [5–10]. Smaller microplastics, especially nanoplastics under 100 nm (the size of some viruses), can easily enter our bloodstream from the gut and breathing. Nanoplastics have been shown to pass through common biological barriers, like cell walls, enter the bloodstream, and reach nearly every organ system [11,12].

Moreover, studies have shown that different microplastics aggregate in different tissues. Research shows that microplastics concentrate in the liver, while smaller nanoplastics can remain trapped in the gut, brain, kidneys, and reproductive organs [6,13]. The lungs pose a special concern, as studies suggest that they have a lower capacity to remove microplastic particles, meaning microplastics may stay for extended periods [10,14].

Translocation through the blood makes the situation worse. Microplastics have been confirmed in human blood samples, proving they’re able to circulate throughout the body and lodge in distant tissues [3,15]

How the Body Tries to Get Rid of Microplastics

The body does try to remove microplastics. Over 90% of ingested microplastics larger than 150 μm are excreted in feces [16]. Another study done in rats found that 94% of ingested microplastics were excreted in the feces [32]. Human stool samples consistently contain microplastics, confirming that at least some are flushed out via the digestive tract [3,17].

Urine is another pathway. Microplastics have been detected in urine, particularly the smaller types that can be filtered through the kidneys [18,19]. One study of 26 men found microplastics in all their urine, with an average concentration of 5.06 μg/g [17]. But that still leaves many others trapped.

The problem is scale. With frequent exposure through air, water, and food, your body faces a constant influx of microplastics. The limited ability to excrete smaller particles, especially those with certain chemical properties or surface charges, means they can accumulate over time [12].

Infographic illustrating how different sizes of microplastics are processed by the human body, featuring nanoplastics, small microplastics, and large microplastics. Key message highlights that most microplastics are removed through the digestive system, but 10% may remain and cause harm.

What Factors Determine Whether Microplastics Stay In Your Body Or Leave?

There are several factors that determine whether microplastics leave our body or remain in our tissues. Firstly, as previously discussed, size plays an important role. Smaller plastic particles, nanoplastics, are more likely to be absorbed through the intestinal wall and retained within the body. Larger particles, microplastics, are more likely to pass through the digestive system without entering tissues [12,16].

Another factor that influences microplastic excretion or retention is the particles’ surface properties. Microplastics with hydrophobic surfaces, or those that avoid water, or with strong positive surface charges, are more likely to penetrate biological membranes and remain within the body [12].

Additionally, microplastic retention is influenced by the route of exposure, i.e., inhalation or consumed. Inhaled microplastics may accumulate more easily in the lungs, while ingested microplastics pass through the gut and leave or stay based on other factors [12,15,20]. Lastly, our own individual biology can influence the fate of microplastics in our body. For example, our metabolic rate, immune function, and preexisting health conditions all impact how effectively your body clears or stores microplastics [21].

Infographic titled 'What Factors Influence Microplastic Toxicity?' outlining the impact of size, shape, surface chemistry, charge, composition, and duration & dose on microplastic toxicity.

What Happens When Microplastics Stay In Your Body?

Once they’re trapped in our tissues, microplastics have the potential to cause cellular harm. Microplastics can provoke immune responses and chronic inflammation, especially in lung and liver tissues [2,10,22]. Over time, this inflammation can trigger disease processes, including cancer [2,11].

Microplastics also generate oxidative stress and damage DNA. This can lead to cell death, tissue dysfunction, and increased cancer risk [2,6,7,13,22]. Their interaction with the gut microbiome can also disrupt digestion, mood, immunity, and long-term metabolic health [2,7,11].

Some particles act like chemical freight trains. They carry heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, and other pollutants into the bloodstream, which can amplify their toxicity and make them more difficult to remove [3,11,14].

Microplastics can also potentially cause cardiovascular complications. Microplastics have been found in the arteries of patients with acute coronary syndrome. They’re associated with increased atherosclerosis and more complex vascular damage [13,23].

What Research Still Hasn’t Solved

We still don’t know how long microplastics stay in specific tissues. There have also been no long-term human studies that have definitively tracked microplastic accumulation across decades [3,10]. Researchers are also trying to create wearable, real-time monitoring devices that can detect internal microplastic exposure, something that’s currently impossible [3].

We also don’t know enough about population-specific risks. Individuals with chronic conditions or high baseline exposure might be more vulnerable to accumulation and long-term effects [3].

There is one thing we do know, microplastics are in our bodies.

How Can I Potentially Lower My Microplastic Exposure?

We still need significantly more research to understand how we can remove microplastics and their metabolic byproducts from our bodies. Consequently, one of the best things that we can do for our health is to lower our intake of microplastics. While challenging due to their ubiquity, there are many simple, small steps that we can take each day that, over time, will compound into reduced microplastic intake and potentially better wellness. That is why we developed the Deplasto platform.

Our platform, consisting of a science-backed supplement, a microplastic intake app, and lifestyle recommendations is intended to help you avoid microplastics. Our all-natural 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

Deplasto Research Team

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Deplasto Research Team

Founded in 2024, Deplasto is a lifestyle platform focused on tackling the microplastics problem. We offer nutritional supplements, health tech, educational, and community-based solutions focused on empowering individuals and groups to minimize microplastics in their lives. Our articles are grounded in peer-reviewed studies and primary scientific literature, prioritizing systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and data from independent research institutions over secondary reporting.

Do microplastics stay in your body forever?