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⚕️ 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.
Thankfully, early evidence suggests that most larger microplastics leave the body (~90%). However, the body’s ability to remove microplastics varies on numerous factors. These factors include the size, shape, and chemical profile of the microplastic particle. Some microplastics are easily and quickly excreted, while others remain in our bodies and in tissues. This article breaks down the major elimination pathways and the biological factors that determine clearance versus accumulation.
The dominant route of microplastic elimination is through feces. Studies show that over 90% of ingested microplastics larger than 150 µm, or two human hairs, are excreted in stool [3–4]. Detected microplastic particles include fibers, films, and fragments originating from food, water, and the air [1, 4].
Microplastic particles that remain confined to the gastrointestinal tract, without crossing the intestinal barrier, are efficiently expelled. However, the likelihood of removal decreases as particle size drops, such as nanoplastics, and as interaction with epithelial membranes increases [1, 2, 3].
Microplastics smaller than 10 µm, or a bacteria, have been detected in urine, confirming their ability to cross the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and pass through renal filtration in the kidneys [5–6]. Nanoplastics can easily move into the bloodstream, suggesting the kidneys play a nontrivial role in clearing systemic particles.
Detection of microplastics in urine also implies that particles must move from the gut to the blood and then to the kidneys [5–6]. This is particularly alarming as it means that they’re moving through our blood daily.
Microplastic particles inhaled into the lungs can be mobilized by mucociliary clearance and expelled via sputum, a mix of mucus and saliva [5]. Microplastics detected in sputum tend to reflect indoor air or occupational exposures and often correlate with the microplastic content in environmental dust.
Women can excrete microplastics through breast milk [1, 5]. Polypropylene is frequently detected in breast milk, likely originating from food containers and personal care products. This elimination route also raises concern about transfer to infants.
Not all microplastics are eliminated quickly. Smaller particles, especially those that are less than 10 µm, can penetrate epithelial barriers via paracellular and transcellular transport [1, 7, 12–13]. Once in circulation, they’re distributed through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to internal organs including the liver, kidneys, spleen, and gut [1, 6].
These particles can be taken up by immune cells, embedded in tissue, or slowly excreted via renal or hepatobiliary systems. Some may bypass degradation altogether due to their stable polymer structure, enabling long-term residence in biological systems [3, 10, 11].
In summary, the factors that influence whether microplastics and nanoplastics stay in our bodies include particle size, shape, charge, and physiochemical stability. Larger particles are primarily excreted via feces, while smaller particles are more likely to penetrate tissues and appear in urine or other fluids [1, 5]. Fragments tend to clear faster than fibers, which are more structurally durable and can entangle within tissue architecture [5]. The surface properties of microplastics can also influence how well the particle interacts with mucus membranes and, consequently, whether the particle is expelled or internalized [1,9]. Lastly, non-degradable polymers (e.g., PE, PP, PS) resist enzymatic breakdown and can persist longer than biodegradable variants.
While studies suggest that most larger microplastics leave the body easily, we need significantly more research to truly understand how much enters and leaves daily. Studies show that some microplastics are excreted in days, while others may lodge in tissues for years. Their persistence depends not just on exposure, but on physiology, particle dynamics, and biochemical context. If you’re concerned about microplastics, it’s critical to develop a lifestyle strategy aimed at reducing exposure and intake of microplastics.
While it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to avoid microplastics, there are many small, simple actions that you can take each day to lower the amount of microplastics you consume. This is why we developed the Deplasto platform.
Our platform, consisting of a nutritional supplement, an app for tracking microplastic intake over time, and lifestyle recommendations is intended to help you avoid microplastics. Our supplement, that contains several all-natural ingredients studied alongside microplastics, is formulated to support your body’s natural detoxification defenses, including oxidative stress management, cellular repair, and antioxidant support. Our microplastic intake tool 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 in your health and the environment.
Sources:
You may have seen the headlines or posts claiming that glass beverage bottles contain more microplastics than plastic bottles. These claims state that glass bottles…
Microplastics have been found in our water, our food, and even the air we breathe. Although human studies are limited, studies in animals and cell…
Microplastics have been found in our water, our food, and even the air we breathe. Although studies in humans are limited, academic studies in animals…
