That water bottle you just drank from? It might be leaving behind tiny pieces of plastic smaller than the period at the end of this sentence.
Scientists have discovered these microscopic plastic bits, called microplastics, are showing up everywhere - in our morning coffee, favorite foods, and even in the air we breathe. What’s more surprising? They’ve found these plastic particles in human blood, heart tissue, and even breast milk.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters - about the size of a pencil eraser. Some are so tiny they’re as thin as a strand of DNA, making them impossible to spot with our eyes alone.
Dr. Brian Cummings, Dean of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Wayne State University, explains the challenge scientists face: “The difficulty there is because they come in so many shapes and so many sizes, there is not one standard method that we can use to rapidly assess and quantify the level that are found in these areas.”
Lab Studies Raise Questions
When scientists tested these particles in laboratories, they found concerning results. According to Cummings, “There’s evidence for increases in inflammation, increases in oxidative stress, evidence for reproductive effects, and some evidence for neurotoxicity.” However, he emphasizes these findings come from experimental studies and haven’t been proven in humans.
The Good News and Bad News
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) haven’t found any evidence that plastic particles in food are hurting us. Think of it like a mystery book where some pages are missing - scientists know part of the story, but they need more information to figure out the whole plot.
What Can You Do?
Cummings addresses the reality of living in a plastic-filled world: “This is not an issue that we can life choice or even shop our way out of. But there are things that you can do to reduce your plastic exposure.”
Looking to the Future
“The effects of plastics on the environment is something that we should be able to address,” Cummings states. He predicts increased pressure to reduce plastic use in the future, noting that how we dispose of and recycle plastics is now being seriously studied.
The Bottom Line
While scientists continue their research on how microplastics might affect our health, they agree on one thing - finding ways to use less plastic is probably a good idea, both for ourselves and our planet. The overall health effects remain uncertain, but environmental concerns are clear enough to warrant taking reasonable steps to reduce plastic use when possible.