A recent scientific study that found about a spoonful worth (7 grams) of microplastics in post-mortem human brains has been making headlines, leaving many people wondering, are microplastics bad for you?
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments that are less than 5 millimeters long. They are a type of waste resulting from widespread plastic use and can end up in our environment and our bodies.
Major results of the study
The study, which was published by Nature Medicine on February 3rd, compared the plastic content in human organs like the brain, liver, and kidneys from 2016 to 2025. What they found was that microplastics seem to be increasing in concentration in our tissues over time, with the brain absorbing more than the liver or kidneys.
They also discovered that brains with dementia had higher levels of plastics in them, though the study did not conclude that microplastics were the cause of dementia — it only showed a correlation.
An interesting finding from the study was that the microplastics that were found in human organs resembled shards or flakes. Recent research has been shining light on the idea that plastics have the ability to “shed,” and the presence of these flakes or shards is evidence that plastics are indeed shedding and have the potential to end up in our bodies.
Quelling worries from the research
As someone with a grave concern regarding the amount of microplastics that could potentially be in our bodies and accumulating in our soil, air, and water, it is important to remember that our bodies are complex ecosystems capable of amazing resilience.
Many scientists agree that while microplastics have the ability to get into our bodies, there are still many uncertainties regarding the outcomes. Additionally, exposure to microplastics is not necessarily a death sentence. Millions of people continue to drink from plastic water bottles, microwave their food in plastic, and wear plastic fibers.
While microplastics have been shown to potentially have toxic effects due to their ability to absorb and interact with other chemicals, some scientists are already investigating ways to combat this toxicity. A study published in July 2023 identified probiotics as a potential aid in fighting toxic plastic particles, sending a signal on the ever growing importance of nutrition to human health.
Even more, fungus has been considered a promising solution in the fight against widespread plastic pollution in our environment. Researchers have discovered that certain species of fungi have the ability to absorb plastic particles and form pellets, aiding in the clean up of plastic pollution.
Intuition and action is key
The abundance of plastic in our environment and our bodies in no doubt alarming, but it could be years, or decades before we know the true impacts of microplastics.
Even without a solid understanding of their impacts, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of microplastics in their bodies and the environment. Humans have a strong sense of intuition, and we can use that to guide us to make the right decisions.
Trusting our intuition about microplastics and turning it into actionable steps is key. While it is hard to give a definite, scientific “yes” as to whether microplastics are bad for you, many people including myself prefer not to be exposed. Luckily, there are steps we can take to reduce our exposure to microplastics, and many of them hinge on avoiding plastic all together.
How can I reduce my exposure and the environmental buildup of microplastics?
- Limit or avoid drinking out of plastic water bottles.
- Microwave food in glass instead of plastic.
- Purchase natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool, and hemp.
- Limit laundering of plastic fibers.
- Dine in rather than getting take out.
For more ways to reduce your exposure to microplastics, visit the Public Interest Research Group’s tips.
Beyond avoidance: Support a global plastics treaty
Completely avoiding plastic is nearly impossible in our highly plastic world. Therefore, solutions beyond individual and consumer choices will be necessary to combat the ever growing issue of microplastic pollution, which is currently projected to increase in the future.
Perhaps the singular most important solution to the plastic pollution crisis is the adoption of policy that places a limit on plastic production, especially single use plastics and otherwise non critical or necessary plastics.
In March 2022, 175 countries voted to adopt a global plastics treaty, a first of its kind effort to address plastic using policy worldwide. The global plastics treaty was spearheaded by the United Nations Environmental Assembly and is a promising solution to an unnecessary and avoidable crisis. Learn more about the effort here.
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