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Have you ever heard the statistic that every person has a spoonful of plastic in their brain? I remember hearing this for the first time and being absolutely shocked. How can we have plastic in our bodies? Doesn’t it get expelled like other unwanted compounds?

It turns out that this spoonful of plastic isn’t one solid lump, but rather a collection of thousands of microscopic plastic particles called microplastics. Microplastics are small chunks of plastic less than five millimeters in length which can be detrimental to the health of both humans and animals. 

Today I’d like to share some information regarding microplastics’ effect on the environment as well as ways that you can prevent creating them.

First of all, let’s talk about how microplastics are created. Most microplastics are created from the eventual breakdown of larger plastic products, things like water bottles and cling wrap. Microfibers are created by shedding from synthetic materials like polyester, which are mostly created from plastic.

Asides from the breakdown of plastics, some microplastics come from plastics that are purposely intended to be small, like exfoliating beads in face washes.

You may not realize it, but microplastics can be found just about everywhere. One study found that humans consume between 39,000 to 52,000 microplastics a year on average. They have been found in breast milk, arteries and even cell nuceli—very scary to consider.

There is still so much that we do not know about microplastics because it is such a new field. However, research does suggest that they can cause DNA damage, cancer and reproductive issues. There is also evidence that microplastic exposure can heighten the effects of  toxicants such as cadmium—a known carcinogen—on the body. 

Microplastics also are extremely dangerous to plant and animal life; they have been found to slow down the growth of phytoplankton, a microscopic marine algae that serves as the base of many aquatic food webs.

Back on land, microplastics have also been found to decrease soil fertility, in turn decreasing harvests and organism biodiversity. 

Finally, microplastics also have special light-absorbing properties. When they get mixed with snow and ice in the Arctic, they increase melting, speeding global warming and causing flooding from rising ocean levels. 

After hearing all this doom and gloom, I’m sure you’re wondering how you can avoid expelling and consuming microplastics. 

The biggest thing that needs to occur is a transition away from plastics to more sustainable materials. Companies need to start to invest in wood, metal and glass products both to prevent microplastics and unnecessary pollution. 

As far as what the average consumer can do, luckily, there are many simple steps we can take to help. 

First, make sure to never microwave plastic. Instead, opt for glass ceramic heating vessels since heating plastic can release harmful chemicals. 

Try to buy as little plastic as possible, notably buy reusable water bottles and natural fibers in clothing. 

Microplastics are what is known as a bioaccumulator, which means that they build up in the fat of animals the further up the food chain you go. For this reason, try to limit eating meat since these organisms can have a large concentration of microplastics in them. 

Nonstick cookware has also been found to release a large amount of microplastics, especially when scratched, so try sticking to alternative forms of cookware.

These are just a few of the things that you can do but there are so many other ways to avoid microplastics. Read this list here for some more ideas. 

Hopefully you aren’t too freaked out after reading all of this. Remember that taking any steps is better than none, and that the actions you take, no matter how small, compile and leave a lasting impact.

 That’s all for today, see you tomorrow!

Elena