Maya Ellison
While plastic is not toxic if ingested, swallowing it can have adverse effects on the body. The effects depend on the size of the plastic piece and vary from no symptoms at all to choking, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and even gastrointestinal perforation. In addition, plastic contains chemicals such as phthalates, which can be transferred to food and lead to health issues such as asthma, cancer, and infertility. Recent studies have also linked plastic exposure to changes in gut bacteria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingesting plastic toxic | No |
| Plastic passing through the digestive system | Yes |
| Plastic appearing in stool | Yes |
| Choking hazard | Yes |
| Risk of cutting the digestive tract | Yes |
| Risk of perforation | Yes |
| Microplastics impact on gut health | Yes |
| Microplastics impact on gut bacteria | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Ingesting plastic is usually harmless
However, if the piece of plastic is large, it can get stuck in your throat or oesophagus, causing difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties. If the plastic is sharp, it could cut your digestive tract and cause bleeding. In such cases, it is important to seek medical help.
While the impact of ingesting plastic on human health is not yet fully understood, there is growing concern about the presence of microplastics in our food, water, and air. Research suggests that single-use plastics can introduce microplastics and chemicals into our food, and heated plastics may leach these chemicals, including bisphenol A, phthalates, and styrene, into food. These chemicals can interfere with hormones and have been linked to reduced fertility, cancer, nervous system problems, and hearing loss.
To reduce exposure to microplastics, experts recommend limiting the use of single-use plastics, avoiding heating food or water in plastic, and using water filters that are certified to reduce microplastics.
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Plastic can get stuck in your oesophagus
Swallowing a small piece of plastic will usually not cause any symptoms and will pass harmlessly through the digestive system. However, a larger piece of plastic could get stuck in the oesophagus, leading to severe symptoms.
When plastic gets stuck in the oesophagus, it can cause difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and even bleeding if the plastic is sharp. Other symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain or cramping, blood in the stool, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. If you experience any of these symptoms after swallowing plastic, it is important to seek medical help immediately.
There are home remedies that can help dislodge items stuck in the oesophagus, such as drinking carbonated beverages like soda or selzer water, or mixing baking soda with water. Effervescent drugs like Alka-Seltzer can also help break down objects stuck in the oesophagus. Repeated sips of water or naturally soft foods like bananas can also help moisten and lubricate the oesophagus, making it easier for the plastic to move down into the stomach.
If the plastic does not dislodge and symptoms persist, it is crucial to seek medical attention. The webPOISONCONTROL online tool and the Poison Control hotline (1-800-222-1222) are available 24 hours a day to provide free and confidential expert guidance.
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Plastic can cause gastrointestinal perforation
Ingesting plastic is not uncommon, especially in children. Most of the time, the plastic will pass through the digestive tract without causing harm. However, in rare cases, plastic can cause gastrointestinal perforation, leading to serious health complications.
Gastrointestinal perforation is a rare but serious condition that can occur when a foreign object, such as a plastic bread bag clip or a small plastic bag, is ingested. Perforation occurs in less than 1% of cases of foreign body ingestion, but when it does occur, it can have severe consequences. The ileocaecal and rectosigmoid regions of the gastrointestinal tract are the most frequently affected areas.
The unique shape of plastic bread bag clips can result in a trap-like effect, making it difficult to remove them once they are ingested. In some cases, the ingested plastic may be invisible on imaging scans, making diagnosis challenging. Food residue on the plastic can sometimes calcify, making it visible on computed tomography (CT) scans, but this can also make it more difficult to remove.
If a piece of plastic gets stuck in the throat or esophagus, it can cause difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. Sharp pieces of plastic can also cut the digestive tract, leading to bleeding. Symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation include abdominal distension, vomiting, pain, and cramping in the abdomen.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has ingested plastic and is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical help immediately. Expert guidance is available through poison control hotlines, and surgical treatment may be necessary in severe cases.
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Microplastics can disrupt the human microbiome
Ingesting plastic is generally not toxic, and small pieces of plastic will usually pass harmlessly through the digestive tract. However, the impact of microplastics (MPs)—plastic particles smaller than 5 mm—on human health has been a growing concern, particularly their effects on the gut microbiome and the resulting systemic consequences.
MPs have been shown to accumulate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, disrupting the gut microbiome and causing dysbiosis, a harmful imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria. This disruption has been linked to various health issues, including gastrointestinal disorders, systemic inflammation, and chronic diseases. The gut-brain axis may also be affected, potentially leading to neuroinflammatory conditions.
Several studies have investigated the impact of MPs on the gut microbiome. For example, research by Campanale et al. (2020) and Emenike et al. (2023) found that ingestion of polyethylene may increase the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Additionally, Nugrahapraja et al. (2022) observed that MP contamination in Indonesian coastal and highland populations correlated with specific bacterial taxa (Roseburia, Clostridium, and Prevotella) and plastic-degrading enzyme genes in the gut microbiome.
Furthermore, Palacio-Cortés et al. (2022) examined the effects of nylon MPs on Chironomus sancticaroli larvae, finding that while bacterial alpha diversity remained stable, the presence of MPs influenced specific taxa, including Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria, resulting in an altered microbiome structure. Similarly, Zhang et al. (2024) exposed silkworms (Bombyx mori) to MPs and observed disruptions in gut microbiota diversity and signaling pathways related to development and cocoon production.
The presence of MPs in the GI tract can lead to significant microbial disruptions, including a reduction in commensal bacteria, which play crucial roles in nutrient provision and pathogen defense. MPs can also undergo biotransformation in the GI tract, altering human colonic microbiota composition and potentially forming biofilms, as demonstrated by Tamargo et al. (2022) using a static and dynamic GI model.
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Plastic is not toxic if ingested
Ingesting plastic is not toxic and small pieces of plastic will usually pass through the digestive system without causing harm. However, plastic can get stuck in the throat or oesophagus, causing breathing difficulties, chest pain, and even cutting the digestive tract and causing bleeding if the plastic is sharp.
If a small piece of plastic is swallowed, it will likely pass through the body without any symptoms. It may be seen in the stool within 2-3 days, but this can sometimes take longer. However, if a large piece of plastic is swallowed, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain may occur.
Plastic is not considered toxic when ingested, but it can still cause harm depending on the size and shape of the plastic and whether the person choking on the plastic is able to breathe. If a person is allergic to plastic, they may experience asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing or other allergy symptoms.
To avoid ingesting plastic, it is recommended to keep small plastic objects away from children and to discard broken utensils such as forks and spoons. It is also recommended to avoid single-use plastic products and to use alternative paper products such as paper straws or wooden utensils. Additionally, it is advised to avoid microwaving plastic, even if it is labelled as "microwave-safe," as heat accelerates leaching.
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Frequently asked questions
A small piece of plastic will usually pass through your digestive system without causing harm. You may see the plastic in your stool within 2-3 days, although it can take longer.
If you swallow a large piece of plastic, seek medical help. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and blood in the stool may indicate that the plastic is stuck in your throat, oesophagus, or stomach.
While plastic is not toxic if ingested, there are chemicals in plastic, such as phthalates, that can be transferred to your food when heated or through prolonged contact. Long-term exposure to these chemicals has been linked to health issues such as asthma, cancer, and infertility.
It is important to avoid eating or drinking from plastic containers, especially if heated or used for prolonged storage. Microwaving food in plastic, consuming canned food lined with plastic, and drinking bottled water can all increase your exposure to plastic chemicals. Additionally, microplastics can have negative impacts on gut health and microbiome, so it is important to be mindful of their presence in food and water.
