Plastic Spending: Monthly Costs And Consumer Habits

People are unknowingly swallowing tiny pieces of plastic every day, often referred to as nanoplastics or microplastics. Scientists have raised concerns about the harmful effects of ingesting these particles, with studies linking them to an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. While the exact amount of plastic consumed varies depending on diet and other factors, estimates suggest that an average person takes in between 18.33 and 71.69 grams per year, which equates to approximately three to twelve plastic bags' worth of plastic particles. This raises the question of how much money people are spending on plastic each month and whether the potential health risks associated with plastic consumption are worth the cost.

How much plastic do people consume a month?

It is estimated that people consume between 0.1 and 5 grams of plastic per week. This is based on research into how many microplastics are in shellfish, and how much shellfish a typical person consumes. This is a wide range, and the higher end of the spectrum is equivalent to the weight of a credit card.

The problem of plastic pollution is so pervasive that, in 2019, the World Wildlife Fund famously declared that people eat the equivalent of a credit card's worth of plastic every week. However, it is important to note that this is not an exact figure, and the amount of plastic consumed can vary widely depending on individual realities.

Plastic can enter our bodies from a variety of sources, including food, water, and even the air we breathe. While the exact amount of plastic consumed may be difficult to determine, it is clear that plastic pollution is a significant issue that requires attention and action.

While it may not be possible to completely avoid plastic consumption, there are steps that individuals can take to reduce their exposure. This includes being mindful of the products we use, choosing reusable alternatives to single-use plastics, and supporting initiatives that aim to reduce plastic pollution.

How much plastic is in the average person's diet?

It is estimated that the average person consumes between 18.33 and 71.69 grams of plastic particles per year. This is the equivalent of about 12 plastic bags.

Some scientists have estimated that the average person might eat 5 grams of microplastics in a week, which is about the weight of a credit card. Another study breaks this down to up to 52,000 particles annually from various food sources.

Research has found that the average person consumes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year. This is considered an underestimate, as nano-sized plastic particles are significantly harder to identify and quantify.

The biggest known source of microplastic which enters our bodies is bottled water. Based on four separate studies, the average number of particles per litre is 94. Beer has the second highest number, at 32.

How much plastic do people consume through water?

It is estimated that an adult could be taking in the equivalent of about 12 grocery bags worth of plastic particles a year through water, food and plasticware. At the lower end, it’s three bags.

The average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year, with bottled water being the biggest known source of microplastics entering our bodies. Research has found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in a typical litre of bottled water.

Microplastics in drinking water do not appear to pose a health risk at current levels, research suggests. However, no two people eat or drink in exactly the same way. Diet varies significantly across cultures, household income levels, ages and season, to name just a few factors. For many people, the number of plastic particles consumed could be lower; for others, it could be representative of their current practices.

How much plastic do people consume through food?

It is estimated that an adult could be consuming the equivalent of about 12 grocery bags worth of plastic particles a year through water, food and plasticware. This is the upper end of potential exposures, with the lower end being three bags.

The average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year. This is considered an underestimate. The biggest known source of microplastic which enters our bodies is bottled water, with an average of 94 particles per litre. Beer has the second highest number, at 32.

Microplastics also enter your body through the plastic packaging found on almost everything in the grocery store. Some scientists have estimated the average person might eat 5 grams of microplastics in a week, which is about the weight of a credit card. Another study estimates that an average person consumes about 53,864 particles of microplastics annually from seafood, an equivalent to 17 credit cards. One study found that an average adult consumes around 2,000 microplastic particles a year from salt.

How much plastic do people consume through plasticware?

It is estimated that an adult could be taking in the equivalent of about 12 grocery bags worth of plastic particles a year through water, food and plasticware. At the lower end, it’s three bags. This is based on the assumption that some people use plastic cups daily, while others rarely or never use them.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Investigations team reviewed recent studies on dietary plastic particle contamination, combined reported values on particle numbers and mass by performing downstream calculations, and expressed the estimate in terms of the number of plastic bags consumed in a year.

The EWG estimates that the plastic mass ingested per person from drinking water alone is between 0.06 and 0.10 grams per year.

Another study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology says it's possible that humans may be consuming anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles a year. With added estimates of how much microplastic might be inhaled, that number is more than 74,000.

Research published in Environmental Science & Technology presents an analysis of 26 studies from around the world and calculates the average amount of microplastics found in common consumables. It finds that the average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year.

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