Omar Khalid
Plastic is everywhere. It's in the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. It's also inside our bodies. In recent years, scientists have found plastic particles, known as microplastics, in human blood, organs, and placentas. While the full extent of the harm this causes is not yet known, microplastics have been linked to a range of serious health issues, including inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, necrosis, endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, decreased reproductive health, and cancer. With plastic waste estimated to triple by 2040, it's clear that we need to take action now to reduce our plastic consumption and limit the health risks posed by this ubiquitous material.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic particles enter the human body through | ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure |
| Plastic particles are found in | food, water, blood, lungs, placenta |
| Plastic particles cause | inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, necrosis, lung damage, tissue damage, cell death, allergies, endocrine disruption, weight gain, insulin resistance, decreased reproductive health, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, auto-immune conditions, neuro-degenerative diseases, stroke |
| Plastic particles are | impossible to see with the naked eye |
| Plastic particles are found in the environment in | soil, wind, snow, mountains |
| Plastic waste management technologies release | toxic metals, organic substances, acid gases, and other toxic substances |
| Plastic is | difficult to remove from the environment once it has entered ecosystems |
| Plastic is found in | beauty products, clothing, food containers, cosmetics |
| Plastic manufacturing is | hazardous to human health |
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What You'll Learn
- Microplastics are found in human blood, organs, and food sources
- Plastic manufacturing and disposal are hazardous to human health
- Plastic particles can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin
- Plastic toxins can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage
- Plastic chemicals can alter hormones, disrupt reproduction, and cause cancer
Microplastics are found in human blood, organs, and food sources
Plastic is everywhere—in the air, in the water, and in our food. It is no surprise, then, that microplastics have been found in human blood, organs, and food sources.
A recent study found microplastics in the blood of almost 80% of people tested. These particles can travel throughout the body and may lodge in organs. Scientists have also found microplastics in the placentas of pregnant women, and in pregnant rats, they pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains, and other organs of the foetuses. There is some indication that breathing in plastic particles and associated chemicals can cause damage to the lungs, and scientists are working to understand the implications of long-term exposure.
Microplastics have also been found in human biological samples such as breast milk, stool, sputum, urine, and saliva. They have even been retrieved from filtered washes of hands and faces, head hairs, and saliva, which may be due to the ubiquity of atmospheric microplastics. The exact mechanism by which microplastics enter breast milk is not yet fully understood, but it is believed that individuals may ingest microplastics through food or water, which are then transported to the mammary gland. The presence of microplastics in meconium, the first stool of newborns, suggests that exposure to these particles may occur in the womb.
Microplastics are also present in our food sources. Researchers at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, found that brewing a single plastic teabag released about 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the water. A study by the University of Queensland found that for every 100 grams (1/2 cup) of rice people eat, they consume three to four milligrams of plastic. This number jumps to 13 milligrams per serving for instant rice. Bottled water is another source of microplastics, with one liter containing an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics, including nanoplastics.
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Plastic manufacturing and disposal are hazardous to human health
The production of plastic releases carcinogenic and other highly toxic substances into the air and water. The extraction of oil and gas, particularly hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, releases an array of toxic substances, including over 170 fracking chemicals that are used to produce the main feedstocks for plastic. These toxins have been linked to skin, eye, and other sensory organ damage, as well as harmful effects on the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems, liver, and brain.
Communities neighbouring plastic production and waste disposal sites are exposed to hazardous air pollution and contaminated water sources. Plastic production workers are at an increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, brain cancer, and breast cancer. Children in these communities have higher incidences of leukemia. Plastic production results in particulate matter air pollution, which increases the risks for cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung cancer, and diabetes in adults. In infants and children, it increases the risks for premature birth, low birth weight, and asthma, which are risk factors for chronic diseases later in life.
The disposal of plastics also poses significant risks to human health. As plastic particles degrade, they continue to leach toxic additives, which can be directly or indirectly ingested or inhaled by humans. Microplastics entering the human body can lead to inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis, which have been linked to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, auto-immune conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and stroke.
Furthermore, the chemicals used in plastic materials are also harmful to human health. Around a quarter of the over 10,000 unique chemicals used in plastics are of either high or medium concern, and nearly 40% lack hazard classification. Exposures to pregnant women, young children, and unborn babies are particularly dangerous as these chemicals can disrupt hormones responsible for healthy development. Health consequences linked to plastic chemicals include reduced IQ and respiratory diseases in children, and obesity, cancer, and decreased fertility in adults.
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Plastic particles can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin
Plastic is everywhere. From the ocean to the soil, plastic waste has been found in the most remote places on the planet, from Antarctica to Mount Everest. In recent years, scientists have also found plastic in the bodies of fish, birds, sea turtles, and humans. These tiny particles, called microplastics, have been detected in human blood, breast milk, and lung tissue, and can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin.
Inhaled
Airborne microplastics have been found worldwide, from the United States to China, and can be inhaled. A study of human lung tissue reported that microplastics showed up in 11 out of 13 samples, including the upper, middle, and lower lobes. Another study found microplastics deep within the lungs of living people for the first time. Inhalation of microplastics can cause a range of adverse effects, from irritation to the onset of cancer in cases of chronic exposure. Workers exposed to plastic fibers can experience lung problems and reduced lung capacity, possibly due to damage caused by inflammation.
Ingested
Plastic particles have been found in drinking water, food, and plasticware. A person may ingest between 0.06 and 0.10 grams of plastic from drinking water alone per year, and an estimated total of 18.33 to 71.69 grams per year when all sources are considered. Food processing can increase dietary plastic exposure, and microplastics have been found in the muscle of fish, so they are likely to be consumed when people eat seafood.
Absorbed through the skin
While microplastics may not be able to penetrate the skin unless it is damaged, they can still enter the body through other means, such as through the placenta or breast milk, as confirmed by studies. A small study of six infants and ten adults found that the infants had more microplastic particles in their feces than the adults, indicating that babies may face higher exposures.
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Plastic toxins can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage
Plastic is everywhere—in the air, water, and food we eat. Humans are exposed to toxic chemicals and microplastics through inhalation, ingestion, and direct skin contact. While the health impacts of plastics are still a relatively new area of research, studies have found that plastic toxins can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a key mechanism by which plastic toxins can exert their harmful effects on the body. Studies have found a correlation between the presence of microplastics in the human body and inflammatory bowel disease symptoms, respiratory complications, and lung damage. Inhalation of plastic particles can lead to reduced lung capacity and an increased risk of lung problems, as seen in workers exposed to plastic fibers. In addition, microplastics have been found to induce inflammation in mice, leading to neurobehavioral abnormalities.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is another mechanism through which plastics and their additives can cause harm. As plastics break down into smaller particles, they can release additives and trap environmental pollutants. These plastic additives have been shown to disrupt oxidative metabolism and cause damage to macromolecules. This disruption of oxidative balance can have negative consequences for human health and wildlife.
Tissue Damage
Plastic toxins can also cause tissue damage, particularly in the lungs and brain. Studies have found microplastics deep within the lungs of living people, indicating that inhalation of plastic particles can lead to lung damage. In addition, microplastics have been shown to infiltrate brain tissue, causing cell obstruction and potentially leading to cerebral thrombosis and neurobehavioral abnormalities.
The health risks associated with plastic exposure are particularly acute for vulnerable groups, including children, women, workers in certain industries, and marginalized communities. Reducing plastic consumption and exposure is crucial to mitigating the harmful effects of plastic toxins on the body.
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Plastic chemicals can alter hormones, disrupt reproduction, and cause cancer
Plastic is everywhere. From single-use packaging to clothing and electronics, humans are in constant contact with plastic and, by extension, plastic chemicals. These chemicals can leach out of plastic products and enter our bodies, potentially endangering human health.
One of the most significant ways plastic chemicals impact our bodies is by altering our hormones. Plastic contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with the body's endocrine system, which is responsible for releasing hormones that regulate various functions, including fertility, reproduction, growth, metabolism, immunity, and brain development. EDCs can mimic, block, or disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system, leading to a cascade of faulty signaling. For example, bisphenol A (BPA), an EDC found in plastic, has been shown to trigger cell proliferation in human breast tissue, which could potentially lead to tumor development. Additionally, studies have linked BPA exposure to reduced fertility and the development of ovarian cysts in adult female rodents.
The impact of EDCs on reproductive health has been observed in both wildlife and humans. Research has found that exposure to EDCs during pregnancy can disrupt the development of male offspring, leading to lower levels of male sex hormones and decreased anogenital distance (AGD), a marker of developmental exposure to hormones. This disruption during the critical period of neonatal development can have permanent effects, and later in life, men with a shorter AGD have been found to have lower sperm counts, indicating potential fertility problems.
Furthermore, plastic chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Studies have consistently shown the presence of plastic particles in the lung specimens of patients with cancer and chronic lung disease. Workers exposed to plastic fibers are at risk of developing lung problems and reduced lung capacity due to inflammation. While the specific mechanisms are still being studied, the evidence suggests that long-term exposure to plastic particles and associated chemicals can cause damage to the lungs and potentially increase the risk of cancer.
The pervasive nature of plastic and the variety of chemicals used in its manufacturing make it challenging to avoid exposure completely. However, individuals can take steps to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics and opt for reusable or recyclable alternatives. Additionally, experts recommend that individuals at high risk of exposure, such as construction workers or those working in plastic manufacturing, take precautions such as wearing masks and washing clothing after work to minimize potential health risks.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Plastic particles have been found in food and water, as well as in the air we breathe.
The presence of plastic in the human body has been linked to various health issues, including inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis. These issues are associated with negative health outcomes such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation.
Yes, plastic exposure can have immediate health effects. Workers in plastic manufacturing and disposal are at a higher risk of inhaling plastic particles, which can lead to lung problems and reduced lung capacity.
The long-term effects of plastic on the human body are still being studied, but there are concerns that early developmental exposure may lead to later health issues. It is also believed that plastic can remain in the human body permanently, with potential impacts on future generations.
Individuals can reduce their plastic consumption and exposure by using reusable bags, avoiding single-use plastic items, and supporting initiatives to regulate plastic production and disposal. International organizations, such as the United Nations Environment Assembly, are also working to address plastic pollution and its health impacts.
