What’s All This Talk About Microplastics???

Information has been making its way into the mainstream news lately about microplastics and their appearance in every part of our lives. Where are they from? How do they get into all aspects of our environment and our bodies? What are the health implications? The next series of articles on reducing plastics will address these questions.
Plastics have infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives – clothing, toys, toothbrushes, cars, food packaging, straws, and carpets, to name a few. In fact, there is so much plastic in your everyday life that the average person ingests as much as 5 grams of plastic per week, equivalent to one credit card. So, what are microplastics? They are fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters in length, created from larger plastic products through mechanisms such as mechanical wear and abrasion (toys, synthetic toothbrushes), fibers (synthetic clothing, cigarettes), particles on thin plastics and containers (water bottles, food packaging). Just breaking a seal on a single-use plastic container releases particles. The list goes on. 

How do plastics become microplastics and get into our food, air, and water? Generally, petroleum-based plastic polymers are indestructible, but some small pieces can become mechanically dislodged or some environmental factors (UV, heat) can make them more susceptible to mechanical breakdown. Micro bits of plastic can be created during manufacturing, or worn away in the environment and weather exposure during the disposal process, and through the digestive process of other animals. Small pieces become smaller pieces (microplastics) and even smaller pieces (nanoplastics) over time just through wear.

Some of the most pertinent examples include:

• 93% of single-use water bottles are contaminated with microplastics, as is tap water
• Synthetic clothing is thought to be 85% of microplastic pollution
• Wrapped meats, vegetables, and fruit contain particles that get transferred onto your food

 Why should you care? Plastics are made from fossil fuels (oil & natural gas), plus the thousands of chemicals required to process the plastics to make them harder, softer, more flexible, refillable, more processable, or colored. A couple of the heavy-hitter additives, BPA and phthalates, are both probable human carcinogens. Micro and nanoplastics can get into humans through digestion and airway pathways and from there into our bloodstreams to every organ in our bodies. These plastic particles in your body could impact cardiovascular health, especially that of a fetus, and, of course, release the many related chemicals into our bodies. They can be endocrine-disrupting, related to mammary and prostate cancers, as well as nervous system dysfunction, immune system issues, and chronic inflammation.

What can you do to protect yourself?

• Stop using single-use and gallon plastic bottles for water. Glass and aluminum are much better container solutions as they have no plastics, and they are 100% recyclable
• Use filters for your tap water. There are many options, from faucet filters and carbon block filters to granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis filter systems
• Use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to collect the microplastics in your synthetic rugs and upholstery
• Drying synthetic clothes in the dryer releases more microplastics; try hanging them to dry.
• Consider clothing options not made of synthetic plastics. There are more options coming to market that are more sustainable and less polluting, with organic cotton being the safest bet. 

There is no way to keep all microplastics out of your body, but being aware of where the  biggest risks lie and analyzing packaging and food choices can make a significant impact on your and your family’s health.

ACES believes we can make a BIG difference together. Team members invite you to stay updated on environmental matters by subscribing to our monthly newsletter via the “Join Our List” link on this page. Please consider joining our community of stewards who are committed to Make Every Day Earth Day by contacting acesnewburyport@gmail.com.

This educational column first appeared in The Daily News of Newburyport on June 27, 2025.