Why and How to Minimize Microplastic Exposure

The news on microplastics’ human and environmental effects is relentless and alarming. We inhale, ingest, and absorb microplastics every day, and they’ve been found in literally every part of our body, from our brains to our reproductive organs to our lungs.

What are microplastics

By definition, microplastics measure up to 5 millimeters in length, about the size of a grain of rice, to sizes that require a microscope to be seen.

Unlike organic matter, such as corn stalks, microplastics do not decompose. They degrade, which can take decades to hundreds of years – some say thousands. It depends on the environment and type of plastic. The Plastic Action Centre estimates that plastic straws last 200 years, and a six-pack plastic ring lasts 400 years.

Microplastics break down into smaller pieces called nanoplastics, about the size of a virus. This article will refer to both sizes generically as “microplastics.”

Effects of microplastics

Research has linked microplastics, and the toxic chemicals that comprise them, to numerous health issues, from fertility problems to heart attacks, strokes and death due to their presence in artery plaque, to asthma and allergies, to childhood attention and behavioral issues, to an increase incidence of cancer, to the scary interference with hormones that control everything from the onset of puberty to obesity.

Studies that prove microplastics cause particular maladies are not as prevalent, so more research is required.

Here’s just a sample of recent headlines reporting on studies.

1. In April, from Earth.com: “Microplastics may cause premature aging at a cellular level.”
2. In April, from the Washington Post: “Common chemicals in plastic linked to over 350,000 deaths from heart disease. Researchers estimate that exposure to phthalates [chemicals that increase the flexibility and durability of plastics] contributes to 13 percent of all heart disease deaths in people between ages 55 and 64 each year worldwide.”
3. In April, from the Washington Post: “Microplastics may confuse bees and other insects, hurting pollination. Recent studies have shown that tiny pieces of plastic can make bees more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.”
4. In an April New York Times subheadline: “Inside a New Mexico lab, researchers estimate there are five bottle caps worth of plastic in human brains. Now they are trying to find out its effects.”
5. In March, from CNN: “Bacterial slime on microplastics helps breed antibiotic-resistant superbugs, study says.”

Amount of plastic in the world

We can’t eliminate microplastics from our lives. A 2017 study published in the journal Science Advances found that worldwide, 9.1 billion tons of plastic had been produced since the 1950s. Only about 9% had been recycled, 12% had been incinerated, and the remainder was in landfills and elsewhere in our environment.

How to limit your exposure

Experts recommend these tips for limiting your exposure to plastics in your kitchen and home:

• Don’t drink from single-use plastic bottles. Use glass or stainless-steel containers. A recent study by Columbia and Rutgers Universities found that one-liter plastic water bottles, on average, contained about 240,000 microplastics. Other studies have found that tap water contains considerably less contamination. But, if you’re concerned, the Connecticut Department of Public Health lists certified testing services. I contacted one, EMSL Analytical in Meriden—their New Jersey location tests for microplastics in water. Expect to pay about $550. Furthermore, if needed, reverse osmosis filters are considered among the most effective methods for removing microplastics from water.
• Avoid microwaving plastic containers or cleaning them in your dishwasher. High heat can cause leaching of harmful chemicals from plastic. Replace plastic containers with microwave-safe glass or ceramic. Try some with tight-fitting biodegradable bamboo lids.
• Don’t drink from paper cups filled with hot liquids. They’re made with a thin plastic lining that can leach chemicals. Use ceramic, glass, or metal mugs instead.
• Use reusable silicone bags instead of plastic bags. Consumer Reports says food-grade silicone bags do not break down like plastics and are considered dishwasher, microwave and freezer-safe.
• Vacuum often. Minimize the dust in your house. Plastics shed from your clothes, drapery, carpeting and other products.
• Use beeswax-coated cloth instead of plastic wrap. It’s typically made from cotton infused with beeswax, tree resins and food oils. Washable and reusable, it lets covered foods breathe to maintain freshness. It’s biodegradable and compostable.
• Replace nonstick pans with cast iron or stainless steel. A recent study showed that “Just a single small crack on the surface of a Teflon-coated pan can release about 9,100 plastic particles,” according to The Independent, an online newspaper.
• Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets, which are typically made from plastic components. Reusable wool balls reduce static cling and speed up drying.
• Replace shampoo in plastic bottles with shampoo bars. The bottles can leach plastic chemicals into the shampoo, and then onto your scalp.
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible, in reusable cloth mesh bags, and avoid canned products, which typically have a thin plastic liner to reduce corrosion and ensure freshness. Manufacturers removed BPA from many products years ago, but according to Consumer Reports and other experts, the replacement chemicals are likely to be from the same toxic families. The issue is transparency. Few manufacturers list the replacement chemicals. Instead, they merely state that the products are BPA-free.
• Replace plastic sponges with reusable cotton and cellulose wipes. They’re washing machine, microwave and dishwasher safe, can be bleached, and last a long time. For tougher cleaning jobs, try cellulose and coconut fiber scrub brushes.
• Use a wooden or bamboo cutting board instead of plastic. The website Housedigest notes that a recent American Chemical Society study showed that polyethylene boards shed the most plastic.
• Ditch plastic straws for biodegradable bamboo, reusable stainless steel, or silicone. According to the EarthEasy website, Americans use half a billion straws daily. A couple of cautions: stainless steel straws can conduct heat, so they’re best used with cold drinks. Collapsible and bendable stainless versions are available. Choose platinum silicone straws that are free from toxic chemicals. Silicone is easy on sensitive teeth. To clean the straws, buy a special thin brush.

Many other products are available to help you replace harmful plastics in your kitchen and home. Hopefully, you’ve found this list a good start.