Microplastics: An Emerging Health Crisis

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic smaller than five millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser or a small peppercorn. To put this in perspective, many are much smaller and even so microscopic that they are invisible to the naked eye. These microplastic particles are found throughout our modern environment, and new research shows they’re now found in human tissues, including our brains.

Recent Microplastic Studies

Scientists at the University of New Mexico used advanced testing methods to look at brain, liver, and kidney tissues from people who had died. They found that microplastic levels in brain tissue were 7 to 30 times higher than in the liver or kidneys. The most common plastic they found was polyethylene, which is used to make everyday items like plastic bags and food containers.

The researchers also noticed that people who had dementia had more plastic particles in their brains, especially around blood vessels and immune cells. When they compared samples from 2016 to 2024, they saw that plastic levels in the brain had gone up by about 50% in just eight years.

Microplastics function like Trojan horses; they may seem like simple plastic pieces sitting there doing nothing. These particles can actually be identified in the human body by color and size under a microscope, and they carry other chemicals with them, including phthalates, bisphenol A, metals like tin, and various solvents. About 1,100 different chemicals go into making plastic, and most of them are known toxicants.

How Microplastics Get Into Our Bodies

Bottled Water: The Biggest Source

A single plastic water bottle contains 240,000 to 250,000 microplastic particles. Even opening a plastic bottle creates thousands of new particles from the friction of twisting off the cap (this is what makes the noise when you open it).

Disposable Coffee Cups: The Second Largest Contributor

Disposable coffee cups resemble paper but are actually lined with polyethylene plastic to prevent leaking. When you put hot liquid in them, the plastic liner melts slightly, releasing about 24,000 to 25,000 microplastic particles into your drink. This process takes about 15 minutes. The plastic lids add even more bisphenol A to the mix.

Air Contamination

You may be surprised to learn that our air contains significant amounts of microplastics. The same polyethylene used in bottles becomes airborne when we wash synthetic clothes, with particles escaping through dryer vents. Industrial processes also release plastic particles, and ocean microplastics become part of the water cycle, evaporating into clouds and returning as contaminated rain.

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans have the same polyethylene lining as coffee cups. All canned beverages contribute to plastic exposure as this lining degrades over time.

Food Sources

Fish absorb microplastics from ocean water, and these particles end up in the muscle tissue we eat, not just the skin or organs. As Dr. Parpia shares often with her patients, “fish should be considered in the same category as birthday cake, eaten very rarely.” 

Table salt and sugar also contain plastic particles. Our produce is also affected; many commercial farms use black plastic sheeting for growing crops, which degrades into microplastics in the soil.

Health Effects of Microplastics We’re Seeing

A major Italian study examined plaque removed from carotid arteries in people with blocked arteries. About 50-75% of these patients had visible microplastics embedded in their arterial plaque. When researchers followed these people for three years, those with microplastics in their arteries were 4.5 times more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, or die. One cardiologist called these results “absolutely horrifying.”

Surprisingly, the people with microplastic contamination were often younger, likely because younger people consume more beverages from plastic containers.

The immune system is particularly affected by microplastic exposure. Bisphenol A disrupts immune function, making it harder to fight infections while increasing autoimmune disease risk. Research has connected microplastic exposure to:

• Childhood obesity when mothers had high BPA levels during pregnancy

• Type 2 diabetes, people with detectable bisphenols in urine were three times more likely to develop diabetes

• Reproductive health problems, microplastics have been found in reproductive tissues

• Hormone disruption affecting all body systems

Testing for Microplastics

Testing for microplastics is still being developed. Current research focuses on blood testing rather than urine. A lab in Finland has been used for research purposes, and University of New Mexico researchers are working on clinical tests, but these aren’t widely available yet.

For now, doctors can estimate exposure based on lifestyle factors: bottled water consumption, food stored in plastic containers, and frequency of using disposable cups.

Removing Microplastics from Our Bodies

Removing microplastics from the body is challenging because they physically embed in tissues. Regular detox methods don’t work for this reason.

High-fiber diets may help with newly consumed microplastics by promoting elimination through the digestive system. This would be people with optimal gut health who consume about 150 grams of fiber daily, which is far more than the typical American intake of 40 grams.

Plasmapheresis: A Potential Treatment Option

Plasmapheresis is a promising method for removing microplastics from the bloodstream, with evidence suggesting it can help reduce the body’s burden of these pervasive environmental toxins.

During plasmapheresis, plasma is removed from the blood along with the toxins that are bound to lost albumin proteins. The plasma that contains the microplastics and other toxicants is eliminated, while albumin is replaced and the blood is returned to the body. The body can easily regenerate the lost plasma.

The idea behind using this treatment for microplastics is that if you can lower the body burden enough, the body can start managing the remaining toxins on its own, especially if you have stopped putting new plastic into your system.

In Europe, researchers are also studying a similar process called inuspheresis, which filters blood through special filtration media before returning it to the body. There’s research being published on what toxins come out of the blood during these procedures, with microplastic data expected to be released soon.

These are costly procedures, but they offer hope for people with high toxic loads who need to reset their body’s ability to handle ongoing environmental exposures.

Practical Steps to Reduce Microplastics Exposure

The most effective approach is to reduce new exposure. These avoidance measures are required now. We just have to do it.

For beverages:

• Use stainless steel or glass water bottles instead of plastic

• Bring your own cup to coffee shops (many are now required to fill personal containers)

• Avoid drinking hot beverages from disposable cups

For food:

• Store food in glass or stainless steel containers when possible

• Reduce purchases of plastic-packaged foods

• Install home water filtration systems

For your home:

• Use air filters to improve indoor air quality

Many Reasons for Hope

Despite the concerning trends, there are positive developments. The European Union has banned bisphenol A in food containers due to health risks. 

The Green Plastics Council has also identified pathways to a plastics-free future using cellulose and other non-petroleum materials.

The Italian study found that some people had no detectable microplastics in their arteries at all. Understanding how these individuals live could provide crucial insights for reducing exposure.

And scientists have discovered that kombucha cultures can filter water better than synthetic membranes, showing how natural solutions might address plastic pollution.

The End of the Plastic Era

We’re at a critical point where we need to transition from our current “plastic era” to a “post-plastic era.” This requires both individual action and systemic change.

The evidence shows microplastics are a growing health concern, but solutions exist. Starting with the biggest sources, bottled water and disposable cups, people can make meaningful changes. As awareness grows and technology advances, more alternatives will become available.

Companies are already responding to consumer concerns. Some coffee shops encourage reusable cups, and food companies are exploring plastic-free packaging options.

The key is making gradual changes while supporting broader transformation of how we produce and use materials. Understanding microplastics helps us make informed choices about our health and work toward a cleaner future.

Learn More

For a deeper dive into this topic, listen to Dr. Nafysa Parpia’s recent interview with environmental medicine expert Dr. Lyn Patrick for the Gordon Medical Forum Podcast, where they discuss the latest microplastics research and practical reduction strategies.

>> LISTEN NOW: Microplastics: Hidden Toxins Impacting Your Health