How Microplastics Are Invading Our Bodies and the Hidden Damage They May Be Causing
“We eat them, drink them, breathe them,
but we’re only beginning to understand what they’re doing to us.”
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are particles of plastic less than 5 millimetres in size, formed either as small particles (primary microplastics) or as a result of environmental breakdown of larger plastics (secondary microplastics). They are virtually everywhere: oceans, soil, food, and even our bodies.
How Are They Entering Our Bodies?
From the seafood on your plate to the air in your home, microplastics are nearly impossible to avoid.
Ingestion: Found in seafood, sea salt, honey, vegetables — even beer.
Inhalation: Airborne microplastics from synthetic clothing and household dust.
Drinking water: Studies show both tap and bottled water contain plastic particles.
Hidden Harm: How Microplastics Impact Our Health
Though microscopic, these particles may have macroscopic consequences.
Here’s how they’re believed to affect the body:
1. Inflammation & Oxidative Stress
When microplastics enter tissues, they trigger the body’s immune response, which can lead to chronic inflammation and cell damage.
2. Hormonal Disruption
Plastics often contain additives like phthalates and BPA, chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system, potentially affecting fertility, thyroid function, and childhood development.
3. Gut Microbiome Alteration
Exposure may disturb gut bacteria, influencing everything from digestion to mental health.
4. Toxic Load & Carcinogenic Potential
Plastics can act as carriers for toxic chemicals and persistent organic pollutants, which may increase cancer risk.
SHOCKING STATS
80% of people tested in a recent study had plastic in their bloodstream.
Microplastics were recently detected in placentas and lung tissue.
An average person could:
Be ingesting 5 grams of plastic per week (same volume as a credit card)
Have the equivalent of a plastic picnic spoon within their brain
What Can You Do?
While the problem is global, your choices matter:
✅ Use reusables: glass bottles, metal straws, cloth bags.
✅ Filter your tap water to reduce contaminants.
✅ Avoid single-use plastics, especially in food packaging.
✅ Choose natural fibres over synthetic clothes.
✅ Support policies that limit plastic production and pollution.
Final Word
“We’ve spent decades filling the planet with plastic — now it’s filling us.”
The damage from microplastics may still be unfolding, but the evidence is already deeply concerning. As science catches up to the reality, it’s time we rethink our relationship with plastic,
not just for the environment’s sake, but for our own bodies.