Microplastics: A Crisis Beyond the Plastic Cup

Plastic—it’s cheap, convenient, and we use it every day without a second thought. Despite all the warnings freely available in the media, we’re still ignoring the cost of the convenience of plastic—the integrity of our bodies.

For years, we’ve known that drinking from a plastic cup and storing food in plastic containers isn’t the healthiest choice. Concerns range from hormone-disrupting chemicals to environmental waste. What we didn’t know—until very recently—was exactly how many of the tiny plastic particles we’re actually exposed to and how exactly they are affecting us.

This deep dive into the world of microplastics is a necessary reading. Microplastics aren’t just an environmental issue anymore—they’re a public health emergency in the making.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size. And they’re everywhere—in our oceans, soil, air, and food. We’re consuming them constantly without even realizing it—through the food we eat, the water we drink, products we use, and even the air we breathe.

In 2019, it was estimated that the average person ingests about 50,000 microplastic particles every year. It’s 2024 and the numbers are much higher starting from 78,000 and peaking at an insane 211,000. But where are all these microplastics coming from?

Think about all the plastic products we use daily—grocery bags, food packaging, cosmetic products, synthetic clothing. Over time, these plastics break down into smaller and smaller pieces, but they never fully disappear. Instead, microplastics persist in the environment, accumulating in our ecosystems. They’ve been found in the depths of the Mariana Trench, the peak of Mount Everest, and even in Arctic ice. There’s virtually no corner of the planet untouched by microplastic pollution.

And if they’re in the environment, that means they’re also getting into our bodies. We humans are at the top of the food chain, so we’re the final resting place for a lot of these pervasive plastic particles.

To give a few examples, a can of commercially produced tuna can contain anywhere between 2 and 9 pieces of microplastics. If you’re using a plastic cutting board, you’re ingesting about 50g of plastic particles per year—a couple of credit cards worth. A single liter of tap water has over 4g, and even things like sugar, salt and honey can contain a small amount of plastic particles. It all adds up.

The health risks of microplastics

The health effects of consuming all this plastic are still largely unknown. Microplastics are a relatively new addition to our environment, so we’re kind of in uncharted territory here. However, new research presents a troubling outlook.

Studies have shown that microplastics in our system can cause inflammation, cellular damage, and hormone disruption in animals and humans. There’s evidence they may be linked to everything from weight gain to reduced fertility to neurological issues. And here’s the really unsettling part—some of these microplastic particles are small enough to pass through our cell membranes.

This isn’t just some far-off environmental issue; this is about our health on the most intimate, microscopic level. And one of the most troubling sources of microplastics might be something you use every day—plastic water bottles.

The Plastic Water Bottle Study

For years, we’ve suspected that plastic bottles release microplastics into the liquids they contain. This idea seems logical, but we didn’t fully understand the extent of the problem. Measuring microplastics in water is challenging because they lack a clear chemical signature, making detection difficult.

A team of scientists recently used a technique called spectroscopy to measure the amount of microplastics in our water bottles. Spectroscopy shines light on a liquid sample and analyzes the reflected light. Since different materials reflect light uniquely, scientists can identify and quantify the microplastics present.

So, what did they find? In the average liter of bottled water, there were about 240,000 microplastic particles. That means with every sip from a plastic bottle, you’re gulping down thousands of tiny plastic fragments—particles that are invisible to the eye but are very much present and ending up inside your body.

Even crazier, this is about 100 times higher than previous estimates of microplastics in bottled water. And it gets worse. These microplastics can actually cross into our cells, cross the blood-brain barrier, and aren’t really removed from the body. This can lead to all sorts of scary symptoms that we don’t fully understand yet.

How Dangerous Are Microplastics?

It’s important to note that the type of plastic most commonly used for water bottles—PET or polyethylene terephthalate—hasn’t been strongly linked to health issues like cancer or genetic damage. The PET molecule itself isn’t considered super toxic on its own. However, the microplastic particles that break off of PET can trigger different types of damage.

Emerging research indicates that microplastics entering your cells can disrupt the function of organelles like mitochondria, which generate energy from calories. They can also irritate cells, trigger chemicals causing allergies and inflammation, and disrupt hormone levels.

Recent studies have discovered microplastics in every organ, including the brain. These tiny particles can cross the blood-brain barrier. Research with rats and mice shows that if we consume enough microplastics, they can accumulate in the brain. Even more alarming is the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in human placenta and the umbilical cord. We are being affected before we’re even born.

Given the rising rates of depression, autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and autoimmune diseases, it’s a pretty scary bet to take drinking from a plastic bottle. These new findings are hopefully going to open up a big area of research that’s going to look at all these hundreds of thousands of little pieces of plastics that we’re consuming and that are getting into our body and into our cells.

What Can You Do About It?

Honestly, you might not be able to avoid this problem at all. However, there are steps you can take to minimize your exposure, and you can leverage your consumer power to encourage industries to shift away from harmful plastics. This not only benefits our health but also protects the environment.

Here are a few actionable steps:

1. Use reusable containers: Switch to glass or stainless steel water bottles and food containers. Do not drink from a plastic bottle, especially carbonated water and sodas.
2. Avoid single-use plastics: Avoid plastic straws, cutlery, and bags. Opt for reusable alternatives instead.
3. Choose fresh over packaged: Whenever possible, buy fresh produce that isn’t wrapped in plastic. Also look for produce that hasn’t been polished with wax.
4. Read labels: Be mindful of beauty products containing microbeads and other forms of microplastics, such as body scrubs, make up, and perfumes.
5. Limit take out food & coffee: Cook at home and if you buy coffee outside, bring your own glass or stainless steel cup. Even the “green” and “eco-friendly” cups are lined with plastic to prevent from the liquid to soak through the paper.
6. Cook without plastics: Use only natural materials, like wood, stainless steel, cast iron or glass when preparing your meals at home. Avoid plastic cutting boards, teflon, waxed baking paper, and plastic utensils at all cost.
7. Switch to natural fibers: When buying new clothes, furniture, toys and bedding, opt for natural materials like cotton, linen, wool, silk or hemp. Be aware of greenwashing and don’t fall prey to marketing schemes or big brands.
8. Educate yourself about hidden plastics: Tetra Pak type of packaging might seem like a great option, but in reality the boxes are lined with plastic layer from inside, which comes into direct contact with the food. The same goes for canned foods.
9. Advocate for change: Support policies and companies that aim to reduce plastic production and pollution.

By following these steps, you can minimize your exposure to microplastics and support a larger movement toward a healthier, more sustainable future.

Time for Change

Plastics have transformed modern life, yet their convenience carries a heavy price. The alarming reality of microplastics in our water bottles represents only the beginning. Exploring their health and environmental effects highlights the urgent need for decisive action.

We must stay informed, make conscious choices, and push for systemic change. Only then can we hope to mitigate the risks associated with our plastic dependency and protect our well-being for generations to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to keep your home a healthy place and reduce exposure to harmful substances, be sure to check out our youtube channel and social media for updates.