Every so often, almost as if on a schedule, there comes a new danger, a new thing to cut out of our lives. A new aspect to dispose of, or to be afraid of, with or without evidence backing up these fears. There was the microwave. Washing your hands too much could ruin your joints and skin. Holding a phone too close to your face was said to give you cancer. Some have even said milk is bad for you. 

Of course, some claims have truth to them, like smoking, or too much sugar or salt in your diet. But the issue arises when ideas or statements begin to circulate with no real backing. This time, it’s microplastics. 

Whether it is a good or a bad thing, plastic material is in everything we come into contact with regularly. Writing utensils, make-up products, and even most groceries are packaged in or use plastic in some way. Toothbrushes have plastic. Plates and cups have plastic. Safe to say, it’s difficult to get away from. The substance is cheap and more durable than glass, which breaks easily. It’s more common and can take virtually any shape. But microplastics aren’t the big drinking cup you purchased from Target, or the bowl you use to store your leftovers. It’s a big more serious than that. 

The question is: how serious is it, really? Are microplastics real? Should we be worried?

Put on Your Lab Coats; It’s Time For Science

To determine whether this matter warrants purging every piece of plastic in your house, we must first examine what a microplastic is. 

Like how other materials give off a sort of residue or crumbs from their use, plastic does the same. Except it’s very small and microscopic, invisible to the human eye. Microplastics are the particles that come off the parent object and are now known pollutants of the environment, posing a genuine threat. There are multiple types of microplastics: Primary, secondary, and microfibers. 

Primary microplastics are those intentionally made, such as glitter, soap microbeads, exfoliation particles, and tiny pellets of plastic used to create larger items called ‘nurdles’. Items that fall under that category are not necessarily worse, but could potentially pose a greater harm, given that they’re not just residue from other objects, but rather their whole existence is a microplastic; they are specifically designed to be small. They are the most common microplastics found in the wild and are the most dangerous to wildlife. 

Secondary are when bigger items, such as bottles, plastic bags, toys, or some synthetic clothing, begin to break down in heat or with wear and tear. Cigarette filters, plastic tupperware, and packaging also fall under this umbrella. The microscopic shavings of your plastic cutting board are a perfect example as well. 

The issue with secondary microplastics- as with any microplastics- is that they never fully break down or decompose. They just become smaller and smaller, eventually being absorbed into the ground or environment, or being consumed by wildlife and marine animals. 

Microplastics, regardless of what type, have been found in even the most remote of places around the world, such as mountain peaks and the deep ocean. Once they begin the breakdown and are polluted in the ocean or incorrectly disposed of, there is no telling where they will go or who they will come into contact with. 

On the Hunt: Are Microplastics Real? 

Microplastics are much more common than people might think. Microplastics are very real, to the point where they have been found in our bloodstreams, our hair, in our skin, and in some reproductive organs. The more we come into contact with plastic material, the more danger they pose to our health and the health of animals and living things around the world. 

Microplastics have grown in the severity of the threat they pose to our health. They have been found to damage your tissue and impact your bloodstream. They have the potential to trigger inflammation and create significant cell damage. Some chronic illnesses have also been tied to the presence of microplastics. Gut issues, reproductive issues, and even as far as reduced fertility have all been linked to microplastics being inside our bodies. 

Many of these issues arise because of the additives and chemicals, such as phthalates, or BPA (a chemical found commonly in plastic, used to make items and epoxy resin. They are found in water bottles, food containers, and in food and drink cans) or ‘Bisphenol A’. BPA has been discovered to be an endocrine-disrupting chemical that “mimics the hormone estrogen,” affecting health in infants and children. BPA has since been banned in products designed and made for children, and are labelled ‘BPA- Free’. 

Microplastics are most dangerous and potent when the item is heated. Putting plastic in the microwave wakes up the microparticles, making them more active and susceptible to being ingested. 

Plastic is nearly impossible to avoid. But we can take the necessary steps to ensure our safety and well-being, as well as that of the environment and wildlife. Replacing plastic cups and plates with glass or ceramic, easily found in a thrift or dollar store, can be infinitely beneficial. Use wooden cutting boards instead of plastic ones, and glass tupperware instead of plastic.

Don’t heat plastic or put hot food items in them under any circumstances. Be aware of what you come into contact with, and make sure to dispose of plastic items the correct way. Microplastics and their impact on the environment, while still being studied, have already been found to be extremely negative, dangerous to the future of our planet, and thus far irreversible. 

Do you use a lot of plastic? Let us know in the comments below!