You ingest about 39,000 to 52,000 plastic particles per year – and those numbers increase to 74,000 and 121,000 when considering inhalation. Add 4,000 more particles if you drink tap water and 9,000 if you drink water from plastic bottles.

Plastics make up 60% to 80% of the waste in marine environments and 90% of the waste in the oceans. Animals often mistake plastic particles for food, and studies show that at least 267 species have been negatively affected – 44% of birds, 43% of mammals, 86% of turtles, and several kinds of fish.

These tiny particles are interfering with critical biological processes in humans and animals and disrupting our precious ecosystems. With plastic production at an all-time high, it has never been more important to be aware of the issues microplastics present and take steps to reduce your plastic consumption.

Microplastics–Tiny Particles with Endless Consequences
Microplastics are pieces of plastic ranging from 1 nanometer (1/80,000th the width of a strand of hair) to 5 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser).

Some plastics are intentionally manufactured to be this small. For example, cosmetics and personal care products have been known to hide tens of thousands of microplastics in soaps, lotions, hair products, and scrubs. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic are made from plastic microfibers, which shed when worn and washed. 

And then there are the larger plastic items that break down into microplastics over time, like water bottles, shopping bags, toys, storage containers… The list goes on and on.

Regardless of what size they are manufactured, all plastic products break down over time – but they never disappear. They just get smaller and smaller until they're invisible to the naked eye and become embedded in plants, animals, and humans.

How Do Microplastics Enter Our Bodies?
While microplastics may be tiny, their presence in our daily lives is anything but insignificant. These particles find their way into the human body through three primary routes: ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure.

Ingestion is possibly the most common way microplastics enter your body because plastic is extremely prevalent in the food and beverage industry. It’s challenging to go to any grocery store and not come home with something housed in plastic.

Every time you use a plastic cutting board or eat out of a plastic food container, you scratch microplastics into your food. Even tea bags can release billions of plastic particles into your hot beverage. Additionally, because soil and freshwater are increasingly contaminated with microplastics, researchers are beginning to find microplastics in fruits and vegetables. 

You can also inhale microplastics. Synthetic fabrics, car tires, and industrial pollution all release these tiny particles into the air. Indoor environments where airflow is limited often have plastic dust in the air from items like carpets, upholstery, and clothing.

Finally, you can absorb microplastics through your skin if you use personal care products that contain microbeads or liquid synthetic polymers.

How Do Microplastics Affect Us and the Environment?
Researchers are now finding microplastics in every part of our bodies. Here are just three of many ways they affect us:

Microplastics in the kidneys and liver can disrupt metabolism, cause insulin resistance, and possibly lead to diabetes.
Male and female reproductive organs are found to contain microplastics, causing researchers to wonder if this has anything to do with declining fertility rates.
A recent study found that our brains may now be 0.5% plastic (by weight), possibly contributing to increasing rates of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Things are no less troubling for the environment.

Bees accumulate microplastics on their bodies and contaminate their hives. Now, researchers are finding microplastics in their honey.
One study has revealed that 100% of sea turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of sea lions, and 40% of marine birds have plastic waste in their digestive systems, creating blockages and malnutrition.
The smallest microplastic particles are becoming airborne, intermingling with our atmosphere, and falling all over the world in rain and snow.
This is a very small snapshot of the issue, and research on the effects and implications of microplastics on human, animal, and environmental health has only just begun. However, considering plastic production has doubled from 200 million metric tons in 2002 to over 400 million metric tons in 2023, it wouldn’t be absurd to assume the problem is more severe than we think – and only going to get worse. 

So, what can we do about it?

Taking Action Against Microplastics
One of the most actionable ways to protect yourself and the environment from microplastics is to be more intentional about your plastic use. 

Look around your house for opportunities to minimize your exposure, but don’t hurry to throw plastic items in the trash. Swap plastic food containers for glass and use the old ones for non-food storage. You could organize craft supplies, office materials, or tools.

When you finish using a product that comes in a plastic container, look for a plastic-free alternative. For example, you can get toothpaste that comes in a stainless steel tube, liquid soap that comes in a cardboard carton, laundry detergent tablets that come in a paper bag, etc.

Although reducing your personal plastic use is empowering, large-scale corporations have the greatest responsibility. The best way to take action against their harmful practices is to prioritize businesses that are committed to plastic-free operations.

At Global Healing, we have spent decades developing processes and materials that eliminate our reliance on plastic and other materials that leach toxic chemicals into humans, animals, and the environment. Our manufacturing facility is toxin-free, down to the paint on the walls and grout in the tile. We never use plastics in any part of production, including our packaging and shipping materials.