Microplastics: Should we be worried about our tiny humans exposure?
Microplastics is gaining momentum in the headlines, and it's only going to get bigger as more research comes out about it's impact. However, what do we actually know right now, and should we worry?
While microplastics has been on my mind for quite a few years, I’m seeing more and more studies coming out in the mainstream news headlines. I think we’re all somewhat conscious of plastics, but generally this is from an environmental aspect rather than our own health and wellbeing. While I think if you ask most people “Is plastic good or bad for your health?” everyone would generally say “bad”, most wouldn’t understand the reasons behind it being “bad” and the biological impacts. And to be honest, it looks like we’re still very much in the early days of research so we still don’t know what we don’t know. Unfortunately when it comes to research, for something to become evidence-based best practice we’re looking down the barrel of a 20 year delay to allow for adequate research to be conducted.
So what do we do in between? Personally, I’m a big fan of taking research as it comes through, applying critical thinking and then considering the reality of our lifestyle. And of course finding thought leaders in particular spaces that I trust. A quick note to say that this article is not specific to children, but more widely to humans of all age. As parents, I think we need to consider the long-term picture and therefore, the long-term exposure to microplastics as our tiny humans grow into adults.
So let’s delve into where we are at with microplastics:
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, while nano-micro plastics (NMP) are less than 10μm, and have been found present in oceans, soils, air, food and even the water we drink. Most of which the human eye can’t see. Interestingly, the World Health Organization in a 2022 report, summarised that current technologies and standard research practices don’t yet enable researchers to quantify population-level microplastics exposures or gauge what proportion of those particles stay in our bodies.
Where are they being found?
Nanomicroplastics are the biggest concerns to researchers, as they are small enough to cross the blood barrier and infiltrate cells. A very new study out of the US has found microplastics in our brain, while previous studies have found microplastics in human faeces, joints, livers, placenta, reproductive organs, blood, vessels and hearts. So it’s safe to say they are throughout our bodies in varying amounts. How exactly do they get there? As mentioned earlier, they are in the air we breath, the food we eat, and the water we drink. From there, they cross through the gut microbiome and into our blood stream, where it’s then circulated through-out the body.
What are the health concerns?
This is the area that’s still needing more research. We know that it’s now entering our bodies and found in cells throughout our body, but we’re still understand the impact (and to what extent) it has on our health and wellbeing. One microplastic which does have some solid research behind it is BPA. It’s also probably the one we are most familiar with, as a lot of products have moved towards BPA-free plastic alternatives. This research article sums up the impact on BPA perfectly “These chemicals, called endocrine disruptors, can mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones, including thyroid hormones, estrogen, testosterone, etc. Endocrine disruptors can impair the development and proper functioning of the reproductive, nervous and immune systems in humans and animals, and can affect future generations.”
The main concerns around microplastics relate to the disruption of the gut microbiome, endocrine and fertility concerns, immune system responses (e.g. inflammation), and it’s accumulation in key organs and the long-term impacts of this. It’s a bit of a waiting game while appropriate research and studies are being conducted, but it’s safe to say that limiting down our plastic intake will only be beneficial. This is where my reality mindset sinks in, in that there is a level that is outside of our control (e.g. environmental factors) but that doesn’t mean we can’t make positive changes to reduce our (and our families) exposure to plastic where possible. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before we find out the consequences of having such a substantial amount of plastic in the world.
What are the biggest sources of microplastics?
This is an area that really peaks my interest when it comes to our kiddies, because I’m not sure if you feel the same way, but seems like everything child-related comes with some source of plastic. Be that the endless pit of snacks they inhale, the pre-packaged foods we reach for, the plastic water bottles that are super easy for them to drink from, the silicone plates that stick down to the table so we don’t have to deal with spillage, the teething toys they love to chew on and even all the soaps/lotions that come in handy pump bottles. Plastic are our reality now - they are used to create convenience and deliver that in a relatively cheap and cheerful way. It’s unrealistic to think that we’re going to completely scrap this from our lives, I for one cannot get onboard the “re-usable glad wrap/bee wrap” train. But this can be a great opportunity to think about what some simple swaps, within your budget, can be and focus more on reducing exposure rather than eliminating it. So without further ado, some of the highest sources of microplastics (that have been tested) are:
Seafood is unfortunately one of the highest sources of microplastics, particularly shellfish and crustacean. This is due to the plastic pollution of the ocean, and degradation of plastic which is never completely broken down. Fish is also considered a high source of microplastics, however often the build up of microplastics is in the gastrointestinal tract and organs which aren’t commonly eaten. The Food Standard Australia still deem consuming seafood safe with no imminent harm (see commentary here).
Bottled water (in plastic). Drinking water from that plastic bottle you left in the car over the weekend probably isn’t the best option - research has shown that bottled water contains significantly higher levels of microplastics than tap water, possibly due to contamination during the bottling process. The plastic bottles themselves may shed particles over time, especially when exposed to heat or degradation. Quick swap: Switch out plastic bottles for a sustainable, reusable bottle (if budget allows, this could be the trusty Frank Green or Yeti water bottles). Same applies for your kids - try to switch out plastic water bottles for stainless steel water bottle. For me, I kept with the trusty bbox water bottle while they were young (because I found it such an easy bottle for them to use) and switched it over to a stainless steel bottle when appropriate.
Table salt. This one is an interesting one, a 2023 study found coarse Himalayan pink salt mined from the ground had the most microplastics, followed by black salt and marine salt. So maybe the fancy himalayan pink salt isn’t cutting the mustard anymore? Regardless, focus on limiting salt and only season at the end of the meal to get the most out of it.
Food in plastic packaging. When reflecting on what our children eat now compared to what was available when we were babies, it’s safe to say there has been a massive increase in foods readily available - think of all the snacks we now have on offer (all of which come in plastic packaging), food pouches, yoghurt pouches, juices/drinks and the rest that all come in plastic bottles or plastic lined cartons. These microplastics leach into foods, particularly if they are heated in that packaging.
Simple swap 1: Try to prepare a snack option (or two) at home over the weekends to offer as snack, rather than always relying on pre-packaged snacks. It will most likely be more nutritious, with far less plastic exposure. However, being realistic, for most of us we’re never going to be able to completely eliminate packaged foods and that’s totally ok.
Simple swap 2: If you’re heating up food, take it out of the packaging and put it in a microwave safe, glass/ceramic bowl. Likewise with leftovers, try to take it out of plastic tupperware to heat. Better yet, switch plastic tupperware to glass tupperware where you can (although learn from my mistakes and don’t let the kids play with it - chances are you’ll have smashed glass everywhere).
Plastic chopping boards. A study by the American Chemical Society has shown that chopping boards alone could expose humans to up to 79.4 million polypropylene microplastics - a type of plastic polymer - each year according. Simple swap: Switch out plastic chopping boards for wooden chopping boards. If there are some foods you’re iffy about on a wooden chopping board (e.g. for me it’s chicken) then I keep one plastic chopping board solely for that, knowing that overall I’m making a massive difference.
Other common sources of microplastics in tea bags (made from plastic, and when hot water is added it causes an increase in the release of microplastics) and takeaway coffee cups (lined with plastic). Simple swap: Switch from pre-packaged tea bags to a tea strainer, and get yourself a keep cup for your takeaway coffee (you’ll also usually save some money!).
Ok, if you’ve made it to the bottom of this article, well done - it’s a long one! While it can be a little bit doom and gloom when it comes to microplastics, I strongly believe that finding a balance between what’s best and what’s realistic is important. This isn’t in any way a judgement around how much plastic you consume as a family, but more raising awareness and some simple suggestions that might help reduce your exposure to plastics. The evidence is still evolving, and a lot of reducing exposure will come down to the government and regulations getting on board too. I’ll report back in a year with what’s new in this space… until then….
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