Writer: Brain Guo

Despite the widespread belief that plastics pose a threat to the environment, many people do not recognize the dangers of microplastics.  Activities as ordinary as walking outside in the wind, drinking water after soccer games, or even tossing a sweatshirt into the wash can expose an individual to these microscopic plastic particles.  Though they can be difficult to see with the naked eye, plastic particles smaller than 5mm are considered microplastics, while particles smaller than 100 nanometers are called nanoplastics.  Though plastics have made modern technology and products much easier and cheaper to manufacture, they have also become the world’s greatest environmental challenge today.

Unlike other forms of trash, plastic does not truly break down; rather, it continues to degrade into smaller and smaller pieces over hundreds or even thousands of years.  As a result, microplastics have been found not only in the oceans, rivers, soil, and even the air that humans breathe but also in Arctic ice caps and the deepest oceans on earth.  Furthermore, plastics have even been identified in the blood, lungs, placentas, and other tissues of human beings.  While scientists have yet to determine the effect of these plastics on human health, their presence in the body is a growing concern for those investigating the health of all individuals in the modern age.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the modern world.  They are surrounded by each individual every day, and enter the bodies of those individuals through the air, water, and food that they consume.  Considering the amount of plastic produced by each individual on the planet each year, it is clear that humanity is living within its own waste.

Microplastics are divided into two main categories: primary and secondary.  Primary microplastics are those that are intentionally manufactured to be small in size; examples of these types of plastics include the popular microbeads that used to be present in numerous cosmetic products (now largely banned), or the plastic pellets that are used in the manufacturing of plastics.  Secondary plastics, on the other hand, are formed through the breaking down of larger plastic items; plastics like polyester in clothing, the rubber from car tires, the plastic used to package food, plastic cutting boards, and even plastic bottle caps can all contribute to the formation of secondary microplastics.

In addition to the primary categories of plastics, many plastic items are the largest contributors of microplastics to the environment.  Many individuals are unaware of the plastics that enter their bodies each day; clothing made of synthetic materials like polyester tend to shed the plastic particles with each wash.  The rubber from car tires continuously releases microplastics with each acceleration or braking of a vehicle.  Many food items come packaged in plastic, and plastics break down over time; plastic cutting boards can contribute to the release of plastic particles with the use of food items, as well as the opening of plastic bottles.

Surprisingly, plastic particles have been found in humans since the time of birth.  Studies have revealed the presence of microplastics in breast milk and placental tissue from those born alive.  Thus, plastic has transformed from an issue related to litter into one related to the health of all individuals and their ability to avoid adverse effects from these plastic particles.

Because these plastic particles are so small, they are able to travel significant distances from their place of origin.  For instance, plastic particles can be carried by the wind thousands of kilometers from their origin; they can fall as rain into lakes or fields; they can travel into the oceans by rivers; and they can find their way into the bodies of marine species, which are then passed along to human beings through the food that they consume.

Microplastics have been found in seafood, salt, honey, fruits, vegetables, and drinking water.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has found plastic particles in both bottled and tap water, despite the treatments that are applied to the water to remove other contaminants.  Furthermore, many of the same studies that have determined that nanoplastics are present in drinking water have found that these nanoplastics interact with harmful bacteria that are also in the water.  Thus, individuals who consume large amounts of water may be exposed to both plastic and harmful bacteria, potentially creating health risks for those individuals.

It has become disturbing to find out that plastics are no longer limited to the environment; they have entered the bodies of the individuals that live on the planet today.  In 2022, researchers found plastic particles in human blood samples.  Furthermore, plastics have also been identified in the lungs, feces, and placentas of humans.  More recently, scientists have begun to investigate whether there is a link between exposure to plastics and cardiovascular disease.

Though plastic particles are present in the bodies of all individuals, scientists have yet to find a direct link between those plastic particles and the illnesses of those individuals.  However, various experiments and studies have determined that those plastics can lead to health issues.  For instance, plastics have been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, reproductive problems, neurological problems, developmental problems, and more.  Though more research is necessary to determine plastic-specific health risks, plastic has been determined to lead to numerous health problems in numerous populations of individuals.

Because plastics can lead to numerous health problems, the body continuously reacts against its presence.  For instance, the body’s immune system responds to plastic particles as though they are some foreign substance.  In addition, the body continuously reacts to the presence of plastics over time, leading to chronic inflammation in the body.  Though plastic particles have been found to accumulate in specific organs of the body, the smaller nanoplastics have not yet been determined to be able to enter the body in the same way as the larger plastic particles.

One study published in 2022 in the journal Lancet found plastic particles in the heart and the blood of a significant percentage of individuals who experienced heart attacks.  While plastic was not determined to cause those heart attacks, plastic’s presence in individuals’ bodies warrants further investigation into plastic and its ability to cause those health issues.

Microplastics represent an enormous threat to the environments of the planet.  Marine species of animals that ingest these plastics include marine life such as fish, sea turtles, and seabirds whose stomach contents contain plastic.  These marine species experience various health problems as a result of plastic ingestion.  In addition to the health of individual species, plastics also impact the entire ecosystem in which those species live.  For instance, plastics act as the medium for various harmful chemicals to move into the bodies of the individuals that consume the plastics; plastics also allow for harmful bacteria to grow on their surfaces; plastic particles in the environment also disrupt the nutrients that live organisms require for survival.

Microplastics have also spread to locations on the planet that are thought to be untouched by humans.  For instance, plastics have been found in the snow in Antarctica, the Arctic Circle, and the mountaintops of various regions of the planet.  Thus, there are now few places on the planet that are untouched by plastic.

Even more surprising than plastic in the bodies of humans, though, is the amount of plastic that is produced on the planet each year.  Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are produced every year.  Furthermore, the majority of plastic products are produced for single use; items like plastic bags, utensils, food packaging, and water bottles are some of the items that are useful for only a few minutes yet last for hundreds of years in the environment.

Though many plastics that are introduced into the environment are associated with convenience to each individual, these plastics are among the causes of the plastic problem today.  For example, individuals who order takeout food or who consume bottled beverages are exposed to plastic.  Additionally, those who own clothing made of synthetic materials are exposed to plastic from the clothing with each wash cycle.

Chart: Study Finds Microplastics In 93% Of Bottled Water | Statista

These plastics are, therefore, among the reasons that microplastics are so troubling for humanity; plastics are invisible to the human eye and cannot be avoided by each individual.  For instance, even individuals who take the time to avoid littering may be exposed to plastics from their tires with each trip outside.  Additionally, individual who take care to use only bottled water may still release plastic particles into the environment with each wash of their clothing.

Despite the presence of plastics in the body, there are steps that each individual can take to reduce their exposure to microplastic particles.  For instance, using non-plastic bottles allows individuals to avoid plastic exposure.  Avoiding heating food directly in plastic containers can prevent plastics from melting.  Using clothing made of natural fibers reduces the exposure of individuals to synthetic plastics.  Finally, using filtered tap water instead of bottled water can also reduce exposure.

While there are steps that each individual can take to reduce plastic exposure, plastics are a problem that society as a whole must solve.  Individual efforts alone will not end the plastic problem in the planet’s environments.  Governments can implement regulations on plastics to encourage the use of non-plastic products, further develop waste management systems for plastics, and work together across the planet to manage plastic as a threat to the health of the planet and its people.

The World Health Organization has called for further research regarding plastics and the planet, as well as for a campaign to end plastic pollution on the planet.  Scientists continue to investigate the effects of microplastics on the planet’s environments and the effects that they have on the health of the human body and its systems.  It is likely that each nation’s governments will eventually have to enact regulations to reduce plastic exposure in the same way that they have regulated air and water pollution.

Though the plastic industry has transformed the lives of humanity, it is clear that the industry and its products were introduced at a much faster rate than humanity understood their impact on the planet and its people.  

While few individuals heard the word “microplastic” a generation ago, the topic is discussed almost daily in scientific and governmental publications today.  Thus, the word and the problems caused by plastics will likely become one of the most important topics to discuss in the future.

The next time an individual drinks from a plastic bottle, drives to school, or even washes their synthetic clothing, they are participating in the creation of plastic pollution.  Furthermore, individuals are among the few who will never be able to see the plastic particles that are released into the environment by human beings.

Microplastics provide humanity with a crucial lesson regarding technology.  While each technological innovation creates the ability to improve the lives of individuals, they also have the potential to cause issues that take decades to recognize.  Thus, humanity must take steps to address these plastic issues before they become irreversible.  

As plastics have become a threat to the health of humanity and the survival of the planet’s environment, it is crucial for each individual to recognize the threat that plastics can pose to humanity, as well as to take steps to limit their plastic pollution of the planet’s environment.

Works Cited

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World Health Organization. Dietary and Inhalation Exposure to Nano- and Microplastic Particles and Potential Implications for Human Health. WHO, 2022.

World Health Organization. Microplastics in Drinking-Water. WHO, 2019.

World Health Organization. “WHO Calls for More Research into Microplastics and a Crackdown on Plastic Pollution.” World Health Organization, 22 Aug. 2019.

World Health Organization. “Plastics and Health Initiative.” World Health Organization, accessed 30 July 2026.

Reuters. “We Now Know How to Prevent Microplastics from Migrating to Food. It’s Time to Take Action.” Reuters, 27 July 2026.

Food & Wine. “Your Water Contains Nanoplastics. Scientists Say They May Be Helping Harmful Bacteria Survive.” Food & Wine, 27 July 2026.

Sheng, Dong, et al. “Nano/Micro-Plastics Effects in Agricultural Landscapes: An Overlooked Threat to Pollination, Biological Pest Control, and Food Security.” arXiv, 2024.

World Health Organization. “Microplastics and the Environment.” WHO Technical Materials, 2025.

Du, Xinming, Shan Zhang, and Eric Zou. “Marine Microplastics and Infant Health.” arXiv, 2024.