The right way to combat plastic air pollution in ourselves and our surroundings
Initially posted in Center-Pause on Medium on March 5, 2025
I learn a extremely distressing article a number of days in the past, spurred by nothing apart from a poem: “Your Mind Could Have a Spoon’s Value of Microplastics.”
The poem is a few man who struggles with dementia and about how little management now we have on what we bear in mind — and, in the end, on what occurs within the mind. The creator, Greg Hughes, additionally makes an analogy between discarded plastics and discarded recollections, as if our brains, too, get to be recycled by some banished angels who’ve extra use for a few of our cherished reminiscences than we do.
A mind-bending consideration — similar to the truth that we might have a spoonful of microplastics inside our brains.
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In a 2024 examine carried out on the College of New Mexico and printed on Feb. 3 this 12 months in Nature Drugs, autopsies on people who died in 2016 and 2024 revealed 7 to 30 occasions extra specks of plastic within the mind samples than within the kidneys and livers of these our bodies. These tiny shards are referred to as microplastics (lower than 5 millimeters in diameter) and nanoplastics (1 nanometer to 1 micrometer, that’s 0.000001 millimeter to 0.001 millimeter).
In accordance with toxicologist Matthew Campen, PhD, crew chief of this examine, in regular brains of people who died in 2024 aged between 45 to 50 years on common, there have been 4,800 micrograms of microplastics per gram, that means these brains have been 0.48% microplastics. This was a 50% enhance over what researchers discovered within the mind tissue of people who died in 2016. The vast majority of these plastics have been nanoplastics.
We don’t know a lot but in regards to the harm microplastics and nanoplastics trigger within the physique. However this examine did discover ten occasions extra plastics within the brains of the twelve people on this examine who had been recognized with dementia. It’s solely a correlation, however it definitely is a strong one.
A 2021 examine carried out by a crew of researchers from Wageningen College within the Netherlands and printed in Environmental Science & Know-how estimated that kids ingest and inhale a mean of 553 microplastics per day, whereas adults ingest and inhale 883 of such particles.
Microplastics and nanoplastics are in all places: in our water, meals, in addition to within the air. We might get contaminated with them by means of dermal contact too, for example by means of contact with garments with artificial fibers. They’re even used as microbeads in facial exfoliators.
As soon as within the physique, nanoplastics get sneakier and sneakier.
Many of those plastic specks are normally eradicated in our feces, however nanoplastics can transfer from the lungs and intestines into the blood, and from there to blood vessels — the place they embed themselves in atherosclerotic plaques, rising the danger of cardiovascular occasions — and all organs, together with the center and the placenta.
Nanoplastics may also cross the body-brain barrier, which is why we will discover them in mind tissue as nicely. It’s not clear but whether or not they transfer out and in of the mind, or if they only accumulate there.
It might be, for example, that brains with dementia have bother expelling them, and so this results in extra nanoplastics accumulation than in regular brains. Both means, the examine carried out by Dr. Camden’s crew means that loads of them do amass there and should probably block communication between neurons.
These specks of plastic include any of some 16,000 chemical substances, of which about 1,000 are endocrine-disruptive chemical substances (EDCs). EDCs embody bisphenols and flame retardants, phthalates, in addition to the so-called “ceaselessly chemical substances,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Plastics utilized in electronics, for example, have excessive ranges of flame retardants. Generally toys and kitchen utensils, amongst many different gadgets (even necklace beads and hair equipment), are made with these recycled plastics from electronics, persevering with the cycle of contamination with these flame retardants.
One examine from 2023, funded by Poisonous-Free Future, Emory College, and Seattle’s Youngsters Analysis Institute, printed in Environmental Air pollution, discovered brominated flame retardants in breast milk in 100% of the 50 samples from U.S. moms studied, which isn’t shocking given the presence of those chemical substances in kitchen utensils, as talked about above.
Flame retardants have an effect on the endocrine, replica, and immune techniques, and neurodevelopment in utero and in childhood, and might result in most cancers, amongst different dangerous results.
Issues will be improved.
The authors of the above-mentioned examine on breast milk observe, for instance, that some chemical substances that had been phased out ten years beforehand, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), confirmed up a lot much less — 70% much less — within the breast milk samples included within the evaluation.
The group Poisonous-Free Future additionally commends the states of New York and Washington for limiting the usage of flame retardants. Efficient December 1, 2024, the state of New York prohibited intentionally-added flame retardants in upholstered furnishings, mattresses, and digital casings.
Washington state additionally just lately banned deliberately added organohalogen flame retardants in digital shows and electrical and digital casings meant for indoor use; deliberately added organohalogen flame retardants and organophosphate flame retardants in flooring, mats, and different leisure merchandise made out of polyurethane foam; PFAS in carpets and rugs, together with leather-based and textile furnishings and furnishings meant for indoor use, and in another merchandise, if deliberately added; and different dangerous chemical substances in numerous different merchandise.
So I assume the lesson there’s to lift consciousness and help numerous organizations and advocacy teams that drive analysis and insurance policies, corresponding to Poisonous-Free Future and Plastic Air pollution Coalition.
Plastics are additionally contaminated with different chemical substances, together with heavy metals corresponding to mercury and lead compounds. In truth, on the earth’s oceans and seas, mercury simply attaches to UV-aged biobased biodegradable plastics, that are then ingested by fish — and by us.
Plastics additionally carry micro organism. There’s even a reputation for these micro organism and different microorganisms that reside on plastics: plastisphere.
Microplastics, particularly, have been proven to hurt the endocrine system in mammals, and, in people, have been correlated with inflammatory bowel illness, male reproductive points, coronary heart assaults, and strokes. Research additionally counsel they might result in numerous cancers.
These nano- and microplastics are in all places, however there are methods to reduce our publicity to them.
For one, we will cease utilizing plastic within the kitchen. I hold telling my mom to not use plastic reducing boards, and but she retains telling me she solely makes use of one to chop bread. Nicely, sure, however that serrated knife cuts bits of plastic as nicely.
We are able to additionally keep away from ordering takeout at residence — I do, for probably the most half, as a result of I don’t need to pollute the setting with further plastic containers — and go to eating places of our alternative with our personal containers.
There are eating places in Bucharest which provide wonderful lunch offers, the place you’ll be able to’t eat all the pieces. Subsequent time I’m going to at least one, I’ll carry considered one of my very own containers, which, though they might be made from plastic, are made of higher plastic and are additionally not single-use.
One other meals packaging that actually bothers me are yogurt buckets, as a result of there’s simply So. A lot. Plastic. in them. Substances from that plastic leak into the yogurt. I want I might purchase easy yogurt in a glass container. Higher but, it might assist to have a milk route obtainable, as they do within the UK, so I might make my very own yogurt.
We are able to combat plastic air pollution in addition to keep away from ingesting added microplastics by carrying a private glass water bottle. There are many small water bottles round that serve us nicely if we have to drink some water whereas open air. After all, if we’d like extra water, we will, by all means, purchase some, but when we’re out on errands for a short time, we might be able to make do with a bottle from residence.
If we’re going climbing and touring by automotive, we will take water for our hikes in glass bottles.
Examine water filters, too.
However earlier than we get all enthusiastic about utilizing filtered water from residence in all places, it’s good to notice, together with Mark Taylor, chief environmental scientist on the Environmental Safety Authority within the state of Victoria, Australia, that water filters are additionally made from plastic. What this implies is that in time they, too, will begin to leak off particles. So altering these filters usually is paramount.
We are able to additionally keep away from plastic cutlery and single-use plastic plates. I bear in mind consuming a taco on a plate as a substitute of in a shell at Taco Bell at a mall in Bucharest, they usually gave me plastic flatware. Nicely, the fork broke. The entire expertise was terrible due to that plastic, a lot as I craved the meal. Now I notice I ought to have introduced steel cutlery from residence. It’s actually not so onerous.
Plastic-lined espresso cups, which leak microplastics when involved with sizzling liquids, are additionally simple to keep away from by carrying a chrome steel journey mug.
Assume twice earlier than shopping for artificial clothes.
Artificial garments are a monster launched on us and the setting. As a well being hazard, they’ll result in dermatitis, breast most cancers, complications, insomnia, and different points. Dick Vethaak, PhD, of UV College Amsterdam within the Netherlands recommends utilizing garments made from pure fibers like cotton or linen.
By way of environmental value, think about that a lot of the microplastic air pollution in landfills, our bodies of water, and the air comes from washing, discarding, and burning artificial clothes. Between 16% to 35% of the microplastics that enter the world’s oceans come from washing garments with artificial fibers. The latter embody polyester and nylon in addition to acrylic, fleece, and spandex (a.ok.a. elastane or Lycra). Wouldn’t you’re feeling higher shopping for garments with much less of those?
After all, fewer garments could be a good suggestion total, as the assorted dyes and different chemical substances used closely pollute the setting. All garments are extremely “water-hungry,” that means they eat quite a lot of water throughout every manufacturing cycle, from the cotton crops to the manufacturing unit processes.
Since I began studying in regards to the environmental value of vogue, I’ve personally shrunk my purchases of garments to only some gadgets per 12 months, on common (other than necessities corresponding to underwear and socks). Regardless that this may increasingly appear, nicely, unseemly to numerous folks in my life, a few of whom encourage me to purchase extra garments, I’m nice with that. I’m greater than nice with that. In truth, I’m glad.
That stated, the work in opposition to plastic air pollution ought to start with inside ornament. As Taylor has researched, our house is the place we ingest and inhale probably the most plastics. As Taylor says, we will purchase wool carpets as a substitute of polyester ones. We are able to keep away from plastic plates and cups and different plastic dishware for youths, to not point out plastic cutlery. There are, for example, bamboo spoons and forks that work simply nice, together with for youths.
Then there’s the difficulty of dusting and vacuuming usually, since, as Taylor feedback, furnishings and furnishings shed microplastics. As a aspect observe, there are eco-friendly, sustainable sofas available on the market, however they’re very costly.
On an adjoining matter, I’d say we will additionally keep away from microplastics by sporting a masks when dusting in our properties. Many individuals, together with my mom, mud off issues just like the sofa unfold on the balcony with out sporting a masks, which isn’t advisable. She inhales a lot of that mud, microplastics included. After all, there’s mud on the street, too, however a sofa unfold is completely different since folks sit on it, together with when sporting garments made from artificial fibers, which shed microplastics.
Dr. Vethaak additionally recommends we keep away from canned meals because the within cans comprises plastic in addition to different dangerous chemical substances. Like most individuals, I’m utilizing canned meals every now and then, however, as a rule, I attempt to keep away from them.
Today I purchase my beans in glass jars, for example, and I stick with cans after I don’t produce other options, for instance, after I purchase sardines for his or her omega-3 content material. Or when the cans include meals that aren’t obtainable in several packaging, corresponding to candy corn. However then we’re again to plastic in frozen meals, which isn’t nice — however it’s nonetheless in all probability higher than meals which have been subjected to thermic therapy in cans.
I’m positive there are different methods to keep away from publicity to microplastics, however right here’s one we don’t consider sufficient: washing arms usually, particularly earlier than meals. I see so many individuals lately nearly boasting that they don’t want to clean their arms that always, and I admit I by no means considered microplastics earlier than on this context, however right here it’s, a primary type of hygiene that may hold us more healthy.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to recollect, as Dr. Campen reminds us, that toxicity is commensurate with publicity to those microplastics, however that we shouldn’t despair proper off the bat. Since we can’t reside in an unpolluted setting, we should always settle for a few of this publicity whereas additionally doing our greatest to combat the lifetime accumulation of those specks of plastic and our plastic footprint on the setting.
So sure, the oceans are stuffed with plastics, and our brains are one 2 hundredth nanoplastics — and rising. However we will combat it. In truth, increasingly individuals are beginning plastic air pollution lawsuits. Minding our personal properties and our consumption can assist a terrific deal too, as I’ve tried to point out on this article.
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To a more healthy, happier life,
Mira
