Microplastics: What They Are & How to Avoid Them

Your family deserves a safe, non-toxic home. However, hidden hazards, like microplastics, seem to be lurking around every corner.  

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that can enter our bodies and impact our health. Science is still playing catch-up on their potential effects, and the unknown element can feel stressful and scary.

Luckily, there are ways you can minimize your microplastic exposure and promote a more non-toxic lifestyle. Find out how to reduce microplastic exposure below, along with other key facts about microplastics. 

What are Microplastics? 

Microplastics are plastic particles that measureunder 5 millimeters. There are also nanoplastics, which are even smaller than microplastics. But some people use the terms interchangeably. 

Both micro and nanoplastics typically break off from plastic objects when they start to degrade. The plastic particles make their way into the environment, where they can enter the water we drink, the soil that grows our food, and even the air we breathe. From there, microplastics canenter our bodies when we inhale, ingest, or absorb them through our skin. 

Types of Microplastics:

Depending on where they come from, microplastics might contain potentially harmful chemicals, including the following. 

• Bisphenol A (BPA),an industrial chemical that can seep into food and drinks and is associated with health issues like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.

• Phthalates,chemicals that can  impact your hormones and may affect your reproductive and neurological systems. Children are especially vulnerable to phthalates and can experience developmental issues from exposure. 

• Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a family of “forever chemicals”connected to higher cholesterol, poorer vaccine responses, pregnancy complications, and even certain types of cancer. 

Are microplastics harmful? 

Researchers are still trying to determine how microplastics affect our health. 

Some initial studies have made connections between microplastics and health issues, including those listed below. Although, we still don’t know if the microplastics we’re exposed to daily can trigger these potential effects. 

1. Blood Clots

One 2024 study looked at blood clots from 30 different people who had experienced either strokes, heart attacks, or deep vein thrombosis. 

Microplastics were in 80% of the clots, and higher concentrations were associated with more severe conditions, indicating that they might have contributed to the clotting. The researchers noted that more studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the sources of exposure and the trends observed in the study.

2. Cell Damage 

Nanoplastics are small enough to enter into your body’s cells.A 2024 research review connected microplastics with DNA damage and oxidative stress, aprocess that damages cells and causes aging. However, these tests were done in a lab setting, so we need more studies to confirm if nanoplastics in our bodies can cause the same results. 

3. Gut Inflammation

A 2020 research review connected micro and nanoplastics with potential gut health issues, like inflammation. They may also disturb the gut microbiome and interfere with permeability, the process that allows materials to pass into your bloodstream. And we already know that microplastics have been found in the bloodstream. But, most of the studies involved animals, meaning we need to confirm these effects in humans. 

4. Dementia 

Microplastics could even be in your brain. Researchers from the University of New Mexicodiscovered higher rates of microplastics in human brain tissue than in other organs, like the liver and kidneys. 

More alarmingly, rates of microplastics were much higher with brain samples from 2024 than those from 2016. Brains with dementia also had higher microplastic concentrations. Although, it’s not clear yet if microplastics might contribute to dementia, or if dementia could make it harder for the brain to get rid of plastics. 

How To Remove Microplastics From Your Body:

Previously, most researchers believed that microplastics left your body through your gastrointestinal tract. However since microplastics have been found in the bloodstream and vital organs, some may stick around in your body long-term. 

Scientists are still looking for a way to detox from microplastics. But, oneinitial study connected donating blood plasma to lower levels of PFAs in the blood, which may provide a promising lead. 

How To Avoid Microplastic Exposure:

Since microplastics are literally everywhere in our environment, you can’t avoid them altogether. That said, there are ways that you can minimize your exposure to microplastics in your home, like the following methods. 

1. Don’t Heat Plastic Containers

Heat makes plastics break down, which releases microplastics and potential toxins faster.A 2023 study found that microwaving a plastic container for just three minutes could release billions of micro and nanoplastics for onlyone square centimeter of plastic. So, if you’re storing leftovers in a plastic bowl or plate, transfer them to glass before popping them in the microwave.  

2. Use Glass or Stainless Steel 

Whenever you can, try to replace plastic items in your kitchen with a non-toxic alternative, such as the following ideas. 

• Glass dishware or stainless steel tumblers instead of plastic cups

• Wooden or stone cutting boards instead of plastic slabs 

• Use paper bags or reusable cloth bags for snacks instead of plastic bags

3. Cook with Non-Toxic Pans 

Nonstick pans are often coated with plastic or chemicals like Teflon.New research found that these pans can leach micro and nanoplastics into food. In fact, they may contribute nearly 5,000 particles into food every year. 

Luckily, the same study found that Teflon-free pans didn’t contribute any microplastics. Popular non-toxic cookware materials include cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic. 

4. Use a Water Filter

Microplastics can be found in the water we drink. Butcertain types of water filters, like reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration systems, could remove microplastics from your drinking water.

One 2023 study found that filters with finer membranes could reduce 78 to 100% of microplastics under a certain size threshold. So, filtering your water could offer more peace of mind. 

5. Eat Fewer Processed Foods

Some studies have linkedcertain types of foods with higher levels of microplastics, such as: 

• Takeout foods, especially thosestored in styrofoam

• Processed beverages, like beer or soda

• Refined sweeteners, like sugar or processed honey

While you don’t need to cut these foods out of your diet altogether, opting for less processed, plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains may be helpful. These options are lower on the food chain, meaning they might not accumulate as many toxic chemicals as animal-based foods. 

Conclusion 

You can’t always control how and when you come into contact with microplastics. But you can take proactive steps to reduce your microplastic exposure, like eating more plant-based foods, using non-toxic cookware, and avoiding microwaving plastic containers. 

And while scientists look for ways to get microplastics out of your system, you can support your body’s natural detoxification process through supplements.Utzy’s detox bundle contains ingredients like glutathione and B vitamins to boost your antioxidants and help your body naturally cleanse itself. 

References: 

Hirt, N., & Body-Malapel, M. (2020).Immunotoxicity and intestinal effects of nano- and microplastics: a review of the literature.Particle and Fibre Toxicology.

How PFAS impacts your health. (2024, November 12). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Hussain, K. A., et al. (2023).Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health.Environmental Science & Technology.

Li, Y., et al. (2023).Potential Health impact of Microplastics: A review of environmental distribution, human exposure, and toxic effects.Environment & Health.

Microplastics are everywhere — we need to understand how they affect human health. (2024).Nature Medicine. 

Nihart, A. J. et al. (2025).Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nature Medicine. 

Professional, C.C.M. (2024, May 1).Oxidative stress. Cleveland Clinic.

Program, H. F. (2024, July 24).Microplastics and nanoplastics in foods. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. 

Tips to reduce BPA exposure. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. 

Wang, T. et al. (2024, May).Multimodal detection and analysis of microplastics in human thrombi from multiple anatomically distinct sites. eBioMedicine.

Wang, Y. and Qian, H. (2021, May 18).Phthalates and Their Impacts on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel).

Gasiorowski, R. et al. (2022).Effect of Plasma and Blood Donations on Levels of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Firefighters in Australia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Open Network. 

Cole, M. et al. (2024, June 15).Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware. Science of The Total Environment. 

Kwon, J.H. et al. (2020, September 15).Microplastics in Food: A Review on Analytical Methods and Challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 

Cherian, A.G. et al. (2023, March 7).Microplastic Removal from Drinking Water Using Point-of-Use Devices. Polymers (Basel).

Du, F. et al. (2020, November 15).Microplastics in take-out food containers. Journal of Hazardous Materials.