Microplastics are tiny, microscopic fragments of plastic
Anything made of plastic! Plastics are used in almost everything nowadays. From cosmetics and clothing to food packaging and household items.
Over time anything made of plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces
The many harmful effects of microplastics have only recently begun to be studied in depth. Yet initial results show that these toxic particles are having a greater impact on humans than previously thought.
One reason for this is ‘bioaccumulation’. Humans have been using plastics in great quantities for over 50 years. Because it takes time for plastics to break down, and because we are using them more and more in daily life, the harmful effects are just now beginning to reveal themselves.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that having tiny pieces of plastic in your body is harmful. Microplastics have been found throughout the human body – including the lungs, the brain, and even the placenta!
While nobody would eat a plastic water bottle, we still consume these plastics in the air we breathe, in the tap water, and in the food we eat.
Microplastics have a huge number of impacts on the human body. Disrupting the human hormonal system, causing decreased sperm counts and low testosterone in men, Contributing to the skyrocketing rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and may even contribute to weight gain.
Plastic is made from crude oil. Oil is a known carcinogen (causes cancer) Over time a buildup of tiny pieces of plastic wreak havoc on the body and may contribute to an increased risk of cancer.
Microplastics have been found on some of the highest, most remote mountains to the deepest parts of the ocean. Humans have used and thrown away plastics for so long that there is nowhere on earth that is truly toxin-free.
Yet there is hope. By making certain lifestyle choices, we can drastically reduce the exposure to microplastics down to levels where the body can dispose of them.