While plastic has brought convenience to our lives, microplastics and nanoplastics have invaded our bodies, posing significant health risks. Recently, there have been claims that every bite of takeout contains plastic. Is this just sensationalism, or is it true? Unfortunately, it is true. If you consume a little plastic every day, over ten years, you might ingest the equivalent of a standard lifebuoy.

How Does Plastic Invade the Body?

There’s no denying that the invention of plastic has greatly facilitated our lives. Not only are disposable takeout containers made of plastic, but so are your phone, the packaging of purchased items, children’s toys, medical supplies (like intravenous tubing and artificial valves), and even aerospace equipment. Plastic is ubiquitous and has even invaded our bodies.

You need to understand two concepts here: microplastics, which are plastic fragments and particles smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter; and nanoplastics, which are the smallest known microplastics, measuring less than 1 micron (0.001 millimeters) and small enough to pass through cell membranes.

Therefore, it is unavoidable. When we use plastic, particles are released into the environment and enter our bodies through breathing and eating. Additionally, microplastics can be ingested by animals, such as marine animals, and then enter our bodies through the food chain.

Where Does the Ingested Plastic Go?

You might be surprised. According to the World Wildlife Fund, if we ingest an average of 5 grams of microplastics per week, roughly the weight of a credit card, over ten years, that would amount to 5 kilograms of microplastics, equivalent to consuming a standard lifebuoy.

Guess where the plastic can reach in the human body? The lungs, liver? Could it be in the blood as well?

All of the above! Researchers have detected microplastics not only in the lungs, liver, and blood but also in the intestinal mucosa, feces, spleen, placenta, and even the brain.

Plastic particles in the body pose a significant health hazard. Previous studies have found that plastic can affect endocrine function, increasing the risk of premature birth, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive defects, obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer. Recent research also discovered that nanoplastics can damage protein fibers in brain neurons, increasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

What Can We Do to Reduce Plastic?

Plastic not only impacts human health but also severely damages the ecological environment. Data shows that about 8 to 10 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, and plastic has a much longer lifespan than humans; it can float in the ocean for 500 years or even thousands of years before degrading. Therefore, we must take measures to reduce plastic use and waste to protect health and the environment. As individuals, we can start with the following four points:

  • Minimize the Use of Disposable Plastic Products: Use glass or stainless steel products instead of plastic ones. Carry reusable shopping bags and portable water bottles, eat less takeout, and avoid using plastic straws.
  • Choose Biodegradable Plastics: Although there are “plastic restrictions,” they cannot completely eliminate plastic use. Choosing biodegradable plastics can reduce environmental pollution.
  • Support Environmental Protection: If you live near a river or the sea, participate in volunteer work to clean up plastic waste from waterways or beaches and contribute to environmental protection.
  • Reduce Plastic Harm to the Body: Do not use plastic bags for hot food, avoid heating plastic containers, do not use plastic bottles for edible oil, avoid synthetic fiber clothing, and regularly vacuum indoors to reduce indoor plastic particle levels.