We eat, drink and breathe plastic and now it's in our brains. These are the health risks, warns expert
A never-ending cycle of plastic production is leaving traces in every corner of the globe, infiltrating our food chains and ecosystems. This growing mass of discarded plastic breaks down into tiny particles between 1 nanometre and 5 millimetres wide, and much like a spilled pot of glitter, these tiny pollutants are everywhere.
While society scrambles to comprehend the full threat of microplastics, reality is becoming stranger than science fiction: a London-based clinic now offers to remove them from the bloodstream using filtration technology. As microplastics accumulate in our bodies and global panic rises, are we witnessing the beginning of a plastic health crisis?
- The danger signs on your tongue you should never ignore
- Simple swaps you can make at home to live more sustainably
We eat, drink and breathe plastic
According to UNEP, between 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the world's water systems every year. Invisible plastics can also be transported through the air, meaning that we can’t even take a breath without being exposed to them.
A new peer-reviewed study estimates humans can inhale as much as 68,000 tiny plastic particles a day. Measuring air in apartment rooms and car cabins, the authors found that degraded household products are creating an invisible cloud of plastic pollution inside our homes.
Life in plastic – from fantastic to catastrophic?
Microplastics have been found throughout the human body – in our blood, lungs and even rapidly accumulating in our brains. A study evaluating approximately 15% of Americans’ caloric intake estimates that we consume between 39000 and 52000 particles a year through our diet alone.
As the pollutant seeps into every aspect of our daily lives, even our healthy habits are being highjacked. Individuals who meet their recommended water intake could be ingesting up to an additional 90000 microplastics annually. You can’t even comfort yourself with a cup of tea anymore, as a recent study found that brewing polymer-based teabags in hot water causes a “significant release” of microplastics.
Consultant Scientist who specialises in plastic and chemical pollution, Heather D. Leslie says ‘what many people don’t realize about microplastics is that each (particle) delivered to the body comes with it its own unique array of plastic-associated chemicals.
‘We have proven that microplastics are circulating through bloodstreams, and together with the chemicals they carry, some are hazardous to cells, proteins and DNA, disrupt hormones and cause inflammation. All of this is happening without anyone consenting to microdosing microplastics.
‘We don't have a norm for maximum tolerable daily intake of microplastic, because we're still many years away from that stage in human risk assessment.’
The side-effects are unknown
A lack of data means that we don’t yet know the health risks connected with microplastic exposure - but we know enough to be concerned. Recent studies have found correlations with negative health effects, suggesting the tiny pieces of plastic disrupt almost all our bodily functions, including digestive, reproductive, hormonal and respiratory systems.
However, chartered chemist and author of The Plastics Paradox Dr Chris DeArmitt believes fearmongering, along with a lack of concrete scientific evidence, is leading to inflated narratives around plastic pollution.
‘Lifetime exposure is 0.005g and 99.7% of that passes right through us with no effect. A tiny fraction of the extremely small particles can get into the body tissues as can all extremely small particles, but the body’s defences deal with those.’
‘There is no credible study showing any effect at all on human health. Zero people admitted to hospital. Zero fatalities. As an example, you can eat a cup of plastic pellets per day for months with no effect at all. We know that from animal testing. It is one of the reasons that regulatory authorities around the world approved plastic for use in knives, forks, cups, plates, medical devices, implants and so on.’
How worried should we be?
Though the idea that we are exaggerating the threat of microplastics is inviting, the correlation between exposure and serious health conditions is hard to ignore. In February 2025, a group of scientists identified that people who had been diagnosed with dementia prior to their death had up to 10 times as much plastic in their brains compared to those without the condition.
There is a consensus among researchers that both the plastic particles and the toxic chemicals found in them may cause inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and puts you at risk of conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
In a recent study on mice, real-time imaging showed microplastics circulating through their brains and blocking blood vessels, though we can’t apply this research to the human condition, it doesn’t look good.
Similarly to our relationship with asbestos pre-1970s and cigarettes pre-1950s, it feels like we are currently sleepwalking into a health crisis from a toxic substance that we willingly welcomed into our lives. Though we are in the early stages of discovery, with a lot of scientific unknowns, it isn’t too soon to start limiting the microplastics in your life.
Heather Leslie says that rather than panicking, we should take action to limit our exposure to microplastics.
‘Fear gives bad advice so I advocate empowering people with knowledge so they can decide for themselves what is important and then make decisions based on that.
‘Many have already chosen the precautionary principle, which involves reducing exposure after the first hazard signals appear, while continuing to monitor and research health impacts.’
Detox from microplastics
We know shockingly little about the impact of microplastics, but as they infiltrate our daily lives, one thing is for sure, we can’t avoid them completely – and you’ll drive yourself crazy if you try. However, we can still minimise both our exposure to microplastics and their effects on the body through lifestyle changes.
Heather D. Leslie is a leading expert in international microplastic research, she thinks we need to adjust our daily habits to help combat the pollution problem.
‘Our bodies are constantly doing their best to get rid of microplastics but the fact we are detecting them in human blood and organs means we aren’t eliminating them as fast as we are absorbing them.
‘The way we can help ourselves is by keeping our bodies healthy and starting to say no to plastic applications that don’t respect our wellbeing more often. Don’t avoid your favourite shampoo, start with something plastic that sparks no joy in the first place. Buying a toxic product is like voting for it. Your money encourages producers of toxic stuff to keep making more.’
Microplastics can pass through us naturally, with larger particles leaving through our digestive system and airways. Cutting out ultra-processed foods to consume an antioxidant-rich, plant-based diet can help us flush out the intruders.
Holistic doctor and GP Dr Nirusha Kumaran says that supporting the body’s natural detoxification systems is the most practical approach.
‘Maintaining a fibre-rich diet, staying well hydrated, sweating, moving regularly, and supporting a healthy gut microbiome can all help the body process and excrete environmental toxins more effectively.
‘Focus on supporting your body’s natural defences through a nutrient-dense, anti-Inflammatory diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management. These foundational lifestyle principles will not just help protect against microplastics but will also build resilience against a wide range of modern environmental stressors.’
If you have a spare £10,000 lying around, you could even pay a London clinic for a treatment promising to rid your blood of 90-99% of the pollutant. For most of us though, making lifestyle changes to reduce exposure, as well as practicing everyday detox support is the best way to make a difference.
40% of global plastic waste comes from packaging, so choosing products with alternative wrapping like cardboard or tin cans, will shift your life away from plastic. However, Sian Sutherland, Co-Founder of A Plastic Planet & Plastic Health Council believes that lifestyle changes can only take us so far in combatting the issue.
‘The responsibility simply cannot rest on individuals. We need a change in systems and materials. Policy and industry must act. The crisis cannot be solved by recycling or personal choices alone.
‘True change requires cutting plastic production, removing hazardous chemicals from plastics, enforcing legislation, adopt natural alternative alternatives materials and refill systems where we use non-toxic materials time and time again. The public cannot be expected to manage exposure individually in a plastic-saturated world.
‘We need systemic solutions that hold corporations accountable, create financial risk for those still using toxic plastics and break our dependence on a material that has become so ubiquitous with modern consumption – this is genuine innovation, not regression. As the world slowly awakens to the invisible threat of microplastics, there are impactful steps we can take right now to reduce our exposure and protect our health.
Simple ways to reduce microplastic exposure
Take control of your microplastic intake and invest in the following household products to reduce the microplastics in your home.
- Plastic free sponges
Washing up with a plastic sponge releases fragments of plastic into the hot soapy water. Avoid contaminating your kitchen and food with Seep’s compostable, plastic-free sponges.
- Stainless steel, glass or ceramic food containers
Swap out your plastic food container for an Elephant Box Clip & Seal Lunchbox. Microwaving plastic greatly increases the likelihood of ingesting microplastics, so always make sure you are heating food in ceramic or glass.
- Water filter
Not even your tap water is safe from microplastics. Purify your drinking water with Phoenix Gravity’s countertop filter which removes 99.9% of contamination. You can even install an under-sink system like Water2, founded by Charles Robinson and co-owned by Bear Grylls.
- Air filter
A Hepa air filtration system such as the Meaco Clean CA-HEPA filter will improve the air quality in your home, purifying your environment from the tiny micro and nano plastics.
- Natural fibre clothes & textiles
Choose clothes and home decor made from 100% natural fibres over synthetic textiles like polyester. The self-proclaimed ‘original ethical brand’ Komodo offers clothes made from premium quality organic cotton.
- HEPA vacuum
Regularly hoover with a HEPA filter vacuum like the Shark Stratos Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner to reduce the microplastics piling up in the corners of your home.
- Water bottle
Cut out plastic water bottles from your life and invest in a more sustainable, stainless steel option – like Healf’s double-walled stainless steel bottle.
Read more:
