Microplastics are a hot topic nowadays, as the tiny plastic particles exist almost everywhere -- in our water, air and even the food we consume. Though microplastics are often microscopic, they have a huge impact on our bodies.
A February 2025 study, for instance, found higher concentrations of microplastics in cadaver brain samples compared to liver and kidney tissues. Even more concerning, brain tissue from dementia patients in the same study showed up to 10 times more microplastic buildup than tissue from patients without dementia.
To combat microplastics accumulating in your own body, you can take steps to reduce them in your kitchen. But first, let's discuss how harmful microplastics actually are and where they hide in our homes.
Microplastics have become a serious problem for pollution, and now scientists worry about their potential health effects. An estimated 22,000,000 micro and nanoplastics are inhaled by humans each year, and that is largely because they are so hard to avoid. You're exposed to microplastics in three ways: inhalation, ingestion or touch.
Microplastics have been shown to cause a number of issues in the human body. Microplastics and nanoplastics found in blood vessels have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and, in severe cases, even death. Tissue inflammation, cell death and lung and liver impacts have all been noted. In animals and marine life, they can also cause oxidative and DNA damage, as well as cancer. Mice were shown to have reduced sperm count, ovarian scarring and hereditary metabolic disorders.
