Try This – Sounding the Alarm on Microplastics

According to the latest research, every week, without even realizing it, Americans are consuming an entire credit card’s worth of plastic.

I don’t know about you, but if that's true 1) it's a little bit scary and 2) it's also freaking nuts!

Dr. Rhonda Patrick, an expert I look to for the most updated health advice, made a comprehensive video about the dangers of microplastics, and to say that it was shocking is an understatement. 

I’ve been doing a deep dive on microplastics lately because I suspected that my plastic retainer was contributing to some recent health challenges, and what I’ve come to realize is that microplastics can impact every single aspect of our health…and especially our brain health. 

Today, I want to summarize Dr. Patrick’s takeaways on microplastics, the vital organs they impact, and how you can reduce your exposure to plastics and the chemicals that come with them. 

Let’s get into it. 

We’re Ingesting and Inhaling Plastics Like Crazy 

Plastics and the chemicals that come with them have been linked to reproductive problems, certain cancers, neurodevelopmental challenges, and diseases of the brain, including Alzheimer’s. 

So, where are all these plastics coming from? 

In Dr. Patrick’s video, she explains that there are two primary roots of exposure when it comes to microplastics: oral ingestion and inhalation. 

Our water sources are a huge contributor of microplastics. 

Tap water alone accounts for the consumption of between 220,000 and 1.2 million fragments of microplastics a year. But bottled water is worse. 

One study found that those who consume bottled water can consume up to 90,000 more additional plastic particles than those who drink tap water only. 

Aluminum cans are also highly concerning. One study showed that drinking from an aluminum can lined with BPA can increase blood pressure within just a few hours! This is a no-brainer—these chemicals have an immediate impact on our cardiovascular system. 

When it comes to the food we eat, microplastics are especially insidious. Heating plastic is one of the worst things we can do. Hot takeout containers and coffee cups made with plastic leach into our foods, and we ingest those foods. And microwaving plastics can release up to 4 million plastic particles!

Another source of microplastics is the air we breathe. 

 We’re literally inhaling microplastics, and they are impacting our respiratory system. Synthetic clothing is one of the biggest contributors to microplastics in the air. When we do our laundry, synthetic clothing breaks down and releases microplastics. (Dr. Patrick has a suggestion for this that I’ll share below.) 

Inhaling plastics is a bigger issue for those in urban environments. In fact, air pollution has even been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. 

And that’s the challenge with these plastics and the chemicals they come with. They don’t just pass through us; they accumulate in our organs like the brain, heart, and even the placenta. 

The Dangers of BPA, BPS, Phthalates, and PFAs

More than 70 percent of microplastics come from larger breakdowns of bigger plastics. And the rest are intentionally added to our products. The average person inhales 120,000 microplastic particles a year. 

And it’s not just the plastics that pose the problem; it’s the chemicals that are added to them like BPA (bisphenol A), BPS (bisphenol S), phthalates, and PFAs (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals”). 

These harmful additives are used to enhance the durability and flexibility of plastics, but they come with some serious side effects. 

• They increase the risk of developing breast cancer. 

• They interrupt cardiac function and weaken the heart. 

• They can impact fertility, the uterine lining, and ovarian function. 

• They can mimic estrogen in the body, leading to hormonal imbalances.  

• They increase the risk of childhood cancers such as osteosarcoma and lymphoma. 

• They can increase the risk of developing endometriosis and other reproductive diseases. 

• They can impact testosterone in children and adult men, impacting muscle mass and mood.

• They can lower immunity and have even been linked to certain cancers and thyroid disorders.

• Those with microplastics in their arteries are 4.5 times more likely to experience cardiovascular events.

• They can impact pregnant women and the growing fetus, leading to growth and developmental problems.

• Pregnant women with higher amounts of BPA increase the risk of their children developing autism and behavioral problems. 

• Those with higher levels of BPA in their bodies (especially women, likely due to the impact on estrogen) are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. 

And the list goes on and on… 

The Brain Is a Super-Accumulator of Microplastics

Dr. Patrick explained that the bloodstream acts as a highway for these microplastics. They travel through our bloodstream and into our organs, where they accumulate. The liver, lungs, heart, placenta, and brain can all play host to these microplastics. 

What’s especially alarming is that the brain appears to be a super-accumulator of microplastics. 

One study looked at the levels of microplastics in various organs and found that the brain contained 10–20 times more microplastics than other organs. 

And as the amount of microplastics in the environment increases, the amount in our brains also seems to be increasing. 

With diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s on the rise, it raises the question—do microplastics carry any of the blame here? 

The fact that they’re able to cross our blood-brain barrier (which is meant to protect our brain) means that we have to take extra precautions when it comes to our plastic exposure. 

Steps to Mitigate Our Microplastic Problem 

I don’t want to leave you hanging. Dr. Patrick also listed out a number of things we can do to support and reduce our bodies’ chronic exposure to microplastics. 

1. Don’t microwave plastics. 

2. Choose fresh foods over packaged foods when possible.

3. Get sweaty. Physical activity, sauna, and sweating in general all help to excrete these chemicals.  

4. Eat plenty of fiber. Dietary fiber binds to chemicals in the GI tract, which helps with their elimination. 

5. Get a reverse-osmosis water filter. These filters can help remove microplastics and nanoplastics. 

6. If you wash synthetic clothes, get a microfiber filter for your washing machine. This can help reduce microplastics. 

7. Install a HEPA air filter in your home or get a high-quality air filter. Indoor air can be even more polluted than outdoor air. 

8. Decline receipts when possible; they contain harmful microplastics. If you work with receipts a lot, use nitrile gloves. 

9. Reduce your plastic use overall, especially hot takeout containers and coffee cups lined with plastic. Glass is a much better option. 

10. Phase out your nonstick pans. These are a source of microplastics. I like non-coated ceramic cookware, cast iron, or stainless steel. 

11. Consume sulforaphane. Sulforaphane activates something called NRF2, a master regulator of detoxification. It binds to harmful chemicals and helps excrete them in our urine. Broccoli sprouts and broccoli are great sources of sulforaphane. 

That’s it. We can’t obsess over our plastic problem, but we can take these simple steps to support our bodies in spite of chronic exposure. 

Here’s to your health, 

Dhru Purohit