About Microplastics

By Dr. Garry R. Lee, MD, Live Longer MD 

Yes, that’s right, researchers estimate the average person consumes about 53,864 particles of microplastics every year… the equivalent of 17 credit cards. Now keep in mind, this is how much we consume—from seafood alone. We estimate there are 24 Trillion pieces of microplastics in the oceans, so of course, fish and other sea creatures eat in in the food chain…and it’s served right up to you at your favorite restaurant.  

But that’s not it…we consume or absorb plastic for lots of places: tea bags, coffee pods, water bottles, plastic coffee cups (Starbucks), beer, salt, and even fruits and vegetables—especially apples and carrots.  

Microplastics are in the air we breathe and have turned up in lung tissue. But the potential health effects are far from clear. 
Lisa Sheehan 

March 24, 2023, at 12:00 P.M. 

Some of the chemicals added to make plastic suitable for particular uses are also known to cause problems for humans: Bisphenol A, or BPA, is used to harden plastic and is a known endocrine disruptor that has been linked to developmental effects in children and problems with reproductive systems and metabolism in adults (SN: 7/18/09, p. 5). Phthalates, used to make plastic soft and flexible, are associated with adverse effects on fetal development and reproductive problems in adults, along with insulin resistance and obesity. And flame retardants that make electronics less flammable are associated with endocrine, reproductive, and behavioral effects. 

“Some of these chemical products that I worked on in the past [like the polybrominated diphenyl ethers used as flame retardants] have been phased out or are prohibited to use in new products now [in the European Union and the United States] because of their neurotoxic or disrupting effects,” Leslie says. 

Bits of plastic floating in the world’s air and water contain chemicals that may pose risks to human health. A 2021 study identified more than 2,400 chemicals of potential concern found in plastics or used in their processing. Here are a few of the most worrisome. 

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins are used as lubricants, flame retardants, and plasticizers. They can cause cancer in lab rodents, but the mechanisms may not be relevant to human health. 

The chlorinated compound mirex was once used as a flame retardant and can persist in the environment. It’s suspected of being a human carcinogen and may affect fertility. 

2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol is an antioxidant and ultraviolet stabilizer, added to plastics to prevent degradation. There’s evidence that it causes liver damage in lab animals with prolonged or repeated exposure. 

Benzo(a)pyrene is a polyaromatic hydrocarbon that can be released when organic matter such as coal or wood burns. It is also produced in grilled meats. It has been shown to cause cancer, damage fertility, and affect development in lab animals. 

Dibutyl phthalate is a plasticizer that is known to cause endocrine disruption, may interfere with male fertility, and has been shown to affect fetal development in lab animals. 

Tetrabromobisphenol-A is a flame retardant that can cause cancer in lab animals and may be an endocrine disruptor. It is chemically related to bisphenol A, which has been linked to developmental effects in children. 

Source: H. Wiesinger, Z. Wang,  and S. Hellweg/Environmental Science and Technology