You're Probably Eating and Breathing Plastic—Here's What the Science Says

Redacción HC
27/11/2023

If you've ever worried about plastic in the oceans, brace yourself—it's also in your food, your water, and even the air you breathe. A groundbreaking study published in Environmental Science & Technology reveals that Americans may be ingesting and inhaling over 100,000 microplastic particles annually, a number that could be even higher depending on lifestyle choices and environmental conditions.

This comprehensive analysis provides the first detailed estimate of total human exposure to microplastics via both diet and air. And the results are more than unsettling—they’re a wake-up call for consumers, regulators, and the scientific community alike.

Microplastics Are Everywhere—But How Much Are We Consuming?

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in diameter, originating from the breakdown of larger plastics or manufactured as microbeads in personal care products. Over time, these particles have infiltrated ecosystems globally, accumulating in marine environments, food chains, and even household air.

The central question of the study, led by Kieran D. Cox and colleagues from the University of Victoria and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was: How many microplastic particles are people in the United States consuming each year—both through ingestion and inhalation?

How the Study Estimated Your Plastic Intake

The researchers performed a systematic review of 402 data points from 26 studies, covering more than 3,600 samples of food, beverages, and air. These were grouped into categories like seafood, salt, sugar, beer, bottled and tap water, and indoor/outdoor air.

Each data point was converted to standard exposure units—MPs per gram, liter, or cubic meter—and matched with USDA and EPA dietary guidelines to estimate annual intake by age and sex.

Key categories included:

• Ingestion via food and drink
• Inhalation via indoor and outdoor air

The team acknowledged the limitations: only about 15% of the typical U.S. diet was covered, and air microplastic data were based on just two studies. The actual numbers may, in fact, be significantly higher, especially considering unmeasured intake from food preparation and other unaccounted sources.

The Numbers Are Shocking

The findings indicate that Americans are exposed to tens of thousands of microplastic particles every year, and the total may exceed 120,000 when combining food, drink, and air.

Annual Intake Estimates:

Group	Ingested MPs	Inhaled MPs	Total MPs
Adult males	~52,000	~69,000	~121,000
Adult females	~46,000	~52,000	~98,000
Boys	~41,000	~40,000	~81,000
Girls	~39,000	~35,000	~74,000

Bottled Water: The Worst Offender?

Perhaps the most surprising revelation was the disproportionate exposure from bottled water. Drinking only bottled water could increase microplastic intake by up to 90,000 additional particles per year, compared to just 4,000 from tap water.

That’s a 22-fold difference—a powerful argument for reconsidering your hydration habits.

The authors cite earlier studies showing bottled water may contain up to 94 MPs per liter, while tap water contains around 4 MPs per liter.

Implications for Health and Policy

While the long-term health effects of microplastic exposure remain uncertain, early studies suggest they could lead to inflammation, liver stress, and even hormone disruption. The plastic fragments can carry toxic chemicals or harbor pathogens, adding further complexity to their potential health impact.

What Can Be Done?

For public health agencies and governments:

• Develop standardized testing methods to detect MPs <10 microns.
• Regulate plastic use in packaging, especially for food and beverages.
• Improve indoor air quality guidelines to address airborne MPs.

For consumers:

• Switch to tap water where safe.
• Use home filtration systems.
• Improve ventilation to reduce indoor air particles.
• Reduce consumption of packaged foods and beverages.

For the scientific community:

• Expand research into untested food categories like grains, dairy, and vegetables.
• Investigate atmospheric deposition during cooking and eating.
• Conduct toxicokinetic studies to understand absorption and accumulation of MPs in human tissue.

As the authors recommend, a precautionary approach is warranted: reduce plastic use where possible while continuing to investigate its impacts.

Conclusion: An Invisible Threat With Tangible Consequences

This study makes it clear: microplastics are not just an environmental issue—they’re a public health concern. With ingestion and inhalation figures reaching into the hundreds of thousands per year, plastic is literally entering our bodies in measurable ways.

As consumers, we can’t avoid all microplastic exposure, but informed choices—like ditching bottled water—can significantly reduce our intake. For policymakers and scientists, the path forward is even clearer: act now to minimize exposure and invest in further research.

Topics of interest

Pollution Health