It’s not huge information: Microplastics are a pervasive downside world wide, current in every thing from our oceans to breast milk1. These plastic particles come from the breakdown of plastic waste, and given their tiny dimension —– about <5000 μm —– they’ll simply discover their manner into the meals we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.
Inevitably, the well being hazards of those omnipresent plastic particles have continued to stack up. Whereas it’s harder than ever to avoid them utterly, understanding the best way to keep away from microplastics in your personal dwelling could make a world of a distinction.
The Dangers of Microplastics
As tiny as they’re, these microplastics can do critical harm. A 2023 examine in Yonsei Medical Journal cited blocked digestion and damaging results on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract2, whereas 2024 analysis from the New England Journal of Drugs discovered that microplastic publicity might contribute to elevated danger of myocardial infarction or stroke3.
An article from the Journal of the Harvard Medical College added potential ramifications starting from oxidative harm, endocrine disruption, and impacts on reproductive well being4. Lastly, 2024 analysis in Life Sciences discovered an “alarming” hyperlink between microplastic contamination and an elevated danger of assorted sorts of most cancers, together with lung, blood, breast, prostate, and ovarian5.
Sources of Microplastics In Your Kitchen
Microplastics are so pervasive that they’re almost unavoidable within the trendy world. Latest analysis has discovered that their presence within the air signifies that even vegetation are contaminated6. However excellent is the enemy of excellent, and there are nonetheless methods which you can scale back your publicity. To reduce the microplastics you ingest, we advocate beginning within the coronary heart of the house — your kitchen. Listed here are the worst culprits to prioritize for a kitchen clean-out.
1. Plastic Chopping Boards
Not solely are plastic chopping boards extra prone to harbor harmful micro organism than wooden, however plastic chopping boards may also introduce substantial quantities of microplastics into our meals.
Plastic chopping boards could seem to be they’re cleaner and safer than porous wooden, however analysis has proven that the alternative is true. If you wish to know the best way to keep away from microplastics, it is a huge one. Not solely are plastic chopping boards extra prone to harbor harmful micro organism than wooden7, (particularly within the gashes that type within the materials over time), however plastic chopping boards may also introduce “substantial” quantities of microplastics into our meals.
Based on a 2023 examine in Environmental Science & Know-how, an individual utilizing a plastic chopping board might enhance their microplastic publicity by as much as 50 grams in a 12 months — roughly the identical weight as a golf ball8.
What to Use As a substitute
As a substitute of a plastic chopping board, go for a heavy, end-grain chopping board like those from John Boos, an artisan who’s been making wood chopping boards since 1887. Finish-grain boards are extra sturdy, they usually’re nice at additionally wicking harmful micro organism away from the board’s floor of the board. This micro organism will get pulled into the wooden, the place they’re killed off due to the dearth of oxygen. And so they’re lovely besides.
2. Plastic Meals Storage Containers
Plastic meals storage containers are gentle, straightforward, and reasonably priced — however none of these professionals outweigh the dangers they pose to our well being. 2023 analysis in Environmental Science & Know-how discovered that plastic containers and reusable meals pouches leached as many as 4.22 million microplastics per sq. centimeter. And the way a lot plastic we eat additionally diverse extensively relying on how the containers have been used9.
The examine highlighted a key level: understanding the best way to keep away from microplastics isn’t nearly what you utilize within the kitchen, however how you utilize it. Microwaving meals in plastic containers was probably the most egregious use case when it got here to leaching microplastics, although refrigerating meals and storing meals at room temperature for over six months additionally contributed to microplastic contamination.
Whereas we’re at it, it’s additionally time to kick the behavior of reusing single-use plastic containers. As a lot as we’re followers of upcycling, this isn’t the place to get resourceful. A 2020 examine within the Journal of Hazardous Supplies estimated that those that eat takeout 4 to seven occasions weekly might ingest over 200 items of microplastics by means of single-use takeout containers10. Polystyrene containers with tough surfaces have been among the worst offenders, the examine authors discovered.
What to Use As a substitute
Swap out your plastic storage containers for a variety product of glass, like these nestable and stackable containers from Zwilling. Glass containers are secure when in touch with meals, they usually’re a fantastic sturdy and non-toxic various to plastic.
3. Plastic Wraps and Baggage
Preserving meals in plastic luggage or plastic wrap is one other manner you could be by chance introducing microplastics into your weight-reduction plan. 2021 analysis in Environmental Nanotechnology Monitoring & Administration discovered that these plastics might leach into meals, notably when moist, heated, or uncovered to gentle11.
What to Use As a substitute
Make use of these new glass storage containers, or cowl leftover meals with reusable wraps like Bee’s Wrap, produced from secure, sustainable wax-coated cotton.
4. PFAS-Coated Nonstick Cookware
Analysis discovered {that a} single crack in a Teflon-coated pan can launch about 9,100 plastic particles into your meals.
Nonstick cookware coated with PTFE isn’t simply terrible for the atmosphere; 2024 analysis in Science of the Whole Atmosphere stories that it’s additionally been discovered to launch harmful micro- and nanoplastics into meals12. That is much more regarding in terms of older cookware — analysis discovered {that a} single crack in a Teflon-coated pan can launch about 9,100 plastic particles into your meals13.
What to Use As a substitute
It’s effectively previous the time we did away with conventional nonstick cookware in favor of safer choices. On this case, understanding the best way to keep away from microplastics isn’t such a chore — you’ll get attractive, well-made cookware in return.
5. Plastic Kitchen Utensils
Plastic kitchen utensils, particularly these which were scratched or fragmented, may also contribute fairly a little bit of microplastic residue to your dinner14. Black plastic utensils like spatulas are notably nefarious, with the potential to introduce not simply microplastics however flame retardants, in keeping with a 2024 examine in Chemosphere15.
Based on a 2024 examine within the Journal of Hazardous Supplies, only one month of consuming sizzling meals off of plastic tableware might contribute to important microplastic publicity, resulting in adjustments in microbiota abundance and metabolite ranges in only a few quick weeks.
Disposable plastic tableware can also be regarding for each the atmosphere and our well being. Based on a 2024 examine within the Journal of Hazardous Supplies, only one month of consuming sizzling meals off of plastic tableware might contribute to important microplastic publicity, resulting in adjustments in microbiota abundance and metabolite ranges in only a few quick weeks16.
Reusable plastic tableware isn’t utterly secure both. 2022 analysis in Meals Packaging and Shelf Life examined melamine bowls for microplastics after washing solely as soon as vs. 100 occasions. The bowl that had been washed 100 occasions examined increased for microplastic residue, indicating that extra microplastics have been launched over time17.
What to Use As a substitute
6. Plastic Water Bottles and Cups
Plastic water bottles and cups are one other terrifying supply of microplastics in meals, given that almost all of us use this stuff every so often. A 2024 examine within the Proceedings of the Nationwide Academy of Sciences discovered {that a} liter of bottled water contained a mean of 240,000 tiny items of plastic18 —– ten to 100 occasions greater than beforehand estimated19.
What to Use As a substitute
As a substitute of ingesting from plastic, think about investing in lovely coloured glassware, like this set from Our Place. Produced from a mixture of recycled glass and sand, these sturdy glasses are much more nice — and secure — to drink from than plastic. They’re additionally simply and safely refilled, due to the corporate’s matching glass carafe.
For ingesting water on the go, we love the sunshine and easy 27-ounce water bottle from Klean Kanteen. It’s produced from sustainably harvested bamboo, chrome steel, and food-grade silicone, enabling microplastic-free hydration each time you’re taking a sip.
Last Ideas on How A lot Plastic We Eat
In as we speak’s world, it’s arduous to utterly management how a lot plastic we eat — however there are nonetheless concrete steps we are able to take to scale back our publicity. Begin by changing one merchandise at a time, with the last word aim of constructing your property a plastic-free zone (or as near it as you may!). So long as you’re making progress, you’re transferring in the suitable course.
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39064070/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
- https://journal.hms.harvard.edu/articles/microplastics-everywhere
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320524005277
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08831-4
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31113021/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37220346/
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389420309584
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215153221001835
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724027232
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972205392X?viapercent3Dihub
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- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653524022173?viapercent3Dihub
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- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214289422000187
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water
- https://version.cnn.com/2024/01/08/well being/bottled-water-nanoplastics-study-wellness/index.html
