Microplastics are making their way into common foods we eat. (© Genevieve - stock.adobe.com)
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length, that occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. They’re also present in a variety of products, including cosmetics, synthetic clothing, plastic bags and bottles, packaging materials, and even in our food.
That’s right: We eat, drink, and breathe the little plastic shards.
These microplastics are making their way into all the tissues of the human body that have been examined for particles. Not even the brain is spared. Recently, researchers reported finding a plastic spoon’s volume of microplastics in human brain tissue. Instinct says that can’t be good.
Beyond just tissue, there’s a good chance you’ve got microplastics lodged in multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, skin, lymph, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary systems. So unsurprisingly, the shards have been found in other human biological samples such as breastmilk, semen, stool, sputum, urine and meconium (a newborn’s first bowel movement).
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), current evidence does not indicate that microplastics in food put our health at risk for adverse effects. That seems like a default assertion, because the truth is that little is known about what, if anything, happens to our bodies from the accumulation of bits of plastic.
There is no scientifically established safe or unsafe level of microplastic intake or accumulation. Until more is known, it seems prudent to limit exposure as much as possible.
Microplastics get into our food when it is grown, raised, or processed. Plastic mulch and seed coatings, irrigation with contaminated water, plastic packaging, containers and utensils are all ways that microplastics enter the food supply, destined for consumption by humans and pets.
Here are nine common foods and drinks that have been found to contain microplastics:
1. Teabags
Polypropylene is a plastic often used in tea bags, even paper tea bags. When hot water contacts the tea bags, they may release microplastics into the tea.
Use a stainless-steel diffuser and switch to loose-leaf tea to eliminate the tea bag problem.
2. Bottled water
Bottled water is one of the most common sources of micro and nanoplastics. Most plastic water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, a type of plastic which breaks apart easily when bottles are squeezed. One study estimated that there are about 240,000 plastic particulates per liter of bottled water.
Switch to drinking tap water from glass or stainless-steel containers.
3. Seafood
One of the most common ways that plastic particles contaminate food is through single-use plastics breaking down and entering waterways or soil. Plankton take up the plastic particles. Fish consume the contaminated plankton which then accumulates in their muscle.
Portland State University recently reported a study in which they found microplastics in 180 of 182 seafood samples.
Limit your shellfish consumption. Mussels, oysters, scallops, and other shellfish have higher concentrations of microplastics than fish without shells.
4. Rice
Rice is a major source of microplastics. A half cup of rice can contain 3-4 milligrams (mg) of plastic. Instant rice packets contain four times that amount.
A University of Queensland study found that washing rice can reduce plastic contamination by 20-40%, but researchers used filtered water for the washing.
5. Salt
Salt is in almost everything we eat; sodium is essential for fluid and electrolyte balance. One study sampled 39 salt brands from around the world and found that 90% contained microplastics. They attributed the problem to environmental contamination and production and packaging practices.
Try to buy salt packaged in glass or cardboard.
6. Honey
Honey can harbor microplastics, even when packaged in glass. One study found that honeybees carried or ingested microplastics, which were then incorporated into hives and dispersed into honey.
Local beekeepers who use more natural and sustainable harvesting processes may sell honey with less microplastic contamination.
7. and 8. Fruits and vegetables
A variety of fruits and vegetables are essential for a balanced diet, but they can also contain microplastics. One study found that apples were the most contaminated fruit and .carrots were the most contaminated vegetable. The plant roots take up micro-and nanoplastics from soil, which then end up in the edible part of the produce.
Wash and peel your fruits and vegetables. Buy local or organic produce, which may contain fewer plastic particles.
9. Proteins
A study at the Ocean Conservancy found that 88% of both vegetable and animal proteins contain microplastics. Highly processed proteins store the most microplastics. Examples include fish sticks and chicken nuggets. Microplastics also enter protein sources through contaminated animal feed and from the environments in which animals are raised. Plant-based proteins take up microplastics from soil or irrigation.
The consequences of microplastics and their long-term accumulation in our bodies are largely unknown. Rigorous and extensive research is needed to answer important questions about the effects of microplastics in humans.
