the problem with microplastics: emerging science points to chronic illness
8 minute read
the reality is that the plastic world humans have created is almost inescapable, seeping toxicity into your body and brain with serious health impacts that science is only beginning to reveal.
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this article was produced by the healthing editorial team with the support of a grant from aquaomega. while aquaomega made the production of this article possible, they did not have any editorial influence or control over the content, including review prior to publication.
are you grabbing that to-go coffee in waterproof plastic-lined cups? are the bed sheets you sleep in for seven hours every night made of microfiber? what about your wardrobe… are you wearing those stretchy nylon jogger pants?
plastic is everywhere—you’re consuming it, wearing it and breathing it, most likely without knowing it or giving it much thought. didn’t we all replace our bisphenol-a (bpa) plastic water and baby bottles years ago?
what are microplastics?
microplastics are microscopic shards of plastic that break down from larger pieces over time. these particles can be ingested, inhaled and even absorbed through your skin. researchers have identified even smaller plastic particles called nanoplastics that can penetrate cells and tissues more easily.
plastic typically contains chemicals added during production, such as phthalates, which make plastics soft and flexible, and bisphenols like bpa, which make plastics hard and super-durable. these aren’t good for people or the planet; the effects are playing out right now in our oceans.
the reality is that the plastic world humans have created is almost inescapable, seeping toxicity into your body and brain with serious health impacts that science is only beginning to reveal.
‘insidious’ progressive damage of plastic
dr. paul hrkal, naturopathic doctor at the pain and wellness centre in vaughan, ont., says that exposure to microplastics is “insidious” in its slow, progressive damage. he’s become a passionate advocate for helping people understand the implications and make informed choices.
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“i really think it has the potential to be that missing link that can explain a lot of things that we’re seeing in health care, trends in diseases, childhood obesity and the rising infertility rate. there’s a lot of these conditions that are increasing,” he says of the impact of microplastics.
“our population, in fact, is getting sicker, but they’re not necessarily dying earlier because we’re getting better at keeping people alive. but we’re not really going after the root cause and this is one of those root causes.”
dr. hrkal cites the biggest impacts of this ongoing low-dose exposure as cancer, infertility and hormonal imbalances. all three are on the rise, and a significant part of his practice is treating hormonal imbalances, which can trigger everything from menstrual irregularities through to symptoms of menopause.
“i do a lot of work helping people manage weight loss, especially stubborn weight loss. i find that so many more women are struggling with not being able to lose weight and ongoing menopausal symptoms. smack in the middle of these two conditions are endocrine disruptors, the hormonal crosstalk in the body.”
disrupting hormonal health
essentially, microplastic exposure is disrupting the normal hormone signalling in your body, messing with metabolism and insulin production. insulin is the hormone that manages blood sugar to fuel body processes.
so, you can add microplastics to the modern lifestyle problems that are contributing to the epidemic of type 2 diabetes and obesity, he says.
he simplifies science by explaining that petrochemical byproducts are the chemical compounds that come from refining and processing petroleum and natural gas to make materials like plastics, synthetic fibres and chemicals in everyday products.
“there are classes of these petrochemical byproducts called carcinogens, so things that cause cancer, but those are obvious ones. but there are other chemicals that are termed obesogens. so these are not carcinogens, but these are chemicals that trigger blood sugar dysregulation and diabetes,” he says. they can disrupt metabolic processes, leading to increased fat storage and obesity.
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“bisphenol-a belongs to this class of obesogens, but there’s also many others that may be contributing to the promotion of obesity,” he explains.
“the frustrating part is that you know the industry has eliminated bisphenol a from plastic, but there’s probably like 20-plus different bisphenols. those are not eliminated. they’re still there, but it’s like a bit of marketing smoke and mirrors where it’s like i take one out, but there’s also many others.” when it comes to plastic formulations, it’s a substitution game for product developers and manufacturers.
he recognizes that ultra-processed foods and inactivity are proven contributors to obesity, but plastics in the daily environment are adding to the disease pathology in the growing and aging population. a 2021 review of the science in frontiers in microbiology notes that the “ubiquitous exposure of humans to microplastics through inhalation of particles in air and ingestion in dust, water and diet is well established. humans are estimated to ingest tens of thousands to millions of microplastics particles annually, or on the order of several milligrams daily.”
the authors say that biomonitoring studies of human stool, fetal tissue and placenta provide direct evidence of microplastic exposure in infants and children. plastics were once considered inert, safe materials, but now “microplastics exposure in laboratory animals is linked to various forms of inflammation, immunological response, endocrine disruption, alteration of lipid and energy metabolism and other disorders.”
this exposure even affects babies developing in the womb, with experts now saying that infertility impacts are revealed in adults decades later. the new netflix documentary the plastic detox follows six couples with unexplained infertility as they attempt a three-month plastic detox to see if they can improve their health and fertility markers. dr. hrkal says the film is a must-see.
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food researchers in poland say the most common route of exposure to microplastics is through the gastrointestinal tract where they can be ingested involuntarily. estimates suggest that people worldwide may consume 0.1 to five grams of these particles per week, with dangerous substances detected in the gastrointestinal tract. there’s also evidence pointing to negative impact on the gut microbiome, the centre for digestion, immunity, metabolism and mental health.
some of the substances are excreted with body waste in feces, but microplastics can also circulate in the body, accumulating in tissues and organs, including the liver, kidneys and even the brain.
dr. aviad elgez at the enviromed clinic in toronto is a naturopathic doctor specializing in environmental medicine, helping patients with symptoms triggered by everyday toxic exposures. he experienced severe brain fog for almost three years, tracing it to fumes from his painting on art canvases as a teen and then mould exposure in the house he lived in for almost a decade.
“there’s many concerns, but the number one concern with plastics is that they’re estrogen-mimicking compounds, so increasing risk factors for breast cancer, ovarian cancer or any female hormone-related concerns can be worsened by these plastics,” he says, adding that exposure can lower testosterone in men and may be linked to prostate cancer.
“we’re looking at cancers, but a lot of these toxins affect our nervous system as well. they can cause environmental allergy reactions or over-sensitization to things. when people think chemicals, they think cancer, but there’s so much more. people get sick chronically with numbness, tingling and balance issues and brain fog. that’s not cancer, but you’re freaked out because you think you might have a tumour because you’re getting all these neurological symptoms.”
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while the knowledge isn’t widespread, dr. elgez says the effects of toxins have been documented and treatment will depend on the type of toxin someone is exposed to. for example, he will offer patients a urine test that will show levels of phthalates or bisphenols. the body has its own natural detox system, which does a good job of clearing some chemicals in a few days to a week.
the answer? reducing exposure
the key is reducing exposure, because if exposure continues at the same amounts, it can be a downward spiral of chronic problems. if you’ve boosted your detoxing with saunas, colonics and supplements, that won’t solve it.
“people don’t understand that. they don’t realize how do i stop that? how do i get sick from plastic?”
he says that when tiny particles of plastic get into your body they don’t leave, they stay there. “so think about a little tiny sphere or a little piece of plastic. what does it do? it just sits there and it dissolves, and it’s slowly releasing microplastics into your body. and now you don’t need to be eating plastics. you’re just releasing them from within. that’s not good. that makes it a long-term exposure now instead of a short-term. we don’t know how long it takes for it to dissolve and rid the body.”
while there’s clearly much more to learn, emerging science is controversial, with scientists debating the validity of findings. as american epidemiologist dr. philip landrigan, director of the global observatory on planetary health, writes in the guardian, “the presence of microplastics in the human body needs to be taken seriously, even though we don’t yet know all the ways in which they may harm health. they cannot be wished away.”
he notes the launch of countdown on health and plastics, established under the sponsorship of the journal the lancet, to improve analyses of microplastics in human tissues and to increase knowledge of the possible impacts of microplastic particles on disease.
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dr. elgez says his general advice is to activate your detox pathways so you can flush them out faster and they’re not staying in your system. that means regular exercise, healthy eating, including foods rich in glutathione (an antioxidant in leafy greens, broccoli and carrots), supplements and saunas. but limiting exposure is most important.
it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, he admits.
“i don’t want people to get paranoid. i’m very realistic, so just do the best you can and be happy you did it. and that’s it. don’t be scared because we’re all in the same boat.”
dr. hrkal agrees, advising people to look at what they’re doing on a regular basis and eliminating the almost obvious things right away: “if you’re drinking coffee out of a (takeaway) coffee cup, what is the lining of that coffee cup made of? it actually has this glossy waterproof lining, which is a plastic base. so you’re drinking those chemicals because it’s liberated by that heat. that’s like one simple thing, and it’s a matter of just paying attention to what you’re doing.”
what else can people do for a plastic detox? check back for part 2 on microplastics for a deep-dive into the effects of microplastics in personal care products and food containers.
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