It’s now not large information: Microplastics are a pervasive downside world wide, current in every little 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 will simply discover their approach 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 tougher than ever to avoid them utterly, understanding methods to keep away from microplastics in your individual dwelling could make a world of a distinction.
The Dangers of Microplastics
As tiny as they’re, these microplastics can do severe harm. A 2023 examine in Yonsei Medical Journal cited blocked digestion and detrimental results on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract2, whereas 2024 analysis from the New England Journal of Drugs discovered that microplastic publicity may contribute to elevated danger of myocardial infarction or stroke3.
An article from the Journal of the Harvard Medical Faculty 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 varied 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 practically unavoidable within the fashionable world. Latest analysis has discovered that their presence within the air signifies that even crops are contaminated6. However good is the enemy of fine, and there are nonetheless methods that you would be able to scale back your publicity. To reduce the microplastics you ingest, we suggest beginning within the coronary heart of the house — your kitchen. Listed below are the worst culprits to prioritize for a kitchen clean-out.
1. Plastic Chopping Boards
Not solely are plastic reducing boards extra more likely to harbor harmful micro organism than wooden, however plastic reducing boards may introduce substantial quantities of microplastics into our meals.
Plastic reducing boards might appear to be they’re cleaner and safer than porous wooden, however analysis has proven that the other is true. If you wish to know methods to keep away from microplastics, this can be a large one. Not solely are plastic reducing boards extra more likely to harbor harmful micro organism than wooden7, (particularly within the gashes that type within the materials over time), however plastic reducing boards may introduce “substantial” quantities of microplastics into our meals.
In line with a 2023 examine in Environmental Science & Know-how, an individual utilizing a plastic chopping board may 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 reducing board, go for a heavy, end-grain reducing board like those from John Boos, an artisan who’s been making wood reducing 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 as well.
2. Plastic Meals Storage Containers
Plastic meals storage containers are gentle, straightforward, and reasonably priced — however none of these execs 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 assorted broadly relying on how the containers have been used9.
The examine highlighted a key level: understanding methods 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 may ingest over 200 items of microplastics by single-use takeout containers10. Polystyrene containers with tough surfaces have been a number of the worst offenders, the examine authors discovered.
What to Use As a substitute
Swap out your plastic storage containers for a spread manufactured from glass, like these nestable and stackable containers from Zwilling. Glass containers are secure when involved with meals, they usually’re an excellent sturdy and non-toxic different to plastic.
3. Plastic Wraps and Baggage
Conserving meals in plastic baggage or plastic wrap is one other approach you is likely to be unintentionally introducing microplastics into your weight loss plan. 2021 analysis in Environmental Nanotechnology Monitoring & Administration discovered that these plastics may 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, made out of 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 surroundings; 2024 analysis in Science of the Whole Atmosphere studies that it’s additionally been discovered to launch harmful micro- and nanoplastics into meals12. That is much more regarding with regards to 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 properly previous the time we did away with conventional nonstick cookware in favor of safer choices. On this case, understanding methods to keep away from microplastics isn’t such a chore — you’ll get beautiful, well-made cookware in return.
5. Plastic Kitchen Utensils
Plastic kitchen utensils, particularly these which have been scratched or fragmented, may 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.
In line with a 2024 examine within the Journal of Hazardous Supplies, only one month of consuming sizzling meals off of plastic tableware may contribute to vital microplastic publicity, resulting in modifications in microbiota abundance and metabolite ranges in just some brief weeks.
Disposable plastic tableware can also be regarding for each the surroundings and our well being. In line with a 2024 examine within the Journal of Hazardous Supplies, only one month of consuming sizzling meals off of plastic tableware may contribute to vital microplastic publicity, resulting in modifications in microbiota abundance and metabolite ranges in just some brief 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 these things infrequently. 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, contemplate investing in lovely coloured glassware, like this set from Our Place. Constructed from a mix 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 made out of sustainably harvested bamboo, stainless-steel, and food-grade silicone, enabling microplastic-free hydration each time you’re taking a sip.
Ultimate Ideas on How A lot Plastic We Eat
In at this time’s world, it’s exhausting to utterly management how a lot plastic we eat — however there are nonetheless concrete steps we will take to cut back our publicity. Begin by changing one merchandise at a time, with the final word aim of constructing your private home a plastic-free zone (or as near it as you possibly can!). So long as you’re making progress, you’re transferring in the proper path.
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/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
