That delicious slice of pizza that you’re eating may come with an invisible side of plastic. Every day, microplastics—tiny plastic fragments that are smaller than a grain of rice—are making their way into our food supply, our water, and, subsequently, our bodies.
Early research shows reason for concern, finding microplastics can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in mice and accumulate in animal organs.
You’re Likely Ingesting Microplastics Every Day, Studies Warn
Larger plastics such as shopping bags and water bottles degrade into microplastics over time. Elements such as sunlight and water break down plastics that evade waste management, reducing them to microscopic size. Everyday products such as cosmetics, synthetic fabrics, and single-use plastic bags also shed plastic particles. These tiny plastic fragments travel through water, air, and the food chain until they ultimately enter our bodies.
Michelle Standlee
Author
Michelle Standlee, RN, is a health reporter for The Epoch Times. She has a background as a registered nurse and medical writer, covering topics including mental and behavioral health, women’s and children’s health, traditional health care, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.
