So prevalent are these tiny particles that they\u2019ve been found in some of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth. From the depths of the Mariana Trench to the snowfields near the summit of Mount Everest and, most alarmingly, studies have detected tiny specks of plastics<\/a> in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow.<\/p>\n In fact, it is estimated that we eat, drink or breathe between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year, and a recent study suggested the average brain could harbour a teaspoon\u2019s worth. <\/p>\n But how are these microplastics getting into our organs?<\/p>\n \u201cOnce the very smallest plastic particles<\/a> are swallowed or inhaled, they can cross various biological barriers and enter the bloodstream,\u201d explains Matthew Cotton, professor of environmental justice and public policy at Teesside University. \u201cIf ingested, most of the larger particles will simply pass through the gastrointestinal tract and be excreted. But the tiniest nanoparticles \u2013 those under 150 micrometres \u2013 can be absorbed through the intestinal lining, where they enter the lymphatic system or bloodstream directly.<\/p>\n \u201cIf inhaled, these nanoplastics can settle in the lining of the lungs, with the smallest particles passing straight into the blood. Once in the circulatory or lymphatic systems, they can travel throughout the body and are small enough to penetrate individual cell membranes. That\u2019s how plastic particles<\/a> end up in human blood, the placenta and even brain tissue. These particles are crossing biological barriers \u2013 and the more we\u2019re exposed, the greater the risk of accumulation.\u201d<\/p>\n New at-home kits now allow you to find out just how contaminated your body is with microplastics. I decided to try one, and it turns out I\u2019d give Barbie a run for her (plastic) money.<\/p>\n The kit I used \u2013 called Plastictox<\/a> \u2013 detects and quantifies both plastic and non-plastic particles using a dried blood sample. It\u2019s processed in a plastic-free lab in the Netherlands. All I had to do was prick my finger and drip a drop of blood onto the collection card, which I then posted for analysis.<\/p>\n Two weeks later, my results landed in my inbox \u2013 and they were terrifying. My blood sample revealed a total of 29 microplastic particles. Of those:<\/p>\n Nine particles were under 10 micrometres (very small);<\/p>\n 17 particles were between 10 and 30 micrometres;<\/p>\n Three particles measured between 30\u201370 micrometres.<\/p>\n According to experts, the smallest particle range \u2013 under 10 micrometres \u2013 is particularly concerning. Particles this small are most likely to be inhaled and are capable of passing through the body\u2019s most protective barriers, including the blood-brain barrier. <\/p>\n I like to think I lead a fairly healthy life. I cook from scratch<\/a>, drink lots of water and I exercise. It was only when I started digging that I realised just how plastic-saturated my \u201chealthy\u201d lifestyle really is: from my reusable coffee cup to the plastic containers I pack my lunch in, the dishwasher tablets under the sink, even the clothes I wear, all of it is touched by plastic in some way. And living in London, with its constant exposure to pollution, certainly doesn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n What\u2019s been weighing on me most is the thought of my two-year-old \u2013 drinking from a plastic bottle, eating from a plastic bowl, surrounded by plastic toys.<\/p>\n What this all means for our health has yet to be determined, but most scientists agree it\u2019s unlikely to be good news. <\/p>\n \u201cResearch into the health effects of the smallest plastic particles is still ongoing, but some emerging trends are deeply concerning,\u201d explains Professor Cotton.<\/p>\n \u201cFor one, plastic particles <\/a>can act like sponges, carrying with them a cocktail of chemicals, such as pigments, plasticisers that make them flexible or flame retardants. Many of these fall into the category of so-called \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 that neither the human body nor the natural environment can easily break down.\u201d<\/p>\n Exposure to these substances can trigger oxidative stress, a process that causes inflammation in the body. Over time, this inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of serious conditions including heart disease, cancer, and dementia.<\/p>\n \u201cSecondly, these particles, and the chemicals that adhere to them, can interfere with our hormone systems,\u201d Professor Cotton continues. \u201cThis hormonal disruption has been associated with issues like obesity, reduced fertility<\/a> and complications during pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n While there\u2019s currently no way to completely eliminate microplastics from the body, it is possible to reduce exposure \u2013 and some experts believe certain interventions may help remove them over time. One London clinic has made headlines as the first in the world to offer a treatment claiming to extract between 90 and 99 per cent of microplastics from a patient\u2019s blood. The procedure, which functions similarly to dialysis, takes around two hours \u2013 and comes with a price tag of nearly \u00a310,000.<\/p>\n But for those of us without a spare 10 grand lying around, what can we do?<\/p>\n \u201cThe first step is to replace plastic food containers with glass, especially when reheating meals in the microwave,\u201d explains Professor Cotton. \u201cIt\u2019s better to transfer leftovers<\/a> onto a microwave-safe plate or glass dish before heating. The same goes for ready meals or any food packaged in plastic.<\/p>\n \u201cSo-called \u2018clean eating\u2019, which emphasises fresh, locally sourced food, might reduce plastic exposure somewhat. But it\u2019s not a perfect solution, as contamination can occur during growing, handling, packaging, processing and transportation.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to drinking water, tap water typically contains fewer plastic particles than bottled water. \u201cUsing a water filter at home can help reduce those particles even further,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n To reduce inhalation risks indoors, regular vacuuming and the use of air purifiers can help cut plastic-laden dust. But avoiding airborne microplastics outdoors is much harder. \u201cThe masks many of us wore during Covid can\u2019t filter out the tiniest particles. Avoiding high-traffic areas, especially during rush hour, may be one of the simplest ways to lower your exposure,\u201d adds Professor Cotton.<\/p>\n For children, it\u2019s best to choose toys made from natural materials like wood or metal. Some laundry detergents also contain microplastics, so switching to natural or biodegradable alternatives can help.<\/p>\n Even your daily cup of tea can be a source, with many teabags sealed with plastic. Switching to linen or metal infusers is a safer bet. Seafood, particularly shellfish, can accumulate microplastics due to how they filter water, and many cans are lined with BPA or similar plastic coatings, which can leach into acidic or oily contents. Other small swaps can also make a difference: bamboo toothbrushes, metal safety razors and plastic-free deodorants like Wild<\/a> are all lower-impact options that help cut down on plastic use. <\/p>\n By putting as many of these changes into practice as possible, I plan to retest my blood levels in three months. With any luck, I\u2019ll be a little less plastic by then.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Emily Cope takes a test to reveal which \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 are lurking in her body \u2013 and asks…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39886,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[59,102,23050,23051,6805,4592,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-39885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-iweekend","tag-microplastic","tag-plastic","tag-plastic-pollution","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39885\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"plastic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260745344.jpg\")
Microplastics have been found in the depths of the Mariana Trench to the snowfields near the summit of Mount Everest (Yunaidi Joepoet \/ Getty Images \/ Source: Moment RF)<\/p>\n![\"Packed](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260721708.jpg\")
Microplastics are everywhere, from food containers to our clothing and washing tablets (Photo: Kinga Krzeminska\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n