Microplastics: the Effect on People

Christine Peacock

We all know about one of the main global crises: pollution. Plastics and how they affect the environment is certainly something that needs to be understood, but microplastics can also affect us humans and our health.

To begin with, microplastics (tiny, no more than 5 millimeters long pieces of plastic) can be found in everyday products like face washes, toothpaste, and lotions. They can also be the result of the weathering of larger plastics like plastic bags. They have been found all over the globe and can actually pick up pollutants, which can end up in our bodies without us even knowing.

When tiny beads of plastic end up in the environment, they can change, making them more likely to pick up contaminants. For example, exposure to the sun, winds, or pollution can cause microplastics to acquire a positive or a negative charge on their surfaces. How much pollution these microplastics pick up depends on how they change.

Triclosan is an example of a pollutant in the environment. It has been found in some rivers in the United States, and it is very toxic to people. When the triclosan clings to weathered microplastics, it can then travel into the human body by some means. Once it reaches the gut, weathered plastic with a positively charged surface can release up to 65% of its triclosan. This in turn harms cells.

Given that microplastics can come back to hurt us, it is important that we understand how it affects our bodies. Additionally, in order to prevent more damage to our gut cells, we need to be more conservative about using plastic. Specifically, one action we can take as a community is to recycle plastic.