It’s now not massive information: Microplastics are a pervasive downside world wide, current in the whole lot from our oceans to breast milk¹. These plastic particles come from the breakdown of plastic waste, and given their tiny measurement —– about <5000 μm —– they’ll simply discover their manner 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 harder than ever to steer clear of them utterly, understanding methods to keep away from microplastics in your personal house could make a world of a distinction.

The Dangers of Microplastics

As tiny as they’re, these microplastics can do severe injury. A 2023 examine in Yonsei Medical Journal cited blocked digestion and unfavourable results on the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract², whereas 2024 analysis from the New England Journal of Drugs discovered that microplastic publicity might 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 injury, 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 assorted 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 trendy world. Latest analysis has discovered that their presence within the air signifies that even crops are contaminated⁶. However excellent is the enemy of fine, and there are nonetheless methods that you would be able to cut back your publicity. To attenuate the microplastics you ingest, we advocate 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 Slicing Boards

Plastic slicing boards could look like they’re cleaner and safer than porous wooden, however analysis has proven that the alternative is true. If you wish to know methods to keep away from microplastics, it is a massive one. Not solely are plastic slicing boards extra prone to harbor harmful micro organism than wooden⁷, (particularly within the gashes that kind within the materials over time), however plastic slicing boards also can 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 might improve 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 an alternative

As an alternative of a plastic slicing board, go for a heavy, end-grain slicing board like those from John Boos, an artisan who’s been making wood slicing 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 because of the dearth of oxygen. They usually’re lovely as well.

2. Plastic Meals Storage Containers

Plastic meals storage containers are mild, simple, and inexpensive — however none of these professionals 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 diversified broadly relying on how the containers had 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 essentially 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 might ingest over 200 items of microplastics by way of single-use takeout containers¹⁰. Polystyrene containers with tough surfaces had been a number of the worst offenders, the examine authors discovered.

What to Use As an alternative

Swap out your plastic storage containers for a variety product of glass, like these nestable and stackable containers from Zwilling. Glass containers are protected when involved with meals, they usually’re an incredible sturdy and non-toxic different to plastic.

3. Plastic Wraps and Baggage

Holding meals in plastic luggage or plastic wrap is one other manner you may be unintentionally introducing microplastics into your weight loss program. 2021 analysis in Environmental Nanotechnology Monitoring & Administration discovered that these plastics might leach into meals, notably when moist, heated, or uncovered to mild¹¹. 

What to Use As an alternative

Make use of these new glass storage containers, or cowl leftover meals with reusable wraps like Bee’s Wrap, made out of protected, sustainable wax-coated cotton.

4. PFAS-Coated Nonstick Cookware

Nonstick cookware coated with PTFE isn’t simply terrible for the setting; 2024 analysis in Science of the Whole Surroundings stories that it’s additionally been discovered to launch harmful micro- and nanoplastics into meals¹². That is much more regarding on the subject of 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 an alternative

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, also can 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 response to a 2024 examine in Chemosphere¹⁵.

Disposable plastic tableware can also be regarding for each the setting 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 might contribute to important microplastic publicity, resulting in adjustments in microbiota abundance and metabolite ranges in just some quick weeks¹⁶.

Reusable plastic tableware isn’t utterly protected 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 greater for microplastic residue, indicating that extra microplastics had been launched over time¹⁷.

What to Use As an alternative

6. Plastic Water Bottles and Cups

Plastic water bottles and cups are one other terrifying supply of microplastics in meals, given that the majority of us use these things on occasion. 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 an alternative

As an alternative of consuming from plastic, take into account investing in lovely coloured glassware, like this set from Our Place. Created from a mixture of recycled glass and sand, these sturdy glasses are much more nice — and protected — to drink from than plastic. They’re additionally simply and safely refilled, because of the corporate’s matching glass carafe. 

For consuming 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.

Closing Ideas on How A lot Plastic We Eat

In right now’s world, it’s laborious to utterly management how a lot plastic we eat — however there are nonetheless concrete steps we are able to take to cut back our publicity. Begin by changing one merchandise at a time, with the last word objective of creating your house a plastic-free zone (or as near it as you may!). So long as you’re making progress, you’re shifting in the correct course.

Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39064070/
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/
3. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
4. https://journal.hms.harvard.edu/articles/microplastics-everywhere
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0024320524005277
6. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08831-4
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31113021/ 
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37220346/
9. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942
10. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389420309584
11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215153221001835
12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724027232
13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972205392X?viapercent3Dihub
14. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202400326X
15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653524022173?viapercent3Dihub
16. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389423020848?viapercent3Dihub
17. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214289422000187
18. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water
19. https://version.cnn.com/2024/01/08/well being/bottled-water-nanoplastics-study-wellness/index.html

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