Guides / Microplastics
Microplastics
Tiny plastic fragments smaller than 5mm have been found in human blood, lungs, and placenta. They come from everyday sources—and there are practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure.
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters—about the size of a sesame seed or smaller. They form when larger plastics break down from sunlight, heat, and physical wear, or they enter the environment already small (like the synthetic fibers shed from your clothes in the wash).
The world produces roughly 450 million tons of plastic each year. Microplastics now contaminate every environment scientists have tested: oceans, freshwater, soil, Arctic ice, mountain air, and the food we eat. They make up over 90% of all plastic found on the ocean surface.
Where Do Microplastics Come From?
Not all sources are equal. The biggest contributors aren’t the ones you’d expect—microbeads in face scrubs account for just 2% of primary microplastics. The real drivers are textiles and tires.
Washing synthetic clothes releases hundreds of thousands of plastic fibers per load
U.S. tires alone produce ~1.8 million tons of microplastics annually
Synthetic building materials, coatings, and urban infrastructure wear
Thermoplastic paint on roads breaks down into particles
Antifouling paints on ships and docks
Microbeads in scrubs, shower gels, and cosmetics
Source: IUCN, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans (2017)
Why Does This Matter?
Microplastics have been detected in human blood, lungs, liver, placenta, and arterial plaque. The science on health effects is still evolving, but early findings are concerning.
A 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with microplastics in their arterial plaque had a 4.5-fold greater risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.
Switching to fresh food with minimal plastic packaging reduced BPA levels in urine by over 60% and phthalate levels by over 50%—in just three days.
A note on honest numbers: The widely-cited claim that we eat a credit card’s worth of plastic per week (5 grams) has been revised by subsequent research as likely overestimated by 100× or more. The problem is real—but credibility matters. We use the best available science here.
What You Can Do
You can’t eliminate microplastic exposure entirely, but you can meaningfully reduce it. These are the highest-impact actions based on the science.
Never microwave in plastic
Heat accelerates microplastic shedding. Use glass or ceramic containers for heating food. Same goes for dishwashers—hand-wash plastic items or replace them.
Use a Guppyfriend wash bag
Captures 79–86% of microfibers per laundry load. Wash synthetics less often, in cold water, on gentle cycles. Even better: choose natural fibers when buying new clothes.
Switch to glass & metal storage
Replace plastic food containers, water bottles, and cutting boards. Use stainless steel or glass for food and drinks. Wood or bamboo for cutting boards.
Vacuum with a HEPA filter
Synthetic carpets, furniture, and textiles shed microfibers into household dust. Regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter captures airborne microplastics.
Reduce plastic packaging
Choose fresh food over processed and packaged. One study showed this single change reduced BPA by 60% and phthalates by 50% in just three days.
Amplify your impact
Support microplastics legislation. France already requires laundry filters on new washing machines. Share what you know—awareness drives systemic change.
Common Misconceptions
“We eat a credit card of plastic per week”
The original estimate is likely 100× too high. Real intake is much lower—but still concerning. Honest numbers build more credibility than fear.
“Banning microbeads will solve it”
Microbeads are only 2% of primary microplastics. Synthetic textiles (35%) and tire wear (28%) are far bigger sources.
“It’s mainly an ocean problem”
Microplastics contaminate freshwater, soil, air, and indoor environments. Agricultural soil is a major long-term sink—which is why fruits, vegetables, and grains account for most of our dietary intake.
“Biodegradable plastics don’t create microplastics”
Many “biodegradable” plastics only break down under industrial composting conditions and still fragment into microplastics in normal environments.
Sources
- IUCN, Primary Microplastics in the Oceans (2017)
- Marfella et al., New England Journal of Medicine, “Micronanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events” (2024)
- Pew Charitable Trusts, “Plastic Pollution Growing at Troubling Rate” (2025)
- Stanford Medicine, “Microplastics and Our Health” (2025)
- American College of Cardiology, “New Evidence Links Microplastics with Chronic Disease” (2025)
- University of Plymouth, Microfiber Release from Textile Washing (2016)
- Beyond Plastics, “How to Reduce Microplastics Exposure”
Ready to reduce your exposure?
Start with the swaps that make the biggest difference—glass storage, wash bags, and natural fibers.
Get started