A definition of microplastics is ”synthetic, high molecular weight compounds that have been micronized into plastic particles less than five mm in size.“ Nanoparticles are less than one micron. They are not biodegradable and come with all sorts of bad things — phthalates, chlorinated paraffins, bromated and chlorinated flame retardants, bisphenol A (BPA) and PFAS. These substances are toxic carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and inducers of changes in the neuroendocrine system. They contain heavy metals like lead. In fact, there are 13,000 different chemicals identified of which 3,200 are considered “concerning.” Plastic was discovered in 1907 but it wasn’t until the 1980s that they became widely used in our everyday life. Once they became single-use items, the problem of disposal began and they began accumulating worldwide.

Where do they come from?

They are intentionally produced to be used in facial creams and other cosmetics, industrial products, washing products, plastic bottles etc. They are unintentionally formed by heating food in the microwaves in plastic containers, tires on roads, hospital plastic material, and bottles, cell phones, textiles — the list is extensive. In 2016, Canada banned them from exfoliation and cleaning products. Disposal problems are significant. 91 per cent of plastics are not recycled! First World countries have dealt with it by sending our garbage to Third World countries, where they get into the oceans and affect ocean life. Landfills are full of them and they eventually decompose and leach into the water supply. There are even reports that as they decompose, they attract antibiotic resistant bacteria that then go with them into our bodies. They are in the air — in cities they are released in dust from tires on the road; they are released into the water system by washing textiles and pumped into the air in the drying process. Burning plastics releases dioxins and furans — truly evil compounds that cause liver disruption, endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, neuro-developmental disorders, and cancer.

How do they enter our bodies?

They can be inhaled — the tiny fibres and nanoparticles get further into the lungs and cause the most serious effects, inflammation and immune disturbance. We unknowingly ingest them from water– i.e. plastic bottles, especially if left in the sun; and in eating contaminated seafood, eating food stored in plastic and in eating other contaminated things like salt, beer, and honey. They also are found in fruits and vegetables that absorb microplastics through the soil.

Who is affected?

We all are! They are found literally all over the world. They have been identified in our liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, placenta, breast milk, carotid arteries, heart, and brain. They are absorbed and travel everywhere through the blood stream. It is estimated that the average person consumes 78,000 to 211,000 microplastic particles every year.

What health conditions are they related to?

Marine animals have been studied for a long time and the types of things that happen to them are: malnutrition, inflammation, reduced fertility and early mortality. In humans, it has been found to affect the microbiome- the bacteria in your gut, they cause oxidative stress in airways, damaging the mitochondria, (the energy centre in cells), and lead to inflammation, coughing and sneezing. In extreme examples, a study was done on plastic flocculation factory workers that developed interstitial lung disease and fibrosis. A recent study in Italy looked at 257 people who had surgery to clear a blockage in the carotid artery that supplies blood to the head. 150 had nanoplastics in carotid artery plaques, 107 did not. In three years’ time, 20 per cent of those with nanoplastics had a heart attack, stroke or died from any cause. Eight per cent in those that had no plastic. There were confounding factors and this was an observation rather than proven cause and effect. A study found that humans tend to have a bigger concentration in their brains than other organs. They found that people with dementia had up to 10 times more microplastics than those without. Review of postmortem samples showed a 50 per cent increase in the last eight years.

DISCUSSION

This is all pretty scary but the science has a lot more work to do to identify cause and effect. Although we take in a lot of plastic, we also pass a fair amount in feces and urine. How much are we actually retaining? Is there a safe level? These questions still need to be answered. The rates of infertility are rising. Transgender incidence is rising. Cancer rates in women under 50 are rising. Rates of diabetes are rising. Alzheimer’s Disease rates are rising. Autism rates are rising. These are very complex diseases and it will take time to investigate their causes. Perhaps this will be a piece of the puzzle, at this point we do not know.

ACTION PLAN

Hopefully our government will prioritize reducing the use of plastic, stop producing microplastic and find more acceptable ways of disposal. In the meantime, there are things that we can do to reduce your exposure.

1. Ingestion is the biggest source, so eat less meat and fat, animals are high on the food chain and they have been ingesting this from other sources.

2. Stop storing food in plastic, stop drinking from plastic bottles — glass much preferred.

3. Stop using a plastic cutting board.

4. Microwave in glass.

5. Avoid plastic take-away products.

6. Get a water purifier. I have an Aqua True that filters out many dangerous chemicals as well as microplastics. Reverse osmosis filtering systems, water distillers, ultrafiltration systems can all be useful. It is important to check the size that they filter one micron is the size of nanoplastics.

7. Avoid synthetic textile fibres, choosing natural cotton or hemp instead. 8. Vacuum frequently since microplastics accumulate in household dust.

Dr. Vicki Holmes is a Saskatoon retired family physician who has a special interest in Palliative Care and Women’s Health. She is passionate about sharing medical information with the public! (Vicki’s Photo: Memories by Mandy)

– Dr Vicki Holmes