20. A PLASTIC TSUNAMI ENTERING HUMAN BODIES

Courtesy Greenpeace, plastic in Kinshasa

Dear reader,

Summary: We consume more plastics than we think. The smallest particles, the Nanoplastics, can have a bad effect on your long-term health. Science is working hard, much is still unclear, but the signs are not good. Try to limit your contact with plastic significantly. Avoid using plastic bottles and plastic coffee and tea cups.

1. Research only at its infancy

I know research is ongoing and final conclusions will take years, but doesn’t this micro and nanoplastic stuff sound scary? Plastics might sound innocuous, but there are many types, some of which can cause cancer or other diseases. 

The effect of all these micro- and Nanoplastics entering our bodies is still unknown. The more I read, the more concerned I become. Plastics are a holistic concept, but when you break them down you enter a world dangerous additives. You also read about Nanoplastics as molecular pollutants that attach to fungus, algae and bacteria.

Writing this blog did not help, nor did these alarming headlines: “0.5% of the brain consists of Nanoplastics,” “Nanoplastics found in penises,” and “Nanoplastics entering individual cell structures.”

2, Most experts downplay the risk,

Experts claim that the public is overreacting. A quarter of the Dutch population believes that microplastics, and especially Nanoplastics, are among the top dangers to one’s health. The Dutch are perhaps exaggerating, but probably not. From what I have read this plastic future does not look all too good.

We do not know what interaction might occur between these smallest particles and living organisms. The idea that the tiniest particles can enter your individual cells is worrying. In reality, they do enter your cells. The increasing amount of plastic found in people’s brains is also not a good sign.

Dear reader, I don’t know about you. I am truly concerned. There seems to be no end to the plastic tsunami that overwhelms us. This news from the Netherlands is a bit off topic but related. It states that eggs from free-ranging chickens are too dangerous to eat. Can you imagine? Apparently, there is so much poison in the Dutch soil that it impacts the quality of food the chicken eat. This, in turn, affects the quality of the eggs.

There are actions we can take, such as avoiding these contaminated eggs. Or, in the case of plastics, minimizing their use as much as possible. Below are some tips in this blog.

For everything else, we must keep an eye on scientific developments.

3. Ok, what are micro plastics and Nanoplastics?

Microplastics are small plastic particles. They are usually defined as being less than 5 millimeters in size. However, they can be much smaller. They originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris, like bottles and bags. They also include fragments of stabilizers, lubricants, fillers, and plasticizes. Manufacturers use these and other chemicals to impart desirable properties to plastics. Such properties include transparency, flexibility, and durability. Many of these chemicals have been classified by experts as toxic and harmful to human health.

Microplastics are widespread in the environment, found in oceans, waterways, soil, and even in the air. They pose increasing environmental challenges. Microplastics contaminate ecosystems and enter food chains, such as in fish. Animals and humans can ingest them, potentially causing harm over time.

Nanoplastics (sometimes calles nanoparticles, but this is a wider concept) are particles less than 100 nanometers in size. This size is less than 1/10,000 of a millimeter. They are much smaller than microplastics and more concerning because they can overcome certain barriers and enter human cells. They can be purposefully engineered in various scientific and industrial processes. For example, they are used for materials like carbon nanotubes. Alternatively, they may occur naturally in some processes. They can also result from the further breakdown of microplastics.

4. Just some plastic statistics

In 2020, approximately 367 million tons of plastics were produced worldwide. This amount is almost double that of 2000, which had an annual production of 200 million tons. Production is still growing on an annual basis.

Researchers estimate that the average person consumes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year. Plastic-based bottled water has a big role in these figures. Hot drinks in plastic cups can also contribute significantly. Together, they can make up to 50% of the intake. And remember, we talk about the micro plastics, the “big” particles, up to half a centimeter! every year through drinking water, foods contaminated by microplastics, and breathing microplastics-containing air. The number of Nanoplastics is infinitively more and can be 200.000 in one plastic bottle with water.

Fortunately, most, but not all leaves our body again the natural way.

In early 2024, a new study revealed that human brain samples collected at autopsy contained significantly more plastic. They had seven to 30 times more plastic than the kidneys and liver. Compared to 2016, this concentration represents about a 50% increase, indicating that, as of today, about 99.5% of the brain is brain tissue and the rest is plastic.

5. Dangers of micro- and nanoplastics

Microplastics and Nanoplastics have infiltrated ecosystems worldwide and have been detected in air, water and soil. Their small size allows them to enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact. Chemical additives like polychlorinated biphenyls and phthalate esters are added to microplastics during production. These additives typically exacerbate health effects. Microplastics are therefore recognized as an emerging environmental concern. They are also a public health concern. These concerns have the potential to affect both human well-being and the natural environment.

The much smaller parts, the Nanoplastics, can penetrate biological barriers. They enter cells and tissues, raising concerns about long-term health effects. It alarms me to learn that microplastic and nano plastic concentrations in brain samples are seven to 30 times higher. These concentrations are notably higher than those in kidneys and liver. As always with relative new developments, more studies need to be done to understand what the health implications are.

The mechanisms by which Nanoplastics enter the brain remain unclear. One hypothesis is that they travel with lipids ingested through food. Human brains are particularly rich in fat, which may help plastics cross the blood-brain barrier. Inhalation of airborne microplastics and ingestion through diet are considered primary routes of exposure.

6. Just one example how plastic pollution originates and affects us all

Biosolids, which are the treated water sludge generated from wastewater treatment, significantly contribute to plastic pollution in terrestrial environments. They are commonly utilized as fertilizers in agricultural land. This practice results in a considerable deposition of microplastics onto farmlands. In Europe, estimates vary between 63,000 to 430,000 tons of microplastics are deposited annually. In North America, the range is 44,000 to 300,000 tons. Consequently, agricultural soils serve as extensive reservoirs of microplastics. These particles are transported to the aquatic environment through various means. These means include rainfall, leaching, and irrigation.

7. First suspected links with diseases

There is ongoing debate over the health impacts of these microplastics within human tissues. These risks encompass inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. They have been found in vital organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, and even placenta. 

One study also found that individuals with dementia have more plastic fragments in their brains. The amount is three to five times higher than those without the condition. It was noted that dementia can impair the blood-brain barrier and brain clearance mechanisms, possibly creating a “sink” for plastics. Again, no definitive proof yet.

Some experts argue that nano plastics carry harmful chemicals. These chemicals are known to lead to reproductive issues. They cause hormonal imbalances by disrupting the endocrine function.

There appears to be a link between plastics and obesity.

8. What to do?

Summary: reducing exposure to microplastics and nano particles involves several lifestyle and consumer choices. Below some suggestions I summarized from reliable sources on internet.chapter

My own top 5 is: never heat anything in plastic, avoid drinks from plastic bottles (= no 1 tip), do not drink hot drinks from plastic, store in metal or porcelain, repack from plastic in metal, glass or porcelain, not cutting food on plastic cutting-board.

Suggestions from internet

Filtering and boiling water.

Cutting back on plastic use when possible, for example, by using reusable containers

Boosting fiber intake involves two types of fiber. Fermentable fiber found in fruits and vegetables forms a gel-like substance in your gut. This helps trap microplastics and prevents them from entering your system. Meanwhile, non-fermentable fiber helps push these harmful particles through your digestive tract. It does this before they can be absorbed. In a world where microplastics are unavoidable, fiber could be your best defense

Not using single-use plastic over and over.

Avoiding heating plastic food packaging, as plastic particles can spread into the food.

Focusing on good sources for our food is essential. We should ensure our seafood is from sources that have less microplastics, for example.

Avoid foods that are ultra-processed, as there have been some reports of MNPs (=micro and nano plastics) in ultra-processed food.

Wearing natural fiber clothing — organic cotton or hemp — and avoiding those with synthetic fibers.

Vacuuming our homes more often, as microplastics can accumulate in household dust.

Being careful of environmental pollutants as high air pollution areas might have more MNPs in air.

Making sure our environment at home or work has a good air ventilation system.

This was a difficult blog to write. Too little is known about this topic, but from what we know one can only draw one conclusion: stay away as much as possible from plastics, but this will be hard to do.

Robert, your health friend,

traffic in Kinshasa, DRC. On a quiet day