The Hidden Danger of Microplastics
Image: Harvard Public Health
The presence of microplastics–and the danger they pose–is not a widely popular topic compared to climate change, but it does not make the issue any less significant. With microplastics slowly becoming a more prominent concern regarding both health and the environment, it is important to address the problems they bring. Though not widely known, there are growing health concerns associated with microplastics entering our bodies. These issues include–but are not limited to–an increased risk of heart attacks, and harm to reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health. We are only starting to discover the dangers of microplastics, which is why I believe it is important to address this issue with greater urgency before it becomes a bigger problem.
So when exactly did we start learning about microplastics? The plastic production industry grew immensely around the 1950s, with disposable and single-use items becoming immensely popular within households, as they reduced household chores. Plastic also became essential for packaging, toys, and virtually everything we use. But by the late 1960s, the issue of plastic pollution was becoming more prominent, with plastic debris harming marine life and clogging sewer systems. In the 1970s, the first pieces of incredibly small plastics were discovered, and the term ”microplastics” began to be used more often around 2004. As microplastics gained more attention, it became clear that they could be transported through nearly any natural means, including by wind, waves, and animals. Microplastics have been found at the top of Mount Everest due to many of the climbers leaving all of their gear and trash behind. Microplastics have also been found in the Marianas Trench–the deepest known part of the ocean floor–alongside plastic bags and other plastic pollutants. The presence of microplastics at both the highest and lowest points of Earth indicates how easily they can reach virtually anywhere in the world. This emphasizes how we cannot simply run from this issue as it is already present in our lives. The presence of microplastics may not sound like an enormous issue–after all, what can tiny pieces of plastics really even do?
Microplastics may not sound like the most intimidating issue, but it is something that cannot be overlooked. Although research into their effects on human health is nascent, what we have already learned is alarming. Microplastic particles have been found in the brain, testicles, heart, stomach, lymph nodes, and placenta. Studies show that exposure to microplastics increases the susceptibility of fish and birds to infections. Other studies suggest microplastics can cause inflammation, an impaired immune system, tissue deterioration, altered metabolic function, abnormal organ development, cell damage, and more. Much of the research behind the health impacts of microplastics are incredibly recent, with one of the first papers being published in 2024. The study took more than two years to complete and revealed that people exposed to microplastics have higher risks of composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death than those who didn’t. While this study focused on adults, other research has found microplastics in the placentas of unborn babies. The long-term health implications of this are still unknown, but the fact that microplastics can potentially affect children who are not even born yet really scares me. As I mentioned earlier, microplastics are virtually everywhere–and in almost all of us. This implies that a large portion of the global population could be facing heightened risks of the diseases linked to these particles, which concerns me heavily.
All of this talk about the dangers of microplastics have been quite somber, so what exactly can we do about it? There are luckily many options we can take to lower the total amount of plastic pollution, but it requires that we all take collective action. When attempting to lower our use of plastics, it is still necessary to think about how some plastics are necessary within our lives, especially in medical settings where plastic is used for things like blood containers, disposable gloves, or syringes. We should instead focus on reducing our use of non-essential plastics—those we can live without. One action you can take is to reuse grocery bags. Another alternative that has been implemented citywide in San Francisco is to switch to compostable plastics over traditional plastics for products such as to-go boxes, utensils, and produce bags. Replace traditional plastics with compostable plastics would make a huge difference by reducing the amount of plastic while providing the same level of convenience to consumers. There is also growing interest in using seaweed as a plastic alternative. As Matt Mayes, co-founder of Sway, explained in a CBS News interview, “We’re using the natural polymers, which is the plastic-like quality of seaweed, to replace flexible films and bags and wrappers and pouches that are causing so much pollution on our planet.” Lastly, we as citizens must use our voices and votes to ensure that governments and corporations take meaningful action. A recent example is Astound Broadband, a telecommunications company that was forced to settle a $1.28 million claim for improperly disposing of hazardous waste. According to CBS News,“The five DA’s offices and the state Department of Toxic Substances investigated the company after waste inspections at Astound facilities in Contra Costa, San Francisco, Yolo, and Placer counties revealed its waste was dumped at municipal landfills instead of authorized hazardous waste disposal facilities.” Cases like this demonstrate the importance of civic engagement. When we raise environmental concerns, we create the pressure necessary for real change. Microplastics may seem like a hidden threat—but with awareness, action, and accountability, we can begin to reverse the damage.
Works Cited
Savchuk, Katia “What’s the deal with microplastics, the material that ‘never goes away’?”
https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2025/01/29/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments/
Wilkinson, Frederick “Microplastics found near Everest’s peak, highest ever detected in the world”
Morelle, Rebecca “Mariana Trench: Deepest-ever sub dive finds plastic bag
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48230157
Marfella, Prattichizzo, Sardu et al. “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38446676/
Carrington, Damian “Microplastics revealed in placenta of unborn babies”
(Makovec, Anne), (McCrea, Molly) “Bay Area startup looks to seaweed as a possible solution to plastic pollution
Castañeda, Carlos “Astound Broadband to pay $1.28 million to settle improper hazardous waste disposal claim by Northern California counties”
