We have all had the feeling of climbing into a car and knowing, instantly, that it’s brand new.
That scent has a name – dubbed, not so originally, ‘new car smell’ – and it’s one that I avoid like the plague because it is actually a warning sign.
When it reaches our nostrils, it means that millions upon millions of tiny particles are being released from newly manufactured materials and making their way into our throats, lungs, bloodstream and even brains. These particles are called microplastics, and I believe they’re making us all very, very sick.
Having worked as a toxicologist in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King’s College London for ten years, and now as scientific director for the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic in Germany, I know just how poisonous they are. I’ve studied their effects on everything from breast cancer to the gut microbiome, and served as an expert on the regulation of human health effects of chemical pollutants for the French government and European parliament.
Created when plastics gradually break down into microscopic fragments, microplastics are everywhere: in the air, water and soil. And, research has proven, in every part of the human body.
Microplastics cause inflammation which in turn leads to chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease and autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Robin Mesnage is a toxicologist in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King’s College London
Some experts have even linked them to the rise in cases of young people developing bowel cancer, which have surged by more than 50 per cent in 25 to 49-year-olds over the past three decades.
We also think that microplastics and plasticisers, the toxic chemicals they are often coated in, are interfering with hormones – a process that has been linked to infertility, nerve damage and rising cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
And a study from the University of New Mexico has linked microplastics to dementia after researchers found that people diagnosed with the condition had up to ten times as much plastic in their brains as the rest of the population. The same study also found that the amount of plastic in our brains has increased by more than 50 per cent in just eight years.
In fact, the average human brain may now contain up to a spoon’s worth of microplastics. Some of the most respected health experts in the world are finally sounding the alarm.
It all sounds very scary. But there are some very effective – and simple – ways to limit your exposure to these toxins.
So here’s what I do in my home to protect myself and my family.
Please, please don’t drink bottled water
If you take home one piece of advice from this article, make it this: avoid water bottled in plastic.
Researchers at Columbia University in New York recently found that a litre of bottled water contains, on average, around 240,000 microplastic particles. That’s up to 100 times more than was previously thought.
By the time bottled water has been packaged, shipped to a shop and purchased, it’s teeming with them.
Pouring it into a glass before drinking won’t help – nor will boiling it, as that just gets rid of bacteria, not the plastic.
Tap water, on the other hand, contains a much lower level of microplastics, as does water from glass bottles.
So I usually drink the tap water when on holiday – it’s regulated and tested by the government, nearly always making it safer.
Ditch teabags – brew your cuppa in a pot
An alarming study found some types of teabag released millions of microplastic particles when steeped in boiling water.
The worst culprits were polypropylene bags and mesh nylon ones – which also tend to be the most expensive.
But even paper bags may use glue containing plastic, and there is debate over whether one bag often labelled ‘plastic free’, made from PLA (polylactic acid), are actually a kind of plastic. Instead, choose loose-leaf tea with a reusable tea infuser.
Or you could make a lovely brew in a pot.
Avoid eating packaged and processed foods
Food which is packaged and processed will contain more plastics and toxic additives than fresh food.
They tend to be wrapped in plastic and will almost certainly be made in giant factories that use chemicals and preservatives to keep them shelf-ready for as long as possible.
Microplastics don’t need to be declared on the ingredients list, but they will still be slowly seeping into the food they’re encasing.
Food that spends months – if not years – wrapped in plastic is more likely to soak up some of these particles. So next time you’re in the supermarket, skip the protein bar and buy a banana.
Use wooden, metal or glass kitchen utensils
In my house, there is no plastic in the kitchen – it’s one of the easiest fixes.
Swap your plastic utensils, containers and spatulas for wooden, metal or glass options.
Black plastic in particular has been found to contain low levels of toxic chemicals – including flame retardants – which can leach into food while cooking.
Anything that’s chipped or scratched is at particular risk of leaking microplastics when it heats up. These have been linked to heart disease, lung disorders and some cancers.
Plastic food containers are another major offender.
Some – particularly older ones – contain a chemical called bisphenol A or BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, which means it messes with our hormones. It was developed in the 1930s as a hormonal replacement.
It’s recently been banned in the EU, but the Government has yet to regulate it, despite the fact that studies have linked BPA to infertility, birth defects and childhood health problems.
When you microwave a plastic container, the heat is essentially infusing your food with these toxic chemicals.
Instead, put food in a ceramic or Pyrex bowl or plate before you heat it up.
Oh, and always choose to get your shopping receipts emailed. Paper receipts can also be a source of bisphenols, which are sprayed on to the paper as a protective layer, which then absorb into the skin when we handle them.
Tinned food comes with hidden plastic
One of the most surprising sources of microplastics are food tins. Aluminium tins are sprayed with a thin layer of plastic on the inside to stop food from reacting with the metal or taking on a funny taste. This coating is usually made of a type of epoxy resin that can contain bisphenol A.
And as tinned food is often sitting on a shelf for years, it very easily infuses with the liquid inside.
As a result, people who eat a lot of tinned food are at a higher risk of exposure to bisphenols and microplastics.
Buy furniture that’s made before 1988
Brand new furniture, like cars, can often give off a chemical, plasticky smell when first opened.
This is because most furniture will be treated with flame retardants. In a fire these can help prevent your house from being entirely subsumed, but they’re also not helping our everyday health.
Research has connected these toxins to cancer, neurological issues, developmental, behavioural and reproductive problems, endocrine disruption and allergies.
A recent study from Breast Cancer UK even found that British mothers have some of the highest levels of flame retardants in their breast milk in the world (many types used here are banned in the US and Europe).
And flame retardants on plastic make a particularly toxic combination. Studies have shown that microplastic particles mixed with flame retardants are more readily absorbed by the skin than either alone – so it’s not just inhaling them that you have to worry about.
Unfortunately, they’re practically everywhere, from your desk chair to your blinds, carpet or duvet.
One way to prevent this contamination in your home is to look for furniture made from natural fibres, which won’t be sprayed with flame retardant.
Or for a cheaper option, try to buy furniture second hand. Pieces made before 1988, when the fire safety regulations went into place, probably won’t have a chemical coating at all.
Why you must keep your house clean
It’s impossible to completely rid your house of microplastics, especially as one of the most likely sources of contamination is dust.
An alarming study found some types of teabag released millions of microplastic particles when steeped in boiling water, Dr Robin Mesnage writes
Tiny plastic particles accumulate in dust and can then be inhaled. And while there’s no way to entirely prevent it from piling up – unless you spend your whole day cleaning – I try to make sure I vacuum as regularly as I can.
I also make sure to use natural cleaning products that are ecological, as some sprays and soaps can be full of synthetic chemicals.
Open all windows once every day
My final method for preventing microplastics in my home is the simplest.
Once a day, for about 15 minutes, I open all windows and let in fresh air – even in winter. This allows toxins to escape. Just a few weeks ago, researchers from the University of Birmingham found pollution levels inside British homes were higher than outdoors.
And as with all my advice, I realise it’s impossible to completely cut out microplastics from our homes – and you’ll only make yourself crazy trying to do so. Instead, take on these new habits one at a time until they stick and, hopefully, they’ll make enough of a difference in the long run.
