Latest news with #PlasticPeople
CBC
20-03-2025
- Science
- CBC
I thought my body was safe from microplastics. I was wrong
Social Sharing Nothing will radicalize you like seeing another person's garbage in your body. In my blood, in my lungs and in my guts, there are tiny, invisible particles of plastic bags, medical waste, tire dust, synthetic clothing and food packaging. Making the film Plastic People made me realize I am a human landfill. In the documentary, from The Nature of Things, I have my home, food and body tested for microplastics as part of an investigation into our addiction to plastic — and the growing threat to human health. I began the journey thinking my body was relatively pristine. As a bona fide eco-nerd, I thought there couldn't be that much plastic in my home. My rug and sofa are made of natural fibres; I don't eat a lot of fast food; I even use beeswax wraps for my leftovers. And this is why, when we first began discussing ideas for the film, I thought I should try to burden my body with extra plastic — by eating shellfish, for example, which I don't normally do — to see if we could detect a spike in my system. Turns out that wasn't necessary. My body was already inundated. While the science is new, studies on microplastics in the human body are revealing just how insidious the tiny toxic particles are. A recent study looking at the human brain, for instance, found we may have anywhere from five to seven grams of plastic lodged between our ears (though experts I spoke with suggested the actual number is not that high). Seven grams of plastic — the high end of the estimate — is roughly the weight of a disposable plastic spoon. It's a fitting image when you consider that an estimated 40 billion plastic utensils are used and thrown away every single year in the United States alone. And that plastic doesn't disappear. It breaks down into tiny pieces that sweep into our oceans, are buried in the soil and drift into the air. We breathe in that plastic. We eat that plastic. We drink that plastic (about 80 per cent of tap water contains microplastics). So it shouldn't come as a surprise that when we trash the environment, we inevitably trash our bodies too. Still, reading about microplastics in the headlines is one thing, but seeing that garbage in your body is quite another. We are becoming plastic people For the documentary, I travelled around the world and met with scientists to test the microplastic burden in my body. I will spare you the gory details of having to test my feces (very unglamorous), but it was the microplastics in my blood that I found most shocking. My samples were tested as part of a double-blind study. In the film, researchers were finding an average of 11 microplastic particles in 2.5 millilitres of blood — the equivalent of half a teaspoon. Now, keep in mind the average adult has about five litres of blood in their body. If just 2.5 millilitres contains 11 microplastic particles, do the math and consider how much garbage is coursing through your body. We are literally becoming plastic people. Microplastics are everywhere, including in our blood 55 minutes ago Duration 1:22 Ziya Tong participated in a double-blind study testing microplastics in donor blood. In the documentary Plastic People, researchers found microplastics in every 2.5-millilitre blood sample — the equivalent of half a teaspoon. Watch Plastic People on CBC Gem and The Nature of Things YouTube channel. Can we stop plastic pollution? The thing is, while plastic is ubiquitous, most of us still don't see it in our surroundings. That's because so much plastic is invisible and hides where you'd least expect it: in paint, flooring, paper cups, clothes, chewing gum, cigarette butts, makeup, sunscreen — it's even in our produce stickers. It goes without saying that the campaigns that focus solely on banning plastic straws or bags are missing the mark. This brings us to the question I'm most often asked: what can be done to stop plastic pollution? The good news is there are some very smart and dedicated people working to ban single-use plastics. Right now, the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations are taking place, with 170 countries working on a legal framework to stop plastics pollution. There is also a growing business coalition, which is working toward systemic change and a circular economy. There are Plastic Free Communities around the world, where residents are fighting against single-use plastics, and in Plastic People, we delve into new technologies and plastic alternatives. So there absolutely is hope, and there are solutions. The very first step to solving a big problem is identifying it and naming it. Ten years ago, few people even knew the problem of microplastics existed. Today, the tiny, invisible threat is making front-page news. The key thing to remember is that we do know how to solve big problems. Just as DDT was phased out in the 1970s after we understood its harms, if we work together to ban single-use plastics now, we will reduce the harmful effects of microplastics on the planetary body and, importantly, on the human body too. Watch Plastic People on CBC Gem and the CBC Docs YouTube channel.
CBC
20-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Microplastics are everywhere: 6 ways to help protect your health — and the planet
Purging our world of microplastics requires change at the government level. But until that happens, here are some things individuals can do to make a difference. Plastic pollution has reached every corner of our planet, from the highest mountaintops to deep ocean trenches. It also contaminates the air we breathe and water we drink. According to a 2023 report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. And around 85 per cent of it ends up in landfills, incinerators or the environment, where it breaks down into hazardous microplastics. In Plastic People, a documentary from The Nature of Things, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki connects with science journalist Ziya Tong to explore our plastic-filled world and its potential impacts on human health. Tiny particles, big impact Microplastics — particles under five millimetres in length — can be deliberately manufactured for inclusion in products like cosmetics. But much of them come from the degradation of packaging, synthetic fabrics, paint, personal care products and other plastic items. "Some of it, as it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, can go up into the atmosphere and travel globally that way," says ecologist Chelsea Rochman in the film. "It is eaten by almost every level of the food chain … so it's [in] atmospheric currents, global dust cycles, the water cycle, the carbon cycle." In the documentary, with the help of microplastics researcher Mary Kosuth, Tong uncovers the alarming extent of microplastic contamination, finding it almost everywhere — from household dust to backyard snow to her own body. "We found it in my blood, we found it in my feces," Tong says. Microplastics have also been found in human lungs, placentas and even our brains. A study commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature found that people could be ingesting five grams or a credit card's worth of plastic every week. "The study of toxicity of microplastics is in its infancy, but we're beginning to learn that they are a transport mechanism for getting bad chemicals into people," says Pete Myers, chief scientist at the not-for-profit Environmental Health Sciences. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are two compounds commonly found in plastic that can make their way into the body. In Plastic People, experts discuss how they impact the endocrine system and have been linked to various health problems, including obesity, fertility issues and cancer. Addressing our microplastics problem Purging our world of microplastics seems like a daunting challenge. As a longtime activist against plastic pollution, Tong believes that change needs to happen at the government level. "Ultimately, this is about policy," she says in the documentary. "As individuals, we're in a trap. There's only so much we can do." As a step toward this, the UNEP is currently developing an international legally binding agreement on plastic pollution. It will address "the full life cycle of plastic," the authority says, from production to disposal. Meanwhile, there are lots of folks working on plastic alternatives. In Plastic People, Cullis-Suzuki visits CTK Bio, a Surrey, B.C., company that's developing innovative biodegradable materials and products — like a biostraw that would compost in three to six months. However, until government change comes into effect and alternative materials are the norm, what can we as individuals do? Here are a few steps you can take to protect your health and the planet. Tip 1: Go for natural fibres The UNEP estimates that about 60 per cent of material made into clothing is plastic, and these synthetic fabrics are a major source of microplastic contamination. "As we wear clothing that's increasingly plastic, those fibres shed, go down the drain, [and] wind up in the local lakes and rivers," says author and environmentalist Rick Smith in the documentary. A simple change is to opt for clothing made from natural fibres, such as cotton, wool and linen, instead of garments made from polyester, nylon and acrylic. Synthetic clothes don't just shed fibres during wear. Manufacturing, disposal and washing are all sources of microplastic pollution. In fact, one study showed that a single load of laundry can unleash hundreds of thousands of microfibres into the water supply. Washing synthetic clothes on a "gentle" cycle with cold water, however, can reduce microplastic shedding by nearly 70 per cent, according to research from conservation group Ocean Wise. Additionally, using a washing bag can help capture microfibres before they enter the water system. Tip 3: Replace plastic storage containers and kitchen tools Plastic particles from containers and bottles can leach into food and drinks — particularly when heated — and over time, they break down into microplastics. A simple swap is to replace plastic vessels with glass or stainless steel. These materials also tend to last longer, which is better for the environment. Switching from plastic cutting boards and utensils to alternatives like bamboo, wood and stainless steel can also help minimize exposure. "I threw out my plastic chopping board," Tong says in the documentary. "I was realizing, 'Oh my goodness, every time I use my knife, I am chopping microplastics into the food that I'm eating.'" Tip 4: Avoid microbeads Certain personal care products, such as cleansers, shampoos, toothpaste, shower gels and cosmetics, contain microplastics in the form of microbeads. These tiny plastic particles are frequently made of polyethylene and are used to provide exfoliation. To reduce your exposure to microbeads (and prevent them from entering the water supply), check labels for ingredients such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and choose natural exfoliants instead. Tip 5: Cut back on single-use plastic According to the UNEP, over one million plastic bottles are bought every minute, and a staggering five trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide. "Almost half of all plastic produced goes into single-use items," says Smith in the documentary. Invest in alternatives like reusable shopping bags, water bottles and containers — and bring them with you — to reduce your need to purchase and use these items. Tip 6: Make swaps at the grocery store To decrease microplastic exposure in food, avoid plastic-packaged products. Check if items are available in glass or paper packaging. Recent research also shows that highly processed foods contain significantly more microplastics per gram than less processed options. This may be because these foods spend more time in contact with plastic production equipment, or spend more time exposed to dust and other airborne contamination. So you may want to consider swapping products like chicken nuggets for whole chicken breasts. You can also limit your consumption of shellfish, since they're prone to microplastic buildup from oceans and we eat them whole — including their digestive systems. Drink a lot of tea? Some tea bags are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon, and McGill University researchers found that steeping a single plastic-based teabag in hot water can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles per cup. To minimize plastic exposure, try switching to paper bags or loose-leaf tea.
