December 5, 2024

Snika Gupta

11th Grade

Brooklyn Technical High School

Since the 1950s, plastic production has grown immensely. Because of this relatively short time span, the long-term effects of plastic exposure have not yet been thoroughly researched. However, the existing findings are more than alarming in themselves. 

Microplastics are tiny particles that were shed off from plastic materials, including polyester clothing, water bottles, plastic bags, and nearly all plastic products. These particles can measure up to five nanometers, making them small enough to enter human cells and tissues, where they then cause significant harm and damage. 

Microplastics are everywhere—in trash, food, dust, and even the atmosphere. These particles flake off plastic products due to processes including abrasion, wind, and photodegradation, which is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Even washing synthetic fabrics can further contribute to the prevalence of microplastics. Particles have infiltrated every aspect of the environment, being found in oceans, lakes, soil, and air; it has been estimated that the average person consumes tens of thousands of microplastic particles through food, beverages, and the air on an annual basis. 

Cosmetics and other personal care products have also been found to be sources of microplastics, often containing plastic fragments that can be absorbed dermally before entering the bloodstream. For factory workers involved in plastic production, they face additional risks as microplastics can easily be inhaled during manufacturing processes without proper precautions. Inhaled microplastics can irritate lung tissues, studies have shown, leading to chronic inflammation and the potential development of respiratory diseases.

The different shapes of microplastics influence how they affect individuals. Sharp microplastics can cause tears in tissues; larger microplastics can lodge in the gut, leading to intestinal problems. Additionally, microbial communities can form biofilms on microplastics, potentially promoting the spread of human pathogens. Due to the diversity in shapes, sizes, and materials within these particles, their impact is greatly varied but overwhelmingly negative. Studies on mice have demonstrated that microplastics increase inflammatory proteins in the liver, kidneys, and intestines; neurotoxicity has also been observed, including microglia activation and neuron damage caused by nanoparticles in the central nervous system. Microplastics have been shown to damage liver, lung, and kidney tissues. Smaller particles can accumulate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, reducing the space able to digest food and absorb nutrients. Inhaled microplastics can also cause inflammation with some plastic substances interfering with hormone production, which can later lead to hormonal imbalances.

With an incredibly low biodegradation rate, microplastics remain in the human body for extended periods of time. Collecting microplastic particles is an expensive and time-consuming task, making the recycling or reusing of these particles highly unlikely. As such, microplastics have become a long-term safety hazard for both human health and the environment, with the harmful effects of microplastics disproportionately affecting individuals already vulnerable to health issues; the demographics impacted most include the chronically ill, young children, and the elderly. These impacts are particularly exacerbated in low-income or developing countries, where access to healthcare and resources for treatment is limited.