Microplastics

[Ewan]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/24/record-levels-of-plastic-discovered-in-arctic-sea-ice

http://img.interempresas.net/fotos/1328332.jpeg

Scientists have found a record amount of plastic trapped in Arctic sea ice, raising concern about the impact on marine life and human health.

Up to 12,000 pieces of microplastic particles were found per litre of sea ice in core samples taken from five regions on trips to the Arctic Ocean – as many as three times higher than levels in previous studies.

Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) found fragments of packaging, paints, nylon, polyester and cellulose acetate which is commonly used in making cigarette filters in every sample they took in 2014 and 2015.

The findings come amid growing concern about the scale of plastic pollution which experts have warned risks the near-permanent contamination of the planet.

Previous research estimated that at least 1tn pieces of plastic had been frozen into the Arctic ice over past decades, making it a major global sink for plastic pollution, many times more concentrated than the well-known great Pacific garbage patch.

But Dr Gunnar Gerdts, whose laboratory made the measurements, said his studies showed the problem was even more severe, with some of the particles only 11 micrometres across.

“That’s roughly one-sixth the diameter of a human hair, and also explains why we found concentrations of more than 12,000 particles per litre of sea ice – which is two to three times higher than what we’d found in past measurements.”

The study was able to identify not only a record amount of plastic but also its potential source – from degraded fishing equipment to plastic pollution that has travelled thousands of miles on ocean currents.

One of the study’s authors, Dr Ilka Peeken said: “The high microplastic concentrations in the sea ice can not only be attributed to sources outside the Arctic Ocean. Instead they point to local pollution in the Arctic.”

The scientists warned that the implications of this level of plastic pollution – for marine life and human health – were unknown.

Peeken said: “No one can say for certain how harmful these tiny plastic particles are for marine life, or ultimately also for human beings.”

Marine plastic pollution is a huge problem, with an estimated 5tn pieces of plastic now floating in the world’s oceans. The plastic is frequently mistaken for food by fish and birds, causing damage to life throughout the seas and entering the human food chain.

Today’s study found record levels of polyethylene in one area thought to come from the massive “garbage patch” in the Pacific Ocean. In another it found high levels of paint and nylon particles pointing to increased shipping and fishing.

The study also found that so much plastic is now stored in Arctic sea ice, which then moves and melts, that it has become a significant system for transporting plastic particles around the region.

Dr Jeremy Wilkinson, sea ice physicist at the British Antarctic Survey, described it as a “benchmark study”.

“Microplastic particles were found throughout all cores sampled ... It suggests that microplastics are now ubiquitous within the surface waters of the world’s ocean. Nowhere is immune.”

========================================================

The original Nature article can be found here (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03825-5)

[Cidersomerset]

I saw the article earlier and it reminded me of a report I read recently about a
natural bacteria discovered that could combat the plastic problem, I cannot find the
one I saw but there are other recent ones. Though it is worrying how much waste
there is on/in the oceans and a switch back to glass and proper shopping bags may
help , until a permanent solution is found and where there's a will there's a way.

Plastic-eating enzyme could fight pollution
4l-T_nwGnrU
Published on 17 Apr 2018
A plastic-eating enzyme created by scientists in Britain and the United States
could help in the fight against pollution. The enzyme is able to digest polyethylene
terephthalate, or PET, which is used in millions of tonnes of plastic bottles. PET
plastics can persist for hundreds of years in the environment and currently pollute
large areas of land and sea worldwide.

A Mutant Plastic-Eating Enzyme Could Help Solve The World’s Waste Problem
| Mach | NBC News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zugMmi7PJ10
Published on 18 Apr 2018
Scientists in Britain and the United States say they have engineered a plastic-eating
enzyme. The enzyme is able to digest a form of plastic called PET or polyethylene
terephthalate, that's found in most plastic bottles.

====================================================

Scientists discover plastic eating bacteria that could save the environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CM-fg40fGI
Published on 11 Mar 2016
A team of Japanese scientists say they have found bacteria that can break down
and consume polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the world’s most damaging
and wasteful plastics. RT’s Manila Chan investigates the science behind the
discovery and what it could mean for protecting the environment.

==================================================
==================================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.22.44/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png


Record concentration of microplastics found in Arctic

By Helen Briggs
BBC News
24 April 2018

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/4FCF/production/_101013402_20140817_ps87_polarstern_lomonossow_001_rstein-1024x683.jpg
Plastic particles end up in sea ice floating in the Arctic
read more..http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43879389
============================================

http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/3.22.44/orb/4/img/bbc-blocks-dark.png

Giant plastic 'berg blocks Indonesian river

David Shukman
Science editor
19 April 2018

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/ED16/production/_100949606_48501562-6513-49c8-9abc-6a26a134ba7e.jpg
Like other developing countries, Indonesia is wrestling with an acute plastic waste problem

A crisis of plastic waste in Indonesia has become so acute that the army has been called in to help.
Rivers and canals are clogged with dense masses of bottles, bags and other plastic packaging.
Officials say they are engaged in a "battle" against waste that accumulates as quickly as they clear it.
The commander of a military unit in the city of Bandung described it as "our biggest enemy".

read more...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43823883

[Cidersomerset]

Lionel regularly goes on David Knight Real News for a amusing take on recent news
items and today waste plastic is brought up with some interesting comments on
how its grown and how fisherman, tsunami's and some Asian countries over
dumping in the Pacific , waste from North America and ocean liners add to it.

Climate Change Conspiracies & Cuomo's Plastic Bag Fetish
— Lionel on "Real News With David Knight"

M7WbOXujE_Q
Published on 25 Apr 2018

========================================

There are five major gyres areas where currents meet that collect waste in the
oceans which is probably good news because if world bodies start to focus
on some sort of collection or bacterial solution at least its already concentrated
in specific areas.

Not sure about the micro particles spread around the oceans and Antarctica though ?


http://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/Ocean_Plastic_International_Rescue/Ocean_Rescue_International_Pictures/plastic-oceans-great-pacific-garbage-patch-world-map.JPG

http://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/ocean_pictures/Pacific_Southern_Northern_Ocean_Gyres_Agenda_2030.gif

http://www.bluebird-electric.net/oceanography/pacific_ocean.htm

===================================================


What is gyre in geography?
https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-fc627e72686a00c5e460510519af0974
https://www.quora.com/What-is-gyre-in-geography

What is a gyre?
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/gyre.html

[earthdreamer]

Plastic pollution is one of my biggest worries for our planet. Recycling can't possibly keep up with such massive output. Manufacturers have profited for decades off cheap plastic. Just like hazardous waste sites needing designated superfund clean-up, we need a global superfund to address and combat this crisis of runaway plastic waste. The modern world must turn to biodegradable production and packaging. I wonder if plastics made of organic compounds like hemp seeds rather than petroleum oil would be less toxic to the environment? An apocalypse of plastic snowstorms blizzarding the planet is a nightmare we don't want to imagine possible.
Some news report I saw also found plastic micro-particles in our bodies from such mundane sources like fleece clothing.
We sign so many petitions to corporations and politicians to address this slow-boil horror. The awareness of the problems of plastic pollution seems to be reaching a critical mass where solutions will be forthcoming. If only life were more valuable than monetary profit. (sigh)

[Ewan]

Which reminds me of this story (https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/ocean-plastic-cleanup-rubbish-seas-take-out-23-year-old-boyan-slat-north-sea-pacific-microplastics-a7880321.html) from August last year.

Ocean plastic cleanup: A 23-year-old’s mission to take rubbish out of our seas.

https://www.sas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/pp-header-980x574.jpg

In 1998 Charles Moore, an oceanographer, was sailing across the North Pacific when he made an unwelcome discovery.
“As I gazed from the deck at the surface of what ought to have been a pristine ocean, I was confronted, as far as the eye could see, with the sight of plastic,” Moore wrote in Natural History magazine.
It seemed unbelievable but I never found a clear spot. In the week it took to cross the subtropical high, no matter what time of day I looked, plastic debris was floating everywhere – bottles, bottle caps, wrappers, fragments.”

What he stumbled on became known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or “Pacific trash vortex”. It is thought to be anywhere between the size of Texas (270,000 sq miles) to several times that size.
The difficulty of measuring such a large area of ocean means exact data is hard to come by but the latest research suggests the vortex has a 386,000 sq mile “heart”, surrounded by a 1.4 million-sq-mile outer periphery of trash. The extent and range of contaminants in the gyre is also little understood but scientists estimate the high-density core now has an alarming one million pieces of plastic per sq km.

Most of the plastic waste that ends up in the oceans is thought to become part of these “garbage patches” of rubbish, but it’s not a doughnut of clearly visible surface rubbish as has often been envisaged.
Some of this plastic matter is found hovering at the waterline but most of it is floating in the upper-water column over thousands of sq miles in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

By some estimates, the ratio of plastic to small animal matter (known as zooplankton) in these gyres is around 6:1 by weight. At the core of the vortex, this can be as high as 48:1. Zooplankton is an important component of the ocean ecosystem, providing nourishment for the smallest fish to the biggest whales, meaning much of the microplastic matter ends up being ingested. Perhaps most alarmingly for people who eat fish on a regular basis, scientists have recently found microplastics in the bodies of fish, not just in their stomachs. Last month, a group of Malaysian and French scientists found 36 pieces of potentially harmful microplastics in a study of 120 mackerel, mullets, anchovies and croakers.

Described as a “ticking time bomb” by marine scientists, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is believed to have grown by five times in the past 10 years and will become a greater risk to life as the plastic degrades further.
It’s a problem that caught the imagination of a then 16-year-old schoolboy from the Netherlands, Boyan Slat. Slat was on holiday in Greece when a diving trip brought him face-to-face with the problem of ocean plastics.
“I could see more plastic bags than fish on that scuba dive,” he says.
I had to do a high-school science project that year and I decided to really dedicate myself to this issue. Everybody told me it would be impossible to clean up, the main problem being that the plastic is extremely dispersed... over a wide area.”

He dropped out of a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in order to pursue the idea, but the initial reception was not positive. Slat contacted 300 companies looking for support but only one replied, telling him it was “a terrible idea”.
A hugely popular TED Talk saw the teenage Boyan gain worldwide fame, and funding for his designs soon followed, some of it crowd-funded, and some of it from high-profile investors such as PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff.
“Being an outsider and not having worked on this for many years allowed me at least to consider clean-up as an idea that would work. When I started there was this consensus that you could never clean this up, that the problem is way too big, the ocean is way too rough, the issue of bycatch – ‘plastic is too big, plastic is too small’...”

The key idea that makes Slat’s concept different to other schemes is the principle of “letting the sea do the work” by having ocean currents run into V-shaped screens that filter out small plastics. When the system is fully operational, the plastics can then be loaded onto small vessels and taken back to land for recycling.

Today the Ocean Clean Up Foundation employs more than 70 people and has around $30m (£23m) in funding. But the task confronting Slat and his team will require a great deal more than this.
Although it’s hard to gain accurate data, today’s estimates suggest roughly five trillion tonnes of plastics are now floating in our oceans. Seven million tonnes are dumped into the sea each year.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that the volume of plastic waste in our oceans will outweigh the total mass of fish in the sea by 2050.

The Ocean Cleanup’s trials in the North Sea with a prototype (officially named “Boomy McBoomFace” after the boom that supports the plastic filtering screens), were promising enough for the team to press ahead with a plan to pilot system in the Pacific gyre next year.

“We suffered some damage but that was the whole point, to find weak spots in the design. We developed a new anchor concept off the back of what we learnt”.
The “drifting array” will now be held down by large sea anchors, ensuring it moves slower than the surrounding currents.
“The deeper you go in the ocean, the slower the currents get. At the surface it can move quite rapidly [16-17 centimetres per second] and only a few hundred metres deeper, it’s more like three or four centimetres per second. So it’s a dramatic difference”.
To exploit this difference, Boyan and his team developed a sea anchor suspended in the water column, consisting of about 100 sq metres of material, enough to slow down the drifting area by 20 per cent.

Having tested a prototype model of its system in the North Sea last year, Th Ocean Cleanup announced in May that it plans to conduct a trial in the Pacific later this year, and start a full cleanup operation there next spring.
“We’re starting with the North Pacific gyre simply because it is the largest accumulation of plastic. A third of all ocean plastic can be found in that area.”
“It will still be an experimental system, operating for one year. We’ll gather data and improve the system continuously”.
The goal then is to move onto the other four ocean gyres and replicate the process, albeit with slightly less rubbish to deal with in each vortex.

“We expect to be ready for a scale-up in late 2019, so in 2019-2020 we expect to get a fleet of around 50 systems in that one patch, which are able to cleanup around 13 per cent of the patch every year. So that means 50 per cent in five years and we would get to 90 per cent in about 20 years.”

I ask Slat what has troubled him the most about the situation facing our oceans.

“Definitely the degradation,” he says. “Plastic doesn’t really go away by itself.”
The concentration of plastic is rapidly increasing in the gyres. Even if you were to close off the tap, and no more plastic entered the ocean, that plastic would stay there, probably for hundreds of years”.
Not only a threat to sea life, the degradation of ocean plastics leads to the release of chemicals that are known to be harmful to humans when they enter the food chain. Significant debris can cause damage to shipping, foul up tourist sites and encourage invasive species.

Much of our older marine waste is now breaking down into more toxic and hard-to-remove substances, and reaching parts of the sea previously thought to be relatively pristine. Even the deepest chasm on the earth’s surface – the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific ocean – has been found to contain “extraordinary” levels of pollution at depths of 10 kilometres below sea level, although not all of this is attributed to plastic waste.
It is now thought that around four billion plastic microfibres lie on the sea floor.
“Today 95 per cent of the plastic is large stuff and only five per cent is small dangerous microplastics,” says Slat. “What is going to happen over several decades is that microplastic matter may increase twentyfold, which would be quite a big issue.”
Among the other solutions to dealing with ocean plastics is the “waste to wear” initiative run by the NGO Healthy Seas. This project reworks the nylon found in abandoned fishing nets into textiles for use in clothing.

Singer Pharrell Williams and fashion brand G-Star recently collaborated to create a line of clothing called “Raw for the Oceans” which also uses recycled ocean waste.
Picking up litter off a beach may seem like a peripheral activity, but during the 2015 International Coastal Cleanup, around 800,000 volunteers picked up an estimated 18 million pounds of plastic that would otherwise have ended up in the oceans.
Boyan Slat has other plans as to how the foundation can help solve this problem.
“We might work on ways to prevent plastic getting into the ocean in the first place
We published a study in Nature back in June, showing that 86 per cent of the plastic is coming from Asia, and coming from a relatively small number of rivers in those areas. So, in the future, we could do something there within those river mouths.
To me that seems like a logical future expansion of what we are doing.”



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du5d5PUrH0I

[Ewan]

As I read that back I recalled all the 'warnings' from (alleged) ET's about how we are destroying the planet.

If we had a functioning media, (well, it functions now but in a negative kind of way), stories like this should be on the TV all the time until the hue and cry from the general public was so loud things would change at a greatly accelerated pace. I'd bet if I stood on the high street of any town and asked people what they knew about plastics in the oceans, or specifically, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch I would be met with a large majority of negatives.

With the microplastics (OP) getting into the foodchain we may, frighteningly, be very close to the point of no return already.

[Ewan]

Plastic Pollution in the Oceans- Documentary HD


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txH30r0NRf0

Recycling Technologies turns problem plastic into fantastic fuel in depots

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/760831/Recycling-Technologies-turns-plastic-fuel

[DeDukshyn]

I was just thinking the other day how Big Oil has almost single-handedly destroyed the entire planet. How quickly we forget that plastic is a product of Big Oil, not to mention the pollution in the atmosphere from billions of autos, all the pipeline and tanker spills, the constant destruction of forest (rainforests and otherwise) to access oil, the mess Big Oil leaves behind after abandoning dry wells, The BP oil spill and the like ... all product of the business of big oil, and we generally stand back smile, and fill our cars at prices where we know we are being gouged to death, and do nothing about it.

I live in Alberta (oil country) and I am never ceased to be amazed at the oil worship here - it is almost not even believable it is so extreme. In fact our province has stopped import of BC (british columbia) wine, and has drafted legislation to allow itself the ability to stop the flow of all oil to BC -- because BC doesn't want to build another pipeline through their province (its a twinning, not a new pipeline). The whole province of Alberta can't seem to pry their lips from around big oils big pipe ... line.

[Ewan]

Around the World in 80, erm, plastics...


CHINA
http://1oskh83h9azl38imjs88cq5u.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Plastic-rivers-China.jpg

THAILAND
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4079/4937782626_e68aa8b487_b.jpg


INDIA
http://anonymous-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/800px-Cite_Soleil_-_Home_to_500_000.jpg

Sth AMERICA
https://s01.shiftdelete.net/img/content/16-08/30/tqvwbobolj5di59q.jpg

---------------------------------------------------------

My nephew is getting married in August, they plan to honeymoon in The Maldives.

http://cleanbodiesofwater.org/plastic-pollution-photos-maldives/

The Maldives, one of the top honeymoon destinations in the Indian Ocean, is famous for its pristine beaches, beautiful turquoise waters and top class resorts.

But what many tourists are not aware of is the fact that these dream holiday islands dump around 300 to 400 tonnes of rubbish a day on an artificial island called Thilafushi. This island is situated approximately 7 kilometres from Malé, the capital of the Maldives and is used for the sole purpose of disposing rubbish, such as plastic pollution waste.

Since 1992 the Maldives have been dumping their trash on Thalifushi, also known as Trash Island, but nowadays the plastic pollution literally extends this island of waste.

http://cleanbodiesofwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Clean-Bodies-of-Water-Photos-of-the-week-Alison-Teal-Maldives-Plastic-pollution.jpg

[Foxie Loxie]

Good Grief!!! :facepalm:

[John Hilton]

Malone's thoughts on this topic are interesting. I've been buying sheep's milk from a local farmer in plastic bottles. I'm going to switch to glass bottles.

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/well-being-microplastics

[ExomatrixTV]

quote: "Things have gotten much worse since then. Now we really are plastic—or at least, our bodies contain far more plastic than most of us would prefer. Recent studies have found tiny plastic particles deep inside human lungs and blood (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/microplastics-are-in-our-bodies-how-much-do-they-harm-us). A new paper from Columbia University has identified nanoplastics—even smaller than microplastics, which we have been worried about for a while—as particularly prevalent, especially in bottled water. The average American adult may be consuming over 11,000 pieces of microplastic per year, another study (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123022352?via%3Dihub) calculated this month". unquote


source (https://newrepublic.com/article/178468/really-hate-robert-f-kennedy-jr-right)

1737192851312906545


Arctic Research Reports Record Levels of Microplastics (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?102587-Arctic-research-reports-record-levels-of-microplastics&highlight=Microplastics)
The PFAS Cover-Up ... 2 Dutch 🇳🇱/English 🇬🇧 Special 2023 Reports (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?121443-The-PFAS-Cover-Up-...-2-Dutch-English-Special-2023-Reports&highlight=PFAS)
'Microplastics' "The Hidden Health Crisis Nobody Is Talking About" (https://rumble.com/v4dni3k-microplastics-the-hidden-health-crisis-nobody-is-talking-about.html) (except souls like RFK jr. (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?120744-Robert-F.-Kennedy-jr.-May-Run-for-Presidency-Challenging-Joe-Biden-2024)).
We are Eating Microplastics Every Day
(https://rumble.com/v1m139i-we-are-eating-microplastics-every-day.html)
Microplastics Found In Your Blood: Plastics In Food, Tattoo Ink, Water Bottle, Cosmetics, and More (https://rumble.com/v1pc3fb-microplastics-found-in-your-blood-plastics-in-food-tattoo-ink-water-bottle-.html)
How Microplastics Infest Your Body
(https://rumble.com/v33lii7-how-microplastics-infest-your-body.html)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Plan to Fix Plastics Pollution :idea::thumbsup: (https://www.kennedy24.com/rfk_jr_plan_to_fix_plastics_pollution)

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

This 55 seconds video clip does not need a "summary", all is self-evident:
v4f40w3/?pub=ir01b

[ExomatrixTV]

The Effect of Microplastics on Our Health (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?122800-The-Effect-of-Microplastics-on-Our-Health&highlight=Microplastics) :bowing:

[ExomatrixTV]

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/max-width600/public/Microplastics_National_Park_Beaches_Infographic_FINAL%20VERSION_ALL%20LOGOS-01.png?itok=IbWVPW1- (https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/images/microplastics-national-park-beaches-infographic)


source (https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/images/microplastics-national-park-beaches-infographic)

https://cdn.statcdn.com/Infographic/images/normal/18299.jpeg


https://cdn.statcdn.com/Infographic/images/normal/17957.jpeg


Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Plan to Fix Plastics Pollution (https://www.kennedy24.com/rfk_jr_plan_to_fix_plastics_pollution) :thumbsup: :idea:

cheers,
John 🦜🦋🌳

[onawah]

'We're All Plastic People Now': A Groundbreaking Documentary
Dr. Mercola
5/25/24
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/05/25/plastic-people.aspx?ui=8d3c7e22a03f5300d2e3338a0f080d2da3add85bca35e09236649153e4675f72&sd=20110604&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20240525_HL2&foDate=true&mid=DM1577513&rid=30331284

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2024/May/PDF/plastic-people-pdf.pdf

"STORY AT-A-GLANCE
The documentary film “We’re All Plastic People Now” delves into how we have become the embodiment of the trash we created. Director Rory Fielding had four generations of his family’s blood tested for plastic-derived chemicals and found alarming results
Many of the chemicals used to make plastic are endocrine disruptors, which mimic, block or interfere with your natural hormones, causing problems in various physiological functions, such as growth, metabolism and reproduction
Some endocrine-disrupting chemicals are also considered estrogenic carcinogens, which mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, thus increasing your risk of estrogen-sensitive cancers
Vote with your pocketbook and get your national and local government involved to catalyze changes in plastic use. More tips below on how to reduce your microplastic exposure are included
A plastic straw, a bottle of water, a plastic bag from the grocery — these single-use plastics seem so innocuous that people barely give them a second thought before tossing them out.
Unfortunately, the development of this throwaway culture has contributed to the mounting burden of plastic waste that threatens the environment, wildlife and our very own bodies.

Discarded plastics are made primarily from petrochemicals1 and degrade into microscopic fragments called microplastics, which lurk everywhere, from the depths of our oceans to the food we eat and the air we breathe. It’s a sobering reality underscored by the Emmy Award-winning documentary featured above, “We’re All Plastic People Now.”

Plastic Pollution Has Become a Generational Burden
Produced and directed by Rory Fielding, “We’re All Plastic People Now” delves into how we have become the embodiment of the trash we created. It’s introduced by actor and ocean preservationist Ted Danson and featured at the 2024 Santa Fe Film Festival.2

While the film briefly illustrates the devastating impacts of microplastics on marine life, particularly sea turtles found with plastic-filled stomachs, it dives deeper into a more disturbing truth — humans are not separate from plastic pollution.

As David A. Davis, Ph.D., a researcher from the University of Miami who’s featured in the film, aptly puts it, “Water is life, so if the water is polluted and we have sentinel species like dolphins and sea turtles, if they're also sick, we can anticipate that we'll be sick, too.”

Studies have detected microplastics in human tissues, including the brain,3 lungs,4 kidney, liver5 and heart,6 as well as in human blood7 and stool.8 Even babies are exposed to microplastics starting from their mothers’ placenta to the breast milk they rely on for nourishment.9

Dr. Antonio Ragusa, the study’s lead researcher on microplastics in the placenta and one of the featured experts in the documentary, bluntly referred to humans as “cyborgs” because our bodies are no longer purely biological but have become part plastic.

This assertion is further confirmed in the film as Fielding had four generations of his family’s blood tested for plastic-derived chemicals. Their blood samples were submitted to Rolf Halden, Ph.D., an environmental engineer from Arizona State University. According to Halden’s analysis, Fielding and his family carry over 80 different chemicals in their body. He further explains:

“What we detected in the blood of all these participants are precursors of plastics, plastic constituents themselves, as well as degradation products of consumer plastics. These chemicals are known to be carcinogens, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, obesogens and neurodegenerative agents.”

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Can Make Your Body ‘Go Awry’
Many of the chemicals used to make plastic are endocrine disruptors. As microplastics circulate in your body, they carry these chemicals and distribute them to your cells and tissues, where they can pose significant harm to your health. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a pediatrician and director of the Center for Investigation of Environmental Hazards at New York University, noted in the film:

“We live in a world where we're still not as aware of endocrine-disrupting chemicals as we should be. We're talking about our natural hormones, our molecules that orchestrate all sorts of signaling of basic bodily functions, maintaining a healthy temperature, good metabolism, salt, sugar and even sex.

When we're talking about endocrine-disrupting chemicals, we're talking about synthetic chemicals that hack those molecular signals and make things go awry in the human body.”

Some of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in microplastics include bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). By mimicking, blocking or interfering with your natural hormones, EDCs can disrupt the function of your endocrine system, which leads to problems in various physiological functions such as growth, metabolism and reproduction.10

Some EDCs are also considered estrogenic carcinogens. Also known as xenoestrogens, these chemicals can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.11 This results in abnormal stimulation of estrogen receptors, which then promotes cell proliferation and potentially contributes to the development and progression of estrogen-sensitive cancers, such as breast cancer12 and endometrial cancer.13

Another form of EDC found in microplastics is PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), a group of about 5,000 ubiquitous chemicals in consumer products and used in industrial, electronic, firefighting and medical applications. They’re also known as “forever chemicals,” as they do not degrade naturally, persist in the environment and accumulate in people and wildlife.14

In the featured documentary, John Hocevar, director of Greenpeace Oceans Campaign, states, “PFAS chemicals can give us cancer ... and they can damage our immune systems. PFAS can also interfere with fetal development, and they can harm our hormonal and reproductive systems.”

Can Plastics End the Future of Humanity?
In the documentary, Shanna Swan, Ph.D., a professor from Mount Sinai Hospital, sheds light on her research on phthalates, which she believes is one of the major culprits behind the decline in sperm count in the last 50 years. She purports that exposure to these chemicals causes phthalate syndrome, a condition wherein the male reproductive organs and fertility are affected depending on their mother’s exposure to phthalates while they’re in the womb. She explains:

“What [phthalates] are doing is they’re lowering testosterone. Initially, male and female have the same genital ridge ... Around early first trimester, there starts to be differentiation of the males and females. All that’s happening very fast in early pregnancy, and that needs testosterone to be there at the right time and the right amount ...

If the testosterone doesn’t come on board at the right time and there isn’t enough of it ... let’s just say we call those males incompletely masculinized. And in the females, if testosterone gets in there when it shouldn’t or more than should be there, then the female starts producing more male-like genitals.

So, what you’re seeing is a decreasing of sex differences. So, the male becomes less completely a male, the female less completely a female.”

Halden further emphasizes the potential implications of the trend of decreasing sperm counts and loss of fertility, cautioning that we could be “playing with the future of humanity.”

“Essentially, we are allowing chemicals like plastic chemicals into our family planning,” Halden adds. “They [plastic chemicals] decide whether there is life or not. We don’t want to give more voting rights to chemicals as we plan in the future.”

Dr. Ragusa echoes this sentiment, stating, “Plastic can be the future for big oil companies. But not for us, not for humanity. For humanity, plastic is the end of the future.”

A Battle for Change in Southern Louisiana’s Cancer Alley
In an 85-mile stretch of land between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is an area known as “Cancer Alley.” In the area there are over 150 plastic plants and chemical industries. The cancer rates in this area are 50 times higher than the national average.15

The pervasive presence of estrogenic carcinogens in the surroundings likely contribute to these numbers. Moreover, exposure to plasticizers is also associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and DNA damage,16 all of which are also mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

Sharon Lavigne, founder of Rise St. James in Louisiana, lives in the middle of Cancer Alley. She shared that their community used to have beautiful trees before 19 petrochemical plants were built to replace them, with 12 of them located near Sharon’s home.

“I lost my sister-in-law [to] cancer. I lost my neighbor on both sides of me [to] cancer. We had so many people dying, it made me wonder what was going on ...” Sharon says. “I felt like if another industry would come in here, it would be a death sentence for St. James [Parish].”

Her personal experience spurred her on to fight against further industrial expansion in her community. The documentary features how their group’s efforts successfully prevented the construction of what would’ve been the world’s largest plastic plant in their hometown.

Profit From Plastic Is Prioritized Over Public Health
Despite the mounting evidence of the dangers caused by microplastics, the industry is still planning to expand plastic production. According to Christy Leavitt, the plastics campaign director of Oceana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation:

“We’ve seen, over the last couple of decades, the amount of plastic production has increased rapidly, and so too has all of the plastic pollution ... They’re looking towards a world where not only do we have the current amount of plastic that’s out there, but they want, in fact, triple the amount of that.”

She also revealed that recycling is no longer going to be enough to address the worsening plastic crisis. Halden elaborates on the economic challenges of recycling plastics, explaining that while the plastic industry’s narrative promotes recycling, it’s actually far more economical for them to produce virgin plastic.

The production of cheap plastic from fossil fuels is also being incentivized, causing companies to produce new ones instead of recycling. As for the logistic issues, Halden presented data from BeyondPlastics.org:17

“The things that we carry into recycling centers are only a small fraction of the overall plastic mass that we're using. In past years, only about 9% of plastics actually arrived at recycling centers. Today, it's only 5% of all the plastics that we make and consume.

But that's not where the bad news ends because when the plastics arrive at the recycling center ... they just put the plastic in a barge and ship it to a country that doesn't have a solid waste disposal system. So, it ends up in the landfill, blows into the ocean and comes right back in our food.”

Moreover, NPR news correspondent Laura Sullivan, who also appears in the documentary, found internal documents revealing a stark contrast between the oil industry's million-dollar promotion of plastic and recycling and its private doubts about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of large-scale recycling initiatives.18

It’s Not Too Late to Address the Plastic Crisis
Toward the end of the documentary, the featured experts and environmental activists shared a similar sentiment — there is still hope for reducing plastic pollution and safeguarding the health of future generations.

According to Halden, it’s not the first time humanity has endangered our future with what we thought were innovative industrial advances, yet we’ve come up with solutions to mitigate the dangers before they completely destroy our planet. “Plastics is the next big challenge for us,” he declares positively.

Hocevar notes that the plastic problem has a very simple solution: We should just stop producing so much of it. One way to achieve this is by voting with your pocketbook. As Dr. Ragusa pointed out in the film, the major producers of plastics right now are big food and beverage manufacturers.

Refusing to buy their products can urge these companies to take accountability and change their plastic use. It will also go a long way toward reducing your own plastic waste. Leavitt highlighted the importance of getting the state and local government involved as well, “so that they’re actually requiring companies to change the way that single-use plastics are produced and used.”

Progesterone Can Help Lower Plastic Estrogen Toxicity
Plastics are xenoestrogens and much of their danger is related to their stimulation of estrogen receptors, so another effective strategy that can help counteract estrogen excess is to take trans mucosal progesterone (not oral or transdermal), which is a natural estrogen antagonist. Progesterone is one of only four hormones I believe many adults can benefit from. (The other three are thyroid hormone T3, DHEA and pregnenolone.)

I do not recommend transdermal progesterone, as your skin expresses high levels of 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which causes a significant portion of the progesterone you're taking to be irreversibly converted primarily into allopregnanolone and cannot be converted back into progesterone.

As a general recommendation, I recommend taking 25 to 50 mg of bioidentical progesterone per a day, taken in the evening one hour before bed, as it can also promote sleep. For optimal bioavailability, progesterone needs to be mixed into natural vitamin E. The difference in bioavailability between taking progesterone orally without vitamin E and taking it with vitamin E is 45 minutes versus 48 hours.

Simply Progesterone by Health Natura is premixed with vitamin E and MCT oil. You can also make your own by dissolving pure USP progesterone powder into one capsule of a high-quality vitamin E, and then rub the mixture on your gums. Fifty milligrams of powdered progesterone is about 1/32 teaspoon.

Do not use synthetic vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate — the acetate indicates that it's synthetic). Natural vitamin E will be labeled "d alpha tocopherol." This is the pure D isomer, which is what your body can use. There are also other vitamin E isomers, and you want the complete spectrum of tocopherols and tocotrienols, specifically the beta, gamma, and delta types, in the effective D isomer. As an example of an ideal vitamin E you can look at the label on our vitamin E in our store. You can use any brand that has a similar label.

If you are a menstruating woman, you should take the progesterone during the luteal phase or the last half of your cycle which can be determined by starting ten days after the first day of your period and stopping the progesterone when your period starts.

If you are a male or non-menstruating woman you can take the progesterone every day for 4-6 months and they cycle off for one week. The best time of day to take progesterone is 30 minutes before bed as it is has an anti-cortisol function and will increase GABA levels for a good night's sleep.

Please note that when progesterone is used transmucosally on your gums as I advise, the FDA believes that somehow converts it into a drug and prohibits any company from advising that on its label. However, please understand that it is perfectly legal for any physician to recommend an off-label indication for a drug.

In this case progesterone is a natural hormone and not a drug and is very safe even at high doses. This is unlike synthetic progesterone called progestins that are used by drug companies, but frequently, and incorrectly referred to as progesterone, which are dangerous and should never be used by anyone.

What Else You Can Do to Lower Your Plastic Load
Plastic has become a huge part of our everyday life, but it doesn’t have to be that way. While it may seem hard to avoid, there are many ways you can reduce your plastic use to help protect the environment and your health. Here are some strategies to get you started:

Avoid water in plastic bottles — In the documentary, Halden referred to water bottles as a time bomb, as they expose you to microplastics with every sip. If you do need to buy bottled water, choose products in glass bottles, which can be reused as well.

Filter and boil tap water — With microplastics contaminating our waterways, it’s important to avoid drinking water straight from the tap. Make sure your home has a good water filtration system to filter out these particles. If you have hard tap water in your area, boil it before using it for drinking or cooking, as research shows boiling for five minutes helps remove up to 90% of microplastics in the water.19

Always opt for reusable alternatives — Avoid single-use plastic items like disposable straws, plastic bags and disposable plastic food and beverage packaging. Instead, choose reusable alternatives that are made from safer materials, such as glass, metal or paper.

Never microwave food in plastic containers — Heat causes the chemicals in plastic to leach into the food, so use glass or ceramic containers for microwaving.

Choose clothes made from natural fibers — Choose organic clothing and other textile products, such as those made from cotton, hemp, silk, wool or bamboo. Synthetic fabrics like polyester shed microfibers and xenoestrogens. If you do buy clothes made from synthetic fiber, wash them less frequently and use a microfiber filter in your washing machine to trap synthetic fiber and prevent them from entering the waterways.

Look for all-natural personal care products — Some makeup, skincare and body care products contain microbeads and plastic particles. Opt for all-natural, food-grade products to avoid risking your health.

Reduce, reuse and recycle whenever possible — Even though it’s revealed in the documentary that recycling alone may not be enough to tackle our waste problem, you should still do your part in repurposing products whenever you can. This, along with urging companies and politicians to take action, can help mitigate the plastic crisis. Remember that every effort counts."

+ Sources and References
************
"Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous, with plastic particles found in every corner of the globe.
"It's in the air. It's in the water. It's in the food. It's in all of our bodies," according to Rolf Halden, Ph.D., an environmental engineer from Arizona State University, who appears in "We're All Plastic People Now."
The documentary reveals the discovery of microplastics in human placentas, as reported by Italian researcher Dr. Antonio Ragusa, who warned,
"For humanity, plastic is the end of the future." "
7NXHcRYdsSB1/

[Listkov]

Sometimes I prepare a slide of food I get from the grocery store to look under the microscope. Microplastics resemble colored fibers (you don't want to be eating the weird dyes they use either) but they usually wiggle a bit if you poke them with the heated tip of a needle.

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illustrative example of one strand-like specimen I found on every grain of rice I looked at.

The bulk of the plastic mass would probably be contained in the little specs around it. It's ambiguous whether they're plastic or another type of debris, you could burn a quantity of plant matter and sieve out the remaining plastic to weight.

Not sure what the cumulative load of eating this day in and day out would do to your body :silent:

Ideally you'd be in a situation where you can secure a clean food supply for yourself but the least you can do is peel and wash thoroughly like most traditional cultures do with their harvests. Was reading a discussion where someone expounded on the health benefits of eating carrot skins. That's all very well and good, I thought, if you're not getting your carrots from Wal-Mart.

[Antagenet]

Plasmapheresis removed microplastics from the blood. Brian Johnson the never die advocate just did a video
talking about how he just got plasmapheresis to clean his blood.
I had it done a year ago. It was shocking how much contamination came out of me.

[Bill Ryan]

A mainstream, but useful article: (from the Washington Post!)


https://washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/03/04/ways-to-avoid-microplastics-food-water

Five ways to reduce your intake of microplastics: First, stop drinking bottled water

Microplastics are everywhere. They’re in your liver, blood and even in your brain, and they’re almost impossible to avoid. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to minimize your exposure.

“This really is a public health crisis that people are just generally not aware of,” said Sherri Mason, a freshwater and plastic-pollution researcher at Gannon University in Pennsylvania. People can limit their exposure by acknowledging the plastic in their routines and finding ways to reduce usage, she said.

A new commentary released Tuesday in the journal Brain Medicine identified key ways to cut down on microplastics. Nicholas Fabiano, the article’s lead author, said that given recent studies, “we don’t know a lot of what the downstream consequences of these microplastics are, but we do have emerging evidence that it’s certainly not beneficial.”
Here are five ways to reduce your exposure in what you eat and drink.

Drink tap water
(note from Bill: but always filter it!)

Drinking bottled water could be introducing you to thousands of microscopic pieces of plastic. In fact, bottled water is the biggest pathway to microplastic exposure, Mason said.

Researchers have found that an average liter of bottled water contains about 240,000 plastic particles, most of which are nanoplastics, measuring just a fraction of the width of a human hair.

Switching from bottled water to filtered tap water has the potential to reduce microplastic intake. Microplastics can also be found in tap water, but in smaller amounts.

Boiling and filtering water can help remove up to 90 percent of plastic particles in drinking water, but experts warn it could also increase the leaching of toxic chemicals into the water.

“Most people in the United States don’t need to drink bottled water. Tap water is safer and more regulated,” Mason said.

Avoid plastic food containers

Using plastic is often unavoidable, but there are many ways to reduce your food’s interaction with plastics, and that includes the plastic storage containers, said Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a research organization.

Experts urge people to replace food that comes in plastic containers with alternatives. That could be as simple as buying peanut butter in a glass container.

“Anything that’s packaged in plastic — there are microplastics that are shedding off of those materials,” Mason said.

Canned food and beverage cartons are another plastic contamination pathway for humans. Cans are often lined with plastics that can shed microplastics and leach harmful chemicals.

Use glass in the microwave
(note from Bill: never use a microwave)

One study found that microwaving food in plastic containers and reusable food pouches could release more than 4 million microplastic and 2 billion nanoplastic particles per square centimeter in just three minutes.

Heat causes microplastics to migrate, Muncke said, so avoid putting hot food into plastic packaging and make sure that it’s not stored in sunlight or other warm environments. Other factors that could increase leaching are acidic products, like orange juice and other fruit juices, and fatty foods, she said.

Avoid highly processed foods

Highly processed foods contain significantly more microplastics than minimally processed food. One study found microplastics in all 16 protein products that researchers sampled. Of the products tested, breaded shrimp had the highest concentrations of plastic particles. Highly processed chicken nuggets contained 30 times as many microplastics per gram as chicken breasts.

“As a rule of thumb, the more processed or ultraprocessed the food is, the more micro-nanoplastics will be issued,” Muncke said.

Microplastics could also be hiding in your spice cabinet. One 2023 study found large quantities of plastic in salt. The study analyzed seven salts including table salt, sea salt and Himalayan pink salt. Each salt had some measurable amount of microplastics, but coarse Himalayan pink salt and black salt had the highest concentration of microplastic fragments. Iodized salt had the lowest.

Ditch the plastic tea bags

Nylon tea bags, which are made out of plastic, can release more than 11 billion microplastic and 3 billion nanoplastic particles in a single bag.

Brewing loose-leaf tea is one way to avoid the problems associated with plastic tea bags. And tea bags made from cellulose, a biodegradable material, are far safer than plastic and have the added benefit of helping the tea absorb other harmful materials like heavy metals.

[onawah]

Microplastics Trigger Mitochondrial Stress in Human Liver Cells
by Dr. Joseph Mercola
August 20, 2025
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/08/20/microplastics-liver-mitochondria-damage.aspx?ui=8d3c7e22a03f5300d2e3338a0f080d2da3add85bca35e09236649153e4675f72&sd=20110604&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20250820_HL2&foDate=true&mid=DM1795892&rid=369071047

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/August/PDF/microplastics-liver-mitochondria-damage-pdf.pdf

(Hyperlinks in the article not embedded here)

Story at-a-glance
Microplastics from everyday items like water bottles disrupt liver cell function by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside your cells
Even low doses of common plastics triggered oxidative stress, DNA damage, and abnormal cell growth in human liver cells
The cellular cleanup process, known as autophagy, was activated but failed to complete, leading to a buildup of damaged material and further dysfunction
Real-world plastic fragments caused more damage than synthetic plastic beads, highlighting how the plastics you encounter daily are especially harmful
To reduce your exposure, avoid plastic in food storage and cookware, switch to natural fibers, and filter your water; to improve mitochondrial function, eliminate vegetable oils from your diet

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How Microplastics Disrupt Your Liver and Drain Your Cellular Energy
In a study published in Particle and Fiber Toxicology, researchers looked at how two types of common microplastics — polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — affect human liver cells over three days.2 These weren’t lab-made beads. They were actual particles extracted from everyday plastic items like water bottles, ground into tiny pieces small enough to slip into cells. The goal was to simulate the kind of plastic exposure you get in real life and see what it does to your body at the cellular level.

•Instead of dying, liver cells started multiplying too fast — When liver cells came into contact with the plastic particles, they didn’t shut down. They actually started growing faster. That sounds harmless or even good, but it's not. Uncontrolled cell growth is a red flag.

It’s a sign that the cells are under stress and not functioning normally. This kind of response leads to problems like abnormal tissue growth or even cancer if it continues long term. And this happened at very low doses — levels of microplastic that could easily show up in your daily water or food.

•The cells showed signs of high oxidative stress — Once the plastic particles got inside the cells, they triggered a spike in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Think of ROS like sparks flying inside your body. Too many sparks damage important parts of your cells, including membranes and DNA. In this study, the liver cells exposed to plastic lit up with warning signs — clear proof that they were in a state of internal inflammation and stress.

•Their energy production system broke down — Your mitochondria are the tiny power plants in every cell. They create the energy you need to think, move, and function. But in the cells exposed to microplastics, that power system started to fail. The researchers used a dye that shows how strong the mitochondria’s energy output is. The result? A major drop. These cells were struggling to keep the lights on while also trying to handle plastic damage.

•Even the mitochondria’s DNA got damaged — Mitochondria have their own unique DNA, which helps them run efficiently. In the plastic-exposed liver cells, that DNA started to break down. This was a clear sign that the cell’s most important machinery was falling apart. Without intact mitochondrial DNA, your cells can’t produce energy, repair themselves, or carry out basic functions. It's like trying to run a factory with no power and a broken instruction manual.

The Cleanup Crew Fails Under Pressure
Normally, when your cells detect damage, they kick into a process called autophagy. That’s your body’s internal cleanup crew. It finds and breaks down damaged parts so new ones can be made. But in this case, the system jammed. While the cleanup signals turned on, the final step of breaking down the waste didn’t happen. That means the cells filled up with more and more damaged material, making it harder to recover.

•Blocking the cleanup system made things worse — To test whether the broken cleanup process was helping or hurting, scientists blocked it completely. What happened next was telling: damage markers shot up even higher. That confirmed that autophagy had been activated but wasn’t finishing the job. It’s like starting a dishwasher cycle that never drains. The dirty water just builds up.

•Microscope images revealed a visual mess inside the cells — Using fluorescent markers, the researchers were able to literally see the damage piling up. Plastic-treated cells glowed more brightly than healthy ones — proof that the cleanup vesicles were building up and not going anywhere. Over time, this internal mess leads to even more stress, malfunction, and loss of control inside the cell.

•Plastic from real-world sources caused more harm than synthetic beads — Unlike other studies that used perfectly round plastic particles made in labs, this one used irregular fragments from used PET bottles. These pieces were more jagged, oxidized, and chemically reactive, just like the plastic you’re exposed to in bottled water, household dust, and food packaging. That made them even more disruptive once inside the body.

•Multiple problems hit the cells all at once — The research showed a chain reaction of damage: oxidative stress triggered mitochondrial breakdown, which then led to damaged DNA, energy failure, and a jammed cleanup process. The cell was under attack from every angle, with no time to recover or repair. For an organ like your liver, which is constantly working to detox your body, this kind of stress isn’t sustainable.

•Everyday plastic exposure has real biological consequences — These weren’t high-dose exposures or exotic chemicals. The plastics used in this study are already in your water, food, and environment. That means your liver is likely dealing with this kind of damage on a regular basis. And as this study shows, even small, repeated exposures are enough to push your cells into dysfunction, inflammation, and long-term breakdown.

Natural Strategies to Eliminate Microplastics Are Being Explored
Studies are now looking at strategies to help the human body filter, trap, and eliminate microplastics before they can spread throughout your other systems. These methods offer a multi-angle approach to help reduce your internal plastic load and support overall health. I’ve recently written a paper discussing these methods in detail, and while it is still under peer-review, I’ve provided the key findings below.

•Cross-linked psyllium could help eliminate microplastics — One key system that plays a role in removing microplastics from your body is your gut. A 2024 study showed that acrylamide cross-linked psyllium (PLP-AM) removed over 92% of common plastic types like polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from water.

Because of its high swelling ability and sticky, gel-like texture, cross-linked psyllium could be adapted to work inside the gut, where it may trap plastic particles before they’re absorbed into the body. While the study was conducted in a water treatment setting, the results are also promising for human health.3

•Chitosan, a natural fiber derived from shellfish, also shows promise for clearing microplastics from your body — A recent animal study published in Scientific Reports found that rats given a chitosan-enriched diet were able to eliminate about 115% of the polyethylene microplastics they were fed, compared to just 84% in the control group.

This suggests that chitosan not only helps bind and eliminate new plastic particles but might even help pull out some that were already absorbed. However, while it's generally considered safe and already used in supplements, people with shellfish allergies are advised to steer clear of it.4

Psyllium and chitosan work through physical adsorption, where hydrophobic (water-repelling) and electrostatic forces stick microplastic particles to the fiber, keeping them from being absorbed. However, one drawback with these binders is that they can also soak up nutrients if not timed carefully. Hence, they need to be used strategically to provide the most benefit, such as ingesting them with processed or packaged foods, which are more likely to contain plastics.

•Certain beneficial bacteria strains can help clear microplastics from the gut — A 2025 animal study found that two specific strains, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DT66 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88, were able to bind to and eliminate tiny polystyrene particles in lab tests.

These probiotics work by forming protective biofilms that trap plastic particles, making them easier to flush out.5 When combined with dietary fibers like psyllium and chitosan, the result could be a more effective and natural way to sweep microplastics out of the gut before they’re absorbed.

•The liver also plays an essential role in clearing microplastics from the bloodstream — Specialized immune cells in the liver, known as Kupffer cells, help trap these foreign particles and route them into bile for elimination via the intestines. However, while this method may work on smaller plastics, larger ones can linger and build up, especially if your liver function is compromised.

To support this natural detox pathway, researchers are studying the use of compounds like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its variant tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which stimulate bile production and improve particle flow out of the liver.

•Researchers are also looking at strategies to enhance autophagy to eliminate microplastics — Autophagy is your body's natural cellular recycling system. Researchers are looking at compounds that can help promote this system, mainly rapamycin and spermidine.

Rapamycin works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, a nutrient-sensing mechanism that normally suppresses autophagy. When mTOR is turned off, cells ramp up their cleanup efforts, forming membranes that can collect and isolate plastic particles for breakdown or removal.

Meanwhile, spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine found in foods that enhances cellular resilience and supports the clearance of toxic substances. In lab and animal studies, the combination of spermidine and rapamycin helped reverse mitochondrial dysfunction and reduce oxidative stress caused by microplastics.

The table below summarizes these novel strategies to eliminate microplastics, including their mechanisms of action, how much testing has been done, and important safety considerations. It shows that although several different approaches may be needed, clearing plastics from your body naturally is possible. Of course, reducing your exposure is still the ideal preliminary course of action.

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/public/2025/August/strategies-to-eliminate-microplastics.jpg

How to Protect Your Liver and Mitochondria from Microplastic Damage
If microplastics are already damaging your liver cells at the cellular level, then waiting for regulators to fix the environment isn’t enough. You need to start removing the source of exposure and strengthening your body’s defenses today. These steps aren’t about detox gimmicks — they’re about restoring the internal energy systems your health depends on. Think of your liver like your body’s daily janitor. If it’s overworked, nothing else stays clean.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to make smart choices consistently. If you drink bottled water daily or cook with plastics, this is especially urgent. These steps are designed to reduce your exposure and restore your mitochondrial function so your cells start working the way they were designed to. Here’s what I recommend you start doing right now:

1.Stop ingesting microplastics at home by changing how you store, heat, and consume food — Heating plastic, including when microwaving leftovers or leaving bottled water in a hot car, causes microplastics to leach into your food and drink. Toss the plastic storage containers and water bottles.

Switch to glass, stainless steel, or ceramic for everything you heat, drink from or store food in. If you use a plastic coffee maker, consider upgrading to a glass or stainless steel French press or percolator. This one shift will significantly cut your daily exposure.

2.Filter your water with a system that removes microplastics and chemical contaminants — Tap water, bottled water, and even many “purified” sources are already testing positive for microplastic particles. Use a high-quality water filtration system that removes particles down to the micron level. Look for a system that also filters out PFAS “forever chemicals” and heavy metals, both of which worsen mitochondrial stress.

For those renting or traveling, a high-quality countertop filter is still far better than doing nothing. If your water is hard, boiling it before use dramatically reduces microplastics.6

3.Strengthen your mitochondria by getting rid of vegetable oils — If you want your mitochondria to recover from microplastic damage, stop feeding them toxins. The worst offenders are vegetable oils like canola, soy, corn, sunflower, safflower, and all “vegetable oil” blends.

These oils are high in linoleic acid (LA), a polyunsaturated fat that breaks your mitochondria and makes your cells more vulnerable to stress. Replace them with tallow, ghee, or grass fed butter. If you’re cooking at home, this one swap alone could cut your LA intake significantly.

4.Stop wearing and cooking with plastic to lower your exposure across the board — If you’re still using plastic cutting boards, cooking utensils, or wearing synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, or acrylic, you’re adding to your microplastic load every day. Those cutting boards shed plastic into your food, and synthetic clothes release fibers into your home and washing machine. Swap plastic boards for wood or glass, and choose stainless steel utensils.

When it comes to clothes, opt for organic cotton, linen, or wool. For the synthetic pieces you already own, wash them less frequently, line dry when possible, and use a microfiber-catching laundry bag to trap loose fibers. These small steps keep plastic out of your meals, your bloodstream, and the water supply.

5.Consider natural progesterone to counter the hormonal effects of plastic exposure — Many plastics act like estrogen in your body, disrupting your hormonal balance and making it harder for your cells to function normally. If you’re dealing with symptoms like mood swings, weight gain, or chronic fatigue, you could be dealing with estrogen dominance.

Natural progesterone helps restore balance. It works as a direct counter to the estrogenic effect of plastics and helps your body regain a healthier hormonal rhythm.

How to Use Progesterone
Before you consider using progesterone, it is important to understand that it is not a magic bullet, and that you get the most benefit by implementing a Bioenergetic diet approach that allows you to effectively burn glucose as your primary fuel without backing up electrons in your mitochondria that reduces your energy production. My new book, "Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy," covers this process in great detail.

Once you have dialed in your diet, an effective strategy that can help counteract estrogen excess is to take transmucosal progesterone (i.e., applied to your gums, not oral or transdermal), which is a natural estrogen antagonist. Progesterone is one of only three hormones I believe many adults can benefit from. (The other two are DHEA and pregnenolone.)

I do not recommend transdermal progesterone, as your skin expresses high levels of 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which causes a significant portion of the progesterone you're taking to be irreversibly converted primarily into allopregnanolone and cannot be converted back into progesterone.

Ideal Way to Administer Progesterone
Please note that when progesterone is used transmucosally on your gums as I advise, the FDA believes that somehow converts it into a drug and prohibits any company from advising that on its label. This is why companies promote their progesterone products as "topical."

However, please understand that it is perfectly legal for any physician to recommend an off-label indication for a drug to their patient. In this case, progesterone is a natural hormone and not a drug and is very safe even in high doses. This is unlike synthetic progesterone called progestins that are used by drug companies, but frequently, and incorrectly, referred.

Dr. Ray Peat has done the seminal work in progesterone and probably was the world's greatest expert on progesterone. He wrote his Ph.D. on estrogen in 1982 and spent most of his professional career documenting the need to counteract the dangers of excess estrogen with low-LA diets and transmucosal progesterone supplementation.

He determined that most solvents do not dissolve progesterone well and discovered that vitamin E is the best solvent to optimally provide progesterone in your tissue. Vitamin E also protects you against damage from LA. You just need to be very careful about which vitamin E you use as most supplemental vitamin E on the market is worse than worthless and will cause you harm not benefit.

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FAQs About Microplastics and Mitochondria
Q: What did the new study reveal about microplastics and liver health?

A: The study published in Particle and Fiber Toxicology found that two common microplastics triggered stress responses in human liver cells. These plastics caused oxidative stress, mitochondrial breakdown, DNA damage, and a failed cellular cleanup process called autophagy, even at low doses that mimic real-world exposure.

Q: Why are mitochondria so important, and how do plastics affect them?

A: Mitochondria are your cells' power plants. They create the energy needed for your body to function. The study showed that microplastics disrupted mitochondrial energy production and damaged their DNA. This leaves your cells low on energy and unable to repair themselves properly, increasing long-term risk of disease and degeneration.

Q: Are real-world plastics more dangerous than synthetic lab-made ones?

A: Yes. The researchers used plastic fragments extracted from used PET water bottles, which are more irregular and chemically reactive than clean lab-made beads. These real-world plastics caused more severe damage, suggesting that the types of plastic you’re actually exposed to in daily life are even more harmful to your cells.

Q: How does microplastic exposure interfere with my body’s natural detox system?

A: Your liver relies on a process called autophagy to clear out damaged cell parts. The study found that microplastics triggered this cleanup response but blocked it from completing. Damaged material piled up inside the cells, leading to even more stress and dysfunction over time.

Q: What are the most effective ways to lower my microplastic exposure?

A: Start by eliminating heated plastic food containers, using a water filter that removes microplastics, and removing vegetable oils from your diet to protect mitochondria. Wear natural fibers like cotton and wool, and avoid plastic cutting boards and utensils. These daily actions reduce your body burden and support long-term liver and cellular health. "

- Sources and References
1, 2 Particle and Fiber Toxicology June 17, 2025, 22:17
3 ChemistrySelect June 2024, 9(21)
4 Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 23;15:14041
5 Front Microbiol. 2025 Jan 10;15:1522794
6 Environmental Science & Technology Letters February 28, 2024

[ExomatrixTV]

related topic:

The PFAS Cover-Up ... 2 Dutch-English Special 2023 Reports (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?121443-The-PFAS-Cover-Up-...-2-Dutch-English-Special-2023-Reports)

[Bill Ryan]

Dr Mercola published this back in February:

Are Microplastics Already Inside You — and What Can You Do About It?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLNdzrRXvLw
Here's the full PDF:

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/February/PDF/airborne-microplastics-health-problems-pdf.pdf (https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/February/PDF/airborne-microplastics-health-problems-pdf.pdf)

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/February/PDF/airborne-microplastics-health-problems-pdf.pdf

[norman]

Kieran Kelly is a name that belongs in this thread, and is one to keep an eye on. He cleans up plastic from oceans when he's not bogged down in the hypocrisies behind the environmentalism façade.



Sarah Westall - Kieran Kelly - USAID Corruption Plus Collapsing World Oxygen Supply (https://podbay.fm/p/1569103657/e/1755307566?t=141)
1 hour 8 minutes - Aug 16, 2025

Show notes
CEO of Ocean Integrity Group, Kieran Kelly, joins me to discuss the crisis unfolding in our oceans. Plankton—responsible for roughly 70% of the planet’s oxygen—are dying under the weight of microplastics flooding the seas. Those same particles are in our air, soil and food, driving damaging health issues we can’t ignore.

We also discuss a personal story he had encountering USAID and their corrupt practices.



https://rumble.com/v6xl7se-usaid-corruption-plus-collapsing-world-oxygen-supply-worlds-oceans-in-crisi.html?start=459

v6vebjk/?pub=1yatds&start=459


He is ( or seems to be ) for the oceanic eco system what Joel Salatin is for food production.



Sarah Westall - .“This Conversation Would Land Me in Prison in Ireland” – Its the Global Plan w/ Captain Kieran Kelly (https://podbay.fm/p/1569103657/e/1754077353?t=509)
Aug 1, 2025

Show notes
Captain Kieran Kelly, CEO of the world’s largest ocean cleanup company, joins the program for a sobering and powerful conversation. He exposes the inverted reality behind today’s environmentalist movement, revealing how global agendas are destroying the very planet they claim to save. He explains how Ireland has become the red canary in the gold mine—a warning sign for the entire Western world.

In today’s Ireland, telling the truth could land you in prison. Captain Kelly speaks openly about how free speech has become the biggest crime, and how his own personal tragedy—the murder of his son—is a stark warning of what awaits if we don’t stand up and fight back. This is a raw, emotional, and critically important discussion you won’t hear anywhere else.

You can follow and learn more about Kieran Kelly:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1492420448447618
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/captain-kieran-kelly-%F0%9F%87%AE%F0%9F%87%AA-5b6774a/


https://rumble.com/v6wyc30-this-conversation-would-land-me-in-prison-in-ireland-its-the-global-plan-w-.html?start=570

v6urfu6/?pub=1yatds&start=570

[onawah]

Glass Bottles Contain More Microplastics Than Plastic Bottles
by Dr. Joseph Mercola
August 26, 2025
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/08/26/glass-bottles-microplastics.aspx?ui=8d3c7e22a03f5300d2e3338a0f080d2da3add85bca35e09236649153e4675f72&sd=20110604&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20250826&foDate=true&mid=DM1798556&rid=373626718

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/August/PDF/glass-bottles-microplastics-pdf.pdf

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"Story at-a-glance
A French government study found that glass bottles contain five to 50 times more microplastics than plastic bottles, mostly from the painted caps that seal them
Researchers discovered that the microscopic plastic fragments in glass-packaged drinks matched the chemical makeup of the bottle cap paint, not the glass itself
When bottle caps were pre-cleaned with filtered air and ethanol, microplastic levels dropped by over 60% — showing this problem is avoidable with simple changes
Many people now consume roughly 5 grams of plastic per week — the weight of a credit card — from foods, drinking water, and even from breathing polluted air
Microplastics accumulate in your organs, especially the brain, where they trigger inflammation, obstruct blood flow, and accelerate cognitive decline and neurodegeneration

Glass bottles have long been promoted as the safer, cleaner alternative to plastic. You've probably heard that message dozens of times — choose glass to avoid chemical leaching, plasticizers, or environmental harm. But a recent study found that this advice isn’t as accurate or reliable anymore.

According to new research, drinks stored in glass bottles are loaded with unexpected amounts of microplastics — higher than what’s found in many plastic bottles. If you’ve been shifting your purchases toward glass thinking you’re avoiding plastics entirely, you might need to look closely at what the research says so you can make smarter, safer choices.

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French Study Finds Surprising Amounts of Microplastic in Glass Bottles
A recent study conducted by Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire (ANSES), France’s government agency that is responsible for food, environmental, and occupational health and safety, investigated various local beverages sold in different types of containers to determine how much microplastics they contain. The study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, aimed to identify whether the packaging impacts the level of microplastics found in the drinks.1

•The study involved a total of 79 beverage samples — These include still and sparkling water, soda, iced tea, lemonade, beer, and wine. The drinks were packaged across a wide variety of container types, such as glass bottles, plastic bottles, metal cans, cardboard bricks, and cubitainers (large soft containers). This diversity was essential because it allowed the team to compare microplastic content across different packaging materials under realistic, commercially available conditions.

•The researchers implemented strict contamination control measures — Every bottle was opened under a laminar flow cabinet, a sterile environment that eliminates dust and airborne contaminants. All fluids were filtered through a polycarbonate membrane with a pore size of 0.45 microns to trap any microplastic particles larger than that size. This pore size is small enough to capture most microplastics, which typically range from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters in diameter.

•Across all tested drinks, those stored in glass bottles had the highest levels of contamination — The results found that every liter of beverage stored in glass bottles contains around 100 microplastic particles. On average, these glass-bottled drinks have five to 50 times more microplastic particles than those packaged in plastic or metal.

This finding was consistent across multiple beverage types, especially sodas and lemonades. Surprisingly, wine showed relatively low levels of microplastics even when bottled in glass, likely because many wine bottles use corks instead of painted metal caps (more on this later).

•The results were unexpected, even for the researchers — Iseline Chaib, a Ph.D. student and one of the study authors, said their team "expected the opposite result."

Microplastics originate from various sources. While some are manufactured intentionally, such as microbeads, most microplastics found in the environment are created when larger plastic items like bottles, bags and food packaging break down due to sunlight exposure, weathering, and physical abrasion. These tiny plastic particles are everywhere — even in the beverages you drink.

Painted Bottle Caps Are the Culprit
The researchers specifically identified that the contamination in glass-packaged beverages wasn’t coming from the glass itself — but from the painted metal caps used to seal them.

"We then noticed that in the glass, the particles emerging from the samples were the same shape, color and polymer composition — so therefore the same plastic — as the paint on the outside of the caps that seal the glass bottles," Chaib said.2

•Polyester and alkyd resin polymers were the most commonly identified materials — These were exactly what’s used in industrial paints and coatings for bottle caps. This would also explain why wine bottles, which were sealed with corks, had lower contamination levels of microplastics.

"FTIR analysis of the paint on the metal cap revealed that it was mainly composed of polyester, like the particles isolated from glass bottles, which mainly belong to the polyester class. Therefore, it was hypothesized that these particles could originate from the cap," the researchers said.3

•Microplastics shed during production and storage — The researchers observed the caps under magnification and found that they were covered in tiny scratches — abrasions formed as they scraped against one another during storage. These scratches caused microscopic flakes of paint to detach and fall into the bottle upon sealing. So even if the cap looks perfectly clean and intact outside, inside your drink, fragments are already breaking loose.

•The team confirmed their suspicions through controlled testing — They refilled sterile glass bottles with filtered water and applied new, unused caps. If the caps were not pre-cleaned, the particle count reached an average of 287 microplastic fragments per liter.

But after blowing the caps with filtered air or rinsing them with water and ethanol, contamination levels dropped dramatically to 105 and 86 particles per liter, respectively. However, the researchers note that the microplastic levels only dropped, but are not completely removed.

How Much Plastic Are You Really Ingesting?
Microplastics have infiltrated nearly every corner of the environment. They’re in the soil, oceans, lakes, rivers, and even in the air you breathe. This widespread contamination makes it nearly impossible to avoid exposure entirely.

•Microplastics are everywhere in the human body — Numerous studies have provided evidence on the pervasiveness of microplastics; in fact, these particles have been detected inside living tissue — they are lodged deep within organs, absorbed through your gut, and circulating through your bloodstream. In recent years, scientists have detected microplastic in all kinds of human tissues, including the placenta,4 liver, lungs, kidney, spleen, heart, brain,5 and even your stool.6

•You’re consuming about 5 grams of plastic weekly — This amount was based on research by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) International, and is about the weight of a credit card.7 Although a significant amount will pass through you and be excreted from your system, some will remain and accumulate in your organs.

•Over time, the numbers add up — According to the WWF’s calculations, you consume about 21 grams of plastic per month — equivalent to one Lego brick.

In a year’s time, you’ve consumed 250 grams, or the size of a full dinner plate’s-worth of plastic. In 10 years, you’ve ingested around 5.5 pounds. And, if you add all that, the amount will reach about 40 pounds in the average lifetime.

And if you think that microplastics linger harmlessly inside your body, the truth is far more sinister. Studies have shown that microplastics are cytotoxic — meaning they are toxic to your cells. One study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that microplastic particles enter your cells within 24 hours of exposure, and accumulate primarily around the nucleus. As microplastics levels and exposure time increased, cell viability significantly decreased.8

Microplastics Are Linked to Chronic Diseases
Emerging research has uncovered strong connections between microplastic exposure and health problems like high blood pressure, stroke and metabolic dysfunction. Even low-level, everyday exposure has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events.

•Research compares plastic exposure levels in the environment with community disease rates — A recent research looked at the concentration of microplastics in seafloor sediment across 555 U.S. coastal and lakeside census tracts between 2015 and 20199 and compared them with the prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and cancer. They assessed how microplastic pollution stacked up against 154 other environmental and socioeconomic factors.

•Populations who reside in areas with high-microplastic levels had higher rates of chronic illnesses — These include noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. According to researchers, the plastic particles were inhaled or ingested as a result of basic day-to-day activities like drinking water, eating food, or simply breathing.

•Plastic particles are among the top 10 predictors of chronic disease — Microplastic exposure is on par with other high-risk variables like racial minority status or lacking health insurance.

•The more microplastics in your body, the higher your disease risk — The researchers found that regions with very high microplastic levels (over 40,000 particles per square meter of sediment) had the worst disease outcomes. Areas with under 200 particles per square meter of sediment had the lowest outcomes. This shows a clear dose effect.

Another way by which microplastics wreak havoc on your health is by damaging your fertility. Microplastics accumulate in both male and female reproductive organs, contributing to declining fertility rates worldwide. I recommend reading "How Microplastics Affect Your Reproductive Health" for more information on this topic.

Your Brain Is Under Attack by Plastic
As previously mentioned, microplastics travel all over your body, causing harm to your organs. One of the most severely affected by these toxic particles is your brain. This is because microplastics are able to pass through the blood-brain barrier — normally, this protective barrier prevents harmful substances from entering your brain tissues. However, studies found that nanoplastics (particles that measure less than 100 nanometers) are able to cross this barrier in just two hours after entering your body.10

•Microplastics put you at risk of neurodegenerative diseases — According to an animal study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, nanoplastics that cross the blood-brain barrier accelerate the spread of beta-amyloid peptides — this is the main pathogenic protein of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.11

•Your brain contains more microplastics than other major organs — A recent study published in Nature Medicine analyzed different organ tissues, such as the liver, kidney, and brains, and found that brains are a significant collection point for microplastics. Brain tissues have drastically higher levels of microplastic concentrations. In fact, brain tissue harbored, on average, seven to 30 times more microplastics than the other organs examined.12

•In people with dementia, even higher microplastic concentrations were seen in their brains — The researchers found that microplastic levels in the brains of people with dementia were several times greater than even the already elevated levels found in "normal" brain samples. Read more in "Microplastics Accumulate in Your Brain More Than Other Organs."

•Microplastics cause obstructions in your brain — A separate study found that once microplastics are in the bloodstream, they are quickly engulfed by immune cells. These immune cells then become carriers of these plastic pollutants and are trapped within the narrow capillaries of the brain's cortex, causing physical obstructions that directly impeded blood flow.13 This reduced blood flow in the brain leads to a cascade of neurological and cognitive problems.

Natural Strategies to Eliminate Microplastics Are Being Explored
Studies are now looking at strategies to help the human body filter, trap, and eliminate microplastics before they can spread throughout your other systems. These methods offer a multi-angle approach to help reduce your internal plastic load and support overall health. I’ve recently written a paper discussing these methods in detail, and while it is still under peer-review, I’ve provided the key findings below.

•Cross-linked psyllium could help eliminate microplastics — One key system that plays a role in removing microplastics from your body is your gut. A 2024 study showed that acrylamide cross-linked psyllium (PLP-AM) removed over 92% of common plastic types like polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from water.

Because of its high swelling ability and sticky, gel-like texture, cross-linked psyllium could be adapted to work inside the gut, where it may trap plastic particles before they’re absorbed into the body. While the study was conducted in a water treatment setting, the results are also promising for human health.14

•Chitosan, a natural fiber derived from shellfish, also shows promise for clearing microplastics from your body — A recent animal study published in Scientific Reports found that rats given a chitosan-enriched diet were able to eliminate about 115% of the polyethylene microplastics they were fed, compared to just 84% in the control group.

This suggests that chitosan not only helps bind and eliminate new plastic particles but might even help pull out some that were already absorbed. However, while it's generally considered safe and already used in supplements, people with shellfish allergies are advised to steer clear of it.15

Psyllium and chitosan work through physical adsorption, where hydrophobic (water-repelling) and electrostatic forces stick microplastic particles to the fiber, keeping them from being absorbed. However, one drawback with these binders is that they can also soak up nutrients if not timed carefully. Hence, they need to be used strategically to provide the most benefit, such as ingesting them with processed or packaged foods, which are more likely to contain plastics.

•Certain beneficial bacteria strains can help clear microplastics from the gut — A 2025 animal study found that two specific strains, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DT66 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88, were able to bind to and eliminate tiny polystyrene particles in lab tests. These probiotics work by forming protective biofilms that trap plastic particles, making them easier to flush out.16

When combined with dietary fibers like psyllium and chitosan, the result could be a more effective and natural way to sweep microplastics out of the gut before they’re absorbed.

•The liver also plays an essential role in clearing microplastics from the bloodstream — Specialized immune cells in the liver, known as Kupffer cells, help trap these foreign particles and route them into bile for elimination via the intestines. However, while this method may work on smaller plastics, larger ones can linger and build up, especially if your liver function is compromised.

To support this natural detox pathway, researchers are studying the use of compounds like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its variant tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which stimulate bile production and improve particle flow out of the liver.

•Researchers are also looking at strategies to enhance autophagy to eliminate microplastics — Autophagy is your body's natural cellular recycling system. Researchers are looking at compounds that can help promote this system, mainly rapamycin and spermidine.

Rapamycin works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, a nutrient-sensing mechanism that normally suppresses autophagy. When mTOR is turned off, cells ramp up their cleanup efforts, forming membranes that can collect and isolate plastic particles for breakdown or removal. Meanwhile, spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine found in foods that enhances cellular resilience and supports the clearance of toxic substances.

In lab and animal studies, the combination of spermidine and rapamycin helped reverse mitochondrial dysfunction and reduce oxidative stress caused by microplastics.

The table below summarizes these novel strategies to eliminate microplastics, including their mechanisms of action, how much testing has been done, and important safety considerations. It shows that although several different approaches may be needed, clearing plastics from your body naturally is possible. Of course, reducing your exposure is still the ideal preliminary course of action.

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/public/2025/August/strategies-to-eliminate-microplastics.jpg

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Microplastics
With more and more information about the damaging health effects of microplastics coming out, it's now more important than ever to take proactive measures to reduce your exposure. Although environmental plastic pollution is now widespread, certain changes will help minimize your microplastic burden and protect your health.

1.Filter your water at home — If you're buying bottled drinks because you don’t trust your tap water, I recommend using a high-quality water filtration system that specifically removes microplastics and heavy metals. I also recommend filling your own glass or stainless-steel bottles at home with clean, filtered water.

2.Boil hard tap water — If you have hard tap water, consider boiling it before using it for cooking or drinking, as hard water traps more microplastics. Recent research shows boiling hard tap water for five minutes removes up to 90% of the microplastics in the water.

3.Rethink your reliance on store-bought bottled drinks — Even brands that market themselves as premium or eco-friendly use plastic liners and caps. Make a habit of preparing your own drinks at home and storing them in safe containers.

4.Switch to wide-mouthed, fully stainless steel or glass containers — Narrow-neck bottles — especially carbonated ones — require strong seals. Those seals are almost always plastic or contain plastic-based glues. Use wide-mouth bottles and jars with stainless steel, ceramic, or bamboo lids.

For carbonated beverages, you’re better off using swing-top glass bottles with rubber gaskets that don’t contain microplastic-shedding components. If you already use glass, inspect the lid lining. If it's soft, white, or peels, that’s likely polyethylene or a plastic-based resin.

5.Use reusable containers — Replace single-use plastic bottles, cups and containers with reusable alternatives made from safer materials like stainless steel or glass.

6.Cut down your exposure by avoiding long storage times — The longer a beverage sits in contact with its container, the more time there is for microplastics to leach out. Heat and acidity accelerate this process. If you have no other choice but to buy a bottled drink, consume it quickly and don’t store it in a hot car, on a windowsill, or anywhere in direct sunlight.

Don’t reuse bottles with plastic caps for storing your own drinks — each reuse increases microplastic release. Transfer beverages into safer containers if you’re going to store them for more than a few hours.

7.Support brands that disclose testing for microplastics — Most companies don't disclose whether they test for microplastic content, let alone what materials they use in their lids and liners. But a few are starting to lead the way by publishing lab results and using fully inert materials like borosilicate glass and metal lids with silicone seals. When possible, support the ones that practice transparency.

For more strategies to help minimize your microplastics exposure, I recommend reading "Fertility Rates Around the World Continue to Decline." Taking these steps will reduce your exposure not just to microplastics, but to the broader cascade of metabolic disruption and mitochondrial damage they cause.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Microplastics in Glass Bottles
Q: Why do glass bottles contain more microplastics than plastic ones?

A: Glass bottles are often sealed with painted metal caps, and that paint is the main source of contamination. As the caps rub against each other during storage and handling, tiny flakes of paint — made from plastic polymers like polyester — shed into the drink. These fragments end up in the beverage even though the glass itself isn’t releasing plastic.

Q: What drinks were tested in the study, and which had the most microplastics?

A: The study tested 79 samples including water, soda, lemonade, iced tea, beer, and wine. Soda and lemonade in glass bottles had the highest microplastic counts, averaging around 100 particles per liter. Wine had much lower levels, likely because it’s sealed with corks rather than painted caps.

Q: How did the researchers confirm the source of the microplastics?

A: The team from ANSES analyzed the color, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles found in the drinks. They matched them to the paint used on the outside of bottle caps. In lab tests, new glass bottles sealed with unwashed caps released over 280 plastic particles per liter — while cleaned caps significantly reduced contamination.

Q: Are microplastics really dangerous to my health?

A: Yes. Studies show they don’t just pass through your body — they accumulate in tissues, organs, and even the brain. Microplastics have been linked to inflammation, cell damage, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and reduced fertility. Over time, they build up in amounts equivalent to several pounds inside the average body.

Q: What can I do to reduce my microplastic exposure from drinks?

A: You can switch to wide-mouthed glass or stainless-steel containers with non-plastic lids, filter your water at home, avoid storing drinks in heat or for long periods, and support brands that test for microplastic contamination. Even small changes in how you store and consume beverages can sharply reduce your exposure."


- Sources and References
1, 3 Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, August 2025, Volume 144, 107719
2 Phys Org, June 20, 2025
4 Environ Int. 2021 Jan:146:106274
5 Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 2020, Volume 17, Article number: 55
6 NHPR, October 22, 2018
7 New York Post, December 8, 2020
8 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(15), 12308
9 American College of Cardiology, March 25, 2025
10 Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Apr 19;13(8):1404
11 Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 465, 5 March 2024, 133518
12 Nature Medicine, 2025, Volume 31, Pages 1114-1119
13 Science Advances, January 22, 2025, Volume 11, Issue 4
14 ChemistrySelect June 2024, 9(21)
15 Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 23;15:14041
16 Front Microbiol. 2025 Jan 10;15:1522794

[onawah]

Microplastics Found to Trigger Cancer-Linked Changes in Lung Cells
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola
September 08, 2025
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/09/08/microplastics-lung-cancer-risk.aspx?ui=8d3c7e22a03f5300d2e3338a0f080d2da3add85bca35e09236649153e4675f72&sd=20110604&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1ReadMore&cid=20250908&foDate=true&mid=DM1803846&rid=383395429

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/Public/2025/September/PDF/microplastics-lung-cancer-risk-pdf.pdf

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"Story at-a-glance
Microplastics were found to trigger cancer-like changes in healthy lung cells, including increased mobility, DNA damage, and activated survival pathways
Inhaled particles bypass your body’s defenses and embed deep in your lungs, where they silently disrupt cellular function without causing obvious inflammation
A review of 31 studies confirmed that microplastics harm your lungs, gut, and reproductive organs even at exposure levels that mimic everyday life
Smaller nanoplastics are especially dangerous because they cross into your bloodstream, reaching your liver, brain, and other organs where they cause long-term damage
Natural strategies like psyllium, chitosan, probiotics, and autophagy-enhancing nutrients help trap and remove plastic particles before they’re absorbed

Microplastics are no longer just a problem in the ocean — they’re showing up deep in your lungs, changing how your cells function, and raising red flags about cancer risk.

A new study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials revealed that when healthy lung cells absorb polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics — the same kind found in food containers and packaging — they adapt in dangerous ways.1

Instead of dying off, these cells become more mobile and activate pro-survival signals linked to tumor formation. In other words, plastic doesn’t kill your lung cells; it rewires them to behave more like cancer. You inhale thousands of these particles every day from indoor dust, car tires, synthetic fabrics, and degraded packaging.

They're small enough to bypass your airways' built-in defenses and embed themselves in the tissue, right where gas exchange happens. Once there, they generate oxidative stress — an internal firestorm of reactive molecules that attack your DNA, disrupt repair systems, and throw off normal cell function. The transformation into a more aggressive, unstable state starts earlier than anyone thought — not in tumors, but in the tissues you rely on to breathe.

These changes don't cause symptoms right away. But left unchecked, they lay the groundwork for chronic inflammation, lung disease, or cancer later in life. The evidence is clear: plastic is interfering with the core biology of your lungs. Now let’s look at how these findings came to light — and what exactly plastic does once it enters your body.

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Healthy Lung Cells Absorb More Plastic Than Cancer Cells — and Change in Dangerous Ways
For the Journal of Hazardous Materials study, researchers examined the effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on both healthy lung cells and three types of lung cancer cells.2 They wanted to see if these plastic particles — widely found in food packaging, household dust, and industrial waste — interfere with normal cell function or trigger biological changes tied to disease.

•Healthy cells were more affected than cancerous ones — The researchers exposed the cells to various sizes of microplastics and nanoplastics at low doses meant to reflect real-world conditions. Surprisingly, it was the healthy lung epithelial cells that absorbed more plastic than the cancer cell lines. These normal cells also showed a greater shift in behavior, including changes in shape, structure, and migration — all red flags for malignant transformation.

•Plastic exposure didn’t kill cells — it pushed them into survival mode — Unlike many toxins that kill off cells through apoptosis, or programmed cell death, microplastics didn’t trigger widespread cell death. Instead, they activated internal damage response systems, including DNA repair signals and antioxidant defense. This is concerning because it means the cells adapted to survive in a toxic environment — the first step in the chain reaction that leads to cancer.

•DNA damage and oxidative stress were key findings — The lung cells showed elevated markers of oxidative stress and significant DNA strand breaks after exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics. This kind of internal damage, if not properly repaired, leads to genetic instability — a known precursor to cancer development. The study also confirmed that oxidative stress was size-dependent, with smaller nanoparticles causing more harm than larger ones.

Plastic Exposure Made Healthy Cells More Mobile — a Cancer-Like Behavior
One of the most troubling findings was that lung cells increased their rate of migration after plastic exposure. In cancer biology, increased mobility is a marker for aggressive tumor cells, which invade surrounding tissues and spread throughout the body. The fact that noncancerous cells began behaving this way highlights the hidden risk of daily microplastic exposure.3

•Plastic particles disrupted the cell membrane and cytoskeleton — Researchers used imaging tools to show that both nano- and microplastics entered the cells and altered the internal structure. The actin cytoskeleton — a network that helps cells maintain their shape and movement — was significantly reorganized in exposed cells. This internal restructuring made the cells more fragile and unstable.

•Several survival pathways were activated in the lung cells — Exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics triggered signaling pathways that promote cell survival and resistance to stress. These same pathways are commonly overactive in tumor cells, and their activation in healthy lung cells suggests that plastic is not just a passive contaminant but an active disruptor of cell biology.

•Plastic-induced changes occurred without visible inflammation — One of the more insidious findings was that all of these harmful changes occurred without classic signs of inflammation or immune response. That means you wouldn’t feel anything or see any symptoms — but the long-term cellular effects could be serious. This stealth effect underscores why daily exposure to microplastics should not be dismissed.

•Cells exposed to plastic lost their ability to function normally — Overall, the study showed that plastic particles interfere with nearly every aspect of healthy lung cell behavior: from DNA integrity to cell shape, mobility, and stress response. While the research didn’t follow these changes to full tumor formation, the authors emphasized that these are precisely the kinds of shifts that lead to long-term disease.

Microplastics Damage Your Lungs, Gut, and Reproductive System — Even at Everyday Exposure Levels
A 2024 review in Environmental Science & Technology looked at 28 animal studies and three human studies to understand what happens when microplastics get inside you — whether you breathe them in or swallow them.4 The damage wasn’t limited to one area. It showed up in the lungs, digestive tract, and even reproductive organs.

•Plastic triggered inflammation, DNA damage, and hormonal disruption — Inhaling plastic particles caused inflammation in the lungs, scarring of airways, and changes in how immune cells responded.

Ingested plastics damaged the gut lining, disrupted the gut microbiome, and kicked off chronic inflammation. Some studies showed sperm damage, lower testosterone, changes in ovary structure, and reduced fertility in animals. These effects weren’t limited to high doses — they happened at levels that mimic everyday life.

•Oxidative stress was the main mechanism behind the harm — The common thread was oxidative stress — a kind of internal “rusting” process where your body struggles to keep up with damaging free radicals. That stress interferes with DNA repair, weakens cell membranes, and confuses your immune system. Once it starts, it becomes harder for your body to recover from the damage.

•Smaller particles go deeper — and stay longer — Nanoplastics, the tiniest particles, were the most dangerous. They could pass through the lungs or gut lining, enter the bloodstream, and end up in places like your liver, kidneys, or even your brain. These particles didn’t just pass through — they stuck around and changed how those organs functioned.

•Plastic isn’t just an environmental problem — it’s a full-body health threat — What you breathe, eat, and drink every day could be slowly reshaping your internal biology. Even though more human studies are needed, the fact that dozens of animal studies found damage across key organ systems — at realistic exposure levels — makes one thing clear: your daily contact with microplastics isn’t harmless.

Natural Strategies to Eliminate Microplastics Are Being Explored
Studies are now looking at strategies to help the human body filter, trap, and eliminate microplastics before they can spread throughout your other systems. These methods offer a multi-angle approach to help reduce your internal plastic load and support overall health. I’ve recently written a paper discussing these methods in detail, and while it is still under peer-review, I’ve provided the key findings below.

•Cross-linked psyllium could help eliminate microplastics — One key system that plays a role in removing microplastics from your body is your gut. A 2024 study showed that acrylamide cross-linked psyllium (PLP-AM) removed over 92% of common plastic types like polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from water.

Because of its high swelling ability and sticky, gel-like texture, cross-linked psyllium could be adapted to work inside the gut, where it may trap plastic particles before they’re absorbed into the body. While the study was conducted in a water treatment setting, the results are also promising for human health.5

•Chitosan, a natural fiber derived from shellfish, also shows promise for clearing microplastics from your body — A recent animal study published in Scientific Reports found that rats given a chitosan-enriched diet were able to eliminate about 115% of the polyethylene microplastics they were fed, compared to just 84% in the control group.

This suggests that chitosan not only helps bind and eliminate new plastic particles but might even help pull out some that were already absorbed. However, while it's generally considered safe and already used in supplements, people with shellfish allergies are advised to steer clear of it.6

Psyllium and chitosan work through physical adsorption, where hydrophobic (water-repelling) and electrostatic forces stick microplastic particles to the fiber, keeping them from being absorbed. However, one drawback with these binders is that they can also soak up nutrients if not timed carefully. Hence, they need to be used strategically to provide the most benefit, such as ingesting them with processed or packaged foods, which are more likely to contain plastics.

•Certain beneficial bacteria strains can help clear microplastics from the gut — A 2025 animal study found that two specific strains, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DT66 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DT88, were able to bind to and eliminate tiny polystyrene particles in lab tests.

These probiotics work by forming protective biofilms that trap plastic particles, making them easier to flush out.7 When combined with dietary fibers like psyllium and chitosan, the result could be a more effective and natural way to sweep microplastics out of the gut before they’re absorbed.

•The liver also plays an essential role in clearing microplastics from the bloodstream — Specialized immune cells in the liver, known as Kupffer cells, help trap these foreign particles and route them into bile for elimination via the intestines. However, while this method may work on smaller plastics, larger ones can linger and build up, especially if your liver function is compromised.

To support this natural detox pathway, researchers are studying the use of compounds like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and its variant tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), which stimulate bile production and improve particle flow out of the liver.

•Researchers are also looking at strategies to enhance autophagy to eliminate microplastics — Autophagy is your body's natural cellular recycling system. Researchers are looking at compounds that can help promote this system, mainly rapamycin and spermidine.

Rapamycin works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, a nutrient-sensing mechanism that normally suppresses autophagy. When mTOR is turned off, cells ramp up their cleanup efforts, forming membranes that can collect and isolate plastic particles for breakdown or removal. Meanwhile, spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine found in foods that enhances cellular resilience and supports the clearance of toxic substances.

In lab and animal studies, the combination of spermidine and rapamycin helped reverse mitochondrial dysfunction and reduce oxidative stress caused by microplastics.

The table below summarizes these novel strategies to eliminate microplastics, including their mechanisms of action, how much testing has been done, and important safety considerations. It shows that although several different approaches may be needed, clearing plastics from your body naturally is possible. Of course, reducing your exposure is still the ideal preliminary course of action.

https://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/public/2025/August/strategies-to-eliminate-microplastics.jpg

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Lung-Damaging Microplastics
If you're breathing, you're exposed. Microplastics are in the air around you — from synthetic carpets and clothing to packaging dust and car exhaust. You don’t need to panic, but you do need to act. These particles aren’t just passing through your lungs.

They're embedding, altering how your cells behave, and triggering damage at a cellular level. That means you need to treat this like any other environmental toxin: identify the source and cut it off. Here’s how I recommend you take control of your environment and protect your lungs:

1.Ditch synthetic textiles and go natural wherever possible — If you’re wearing polyester or drying synthetic fabrics indoors, you're likely inhaling fibers you can’t see. Switch to natural clothing like cotton, wool, linen, or hemp. Use a vented dryer and keep your laundry space well-ventilated to reduce airborne fibers.

If you’re a parent, prioritize organic natural fibers for children — they’re more vulnerable to inhalation damage. For the synthetic pieces you already own, wash them less frequently, line dry when possible, and use a microfiber-catching laundry bag to trap loose fibers.

2.Upgrade your indoor air filtration and filter your water — Your lungs are working overtime in enclosed spaces. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in the rooms where you spend the most time — especially bedrooms and workspaces. If you live in an apartment or near a busy road, a good air purifier is nonnegotiable.

Make sure it’s rated for micro-sized particles (PM2.5 or smaller) to catch airborne plastic dust. In addition, use a high-quality water filtration system that removes particles down to the micron level.

3.Avoid heating plastic containers or food packaging — Microwaving plastic, drinking hot liquids from plastic-lined cups, or using plastic containers for leftovers can release polystyrene particles and nanoplastics. Store food in glass or stainless steel instead. If you're reheating, make it a habit to transfer your food out of plastic first — this one small change significantly lowers your microplastic load.

4.Vacuum with a sealed system and damp dust frequently — Dust is one of the biggest sources of indoor microplastics — and your vacuum matters. Use a sealed vacuum with a HEPA filter, and clean floors regularly, especially if you have carpets or pets. Dry dusting just pushes particles into the air, so use a damp cloth to trap and remove dust instead.

5.Avoid personal care products that contain microbeads or plastic thickeners — If you're using exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste, or face washes that list polyethylene or polypropylene on the label, you’re applying plastic directly to your skin and possibly rinsing it into the air. Choose clean, microplastic-free products.

You won’t just help your body — you’ll help reduce contamination in the environment, too. Small actions, when done consistently, have a compounding effect. The less plastic you breathe in, the lower your risk of cellular stress, immune dysfunction, and long-term lung damage.

FAQs About Microplastics
Q: How do microplastics affect my lungs?

A: Microplastics don't just sit in your airways — they get absorbed into lung cells and trigger changes linked to cancer. They cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and make healthy cells behave more like tumor cells by activating survival pathways and increasing mobility, even without obvious inflammation.

Q: Where do microplastics come from, and how do I inhale them?

A: You breathe them in from indoor dust, synthetic clothing, carpets, car tires, and even packaging materials. These particles are tiny enough to bypass your lungs’ natural defenses and embed in your tissue — right where gas exchange happens.

Q: What other parts of my body do microplastics harm?

A: Beyond your lungs, microplastics damage your digestive system and reproductive organs. Studies show they disrupt your gut lining, alter your microbiome, and interfere with hormones, fertility, and immune signaling. Smaller nanoplastics even reach your brain and liver through your bloodstream.

Q: Can I remove microplastics from my body naturally?

A: Emerging research suggests that natural binders like cross-linked psyllium, chitosan, and specific probiotics help trap and eliminate microplastics in your gut. Other strategies like supporting liver detox and boosting autophagy with compounds like spermidine and rapamycin are also being studied.

Q: What are the best ways to reduce my exposure to microplastics?

A: Switch to natural fabrics, use HEPA air filters, avoid heating food in plastic, vacuum with sealed systems, and choose clean personal care products without microbeads. Small daily changes significantly lower your plastic exposure and protect your long-term health."

- Sources and References
1, 2, 3 Journal of Hazardous Materials September 5, 2025, Volume 495, 139129
4 Environmental Science & Technology December 18, 2024
5 ChemistrySelect June 2024, 9(21)
6 Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 23;15:14041
7 Front Microbiol. 2025 Jan 10;15:1522794

[Bill Ryan]

Another update on microplastics, which I didn't want to hear. :flower:


https://explorersweb.com/microplastics-in-the-wilderness

Hikers are Inadvertently Bringing Microplastics into the Wilderness

Members of a 500km expedition along the Hudson River sampled water at two high-elevation lakes in the Adirondacks. Their findings indicate that humans introduce microplastics into the environment through more than just water and air pollution. Modern clothing and gear also shed microplastics.

In 2024, an outdoor company and a youth wilderness company joined forces to lead eight high schoolers on this trek along the Hudson River. Starting in the Adirondack Mountains, they hiked, rafted, and kayaked to the New York Harbor, relying only on human power.

The students came (https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2024/03/the-voice-of-the-hudson-hudson-river-source-to-sea-expedition-adventure-classroom.html) from New York and California. All were juniors or seniors, and all were male for unspecified “practical considerations,” although two had never hiked a mountain before. On the flip side, three were Eagle Scouts and two came from the Adirondacks.

The expedition took 18 days, some of which lasted 20 hours. They stayed in a combination of campsites and hotels. Challenges included canoe portaging and dealing with storms.

https://explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Figure-1.jpg
The high schoolers and one of their guides on the expedition.

Surprising measurements

Along the way, the group took water samples to measure microplastics in two lakes. They expected Lake Tear, at the top of the watershed, to have the purest water they would encounter.

Moss Pond, only 13m lower than Lake Tear in elevation but further down the watershed, experiences similar airflow to Lake Tear. In contrast to Lake Tear, though, no trail leads to its shores.

Contrary to their expectations, the team found a 26-times higher (https://adkh2h.org/wp-content/uploads/Return-to-Lake-Tear-Expedition-Report-September-2025.pdf) concentration of microplastics in Lake Tear than in Moss Pond. This suggests that in the upper watershed, more microplastics arrive in the water carried on hikers’ garments than floating in the air.

The team’s findings agree with surveys (https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85149183447?origin=resultslist) that found increased amounts of microplastics on trails. Most of the plastic was microfibers from clothing.

https://explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-22-121534.jpg
The team samples water at Moss Pond, left, and Lake Tear.

What you can do

Many biochemists, environmental scientists, and public health specialists have devoted their careers to understanding the impact of microplastics on the world around us. They have uncovered effects ranging from respiratory (https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments.html)illnesses in children (https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/01/microplastics-in-body-polluted-tiny-plastic-fragments.html)to disrupted food chains (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8704590/) in ecosystems worldwide.

While individuals may lack the power to effect wide-scale change in society’s reliance on plastic, the Hudson River experiments show there are some ecosystems where we can have an impact.

Currently, most gear companies no longer sell natural rubber soles. And natural fiber clothes are often more difficult to find than their synthetic counterparts. But hard rubber soles shed fewer microplastics than soft ones. Additionally, natural fibers like cotton and linen don’t release any microfibers. Here, customers have more power for change than in most other areas of pollution.

[Ravenlocke]

First time I noticed microplastics in clothes is when I started seeing the word “modal” on the label in clothes when shopping for cotton wear. Now I see it even in sheets, pillow cases, comforters, etc. I read labels before buying because you cannot trust by feel and look.
I didn’t like polyester clothes in the 80’s still don’t like them today.

Dr. Rhonda Patrick

Every time we wash or wear synthetic clothes, we release tiny plastic particles—microplastics—into the air, water, and even our lungs.

Microplastic exposure occurs mainly through ingestion and inhalation, especially in urban areas where fibers from synthetic clothing and degraded plastics enter the air.

These particles don’t just pass through the body—they accumulate in organs like the lungs, brain, liver, and even the placenta, raising potential health concerns.

Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic shed microfibers into water and air, exposing us through wear, laundry, and poorly vented dryers.

There's more. Performance clothing labeled “waterproof,” “stain-resistant,” or “oil-repellent” often contains PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the body for years.

PFAS have been linked to hormonal disruptions, immune dysfunction, and cancers, making it particularly important to limit exposure—especially in children.

Opting for 100% natural fibers like cotton, wool, or hemp reduces microplastic exposure, while filters or laundry bags like Guppyfriend can trap fibers during washing.

Gradual changes—like opting for natural fibers and using washing solutions that trap microfibers—can significantly reduce exposure without requiring a complete wardrobe overhaul.

https://x.com/foundmyfitness/status/1849921149964255540

1849921149964255540

[Bill Ryan]

The microplastics problem is increasingly starting to make headlines. Here's an important article republished on Infowars:

https://www.infowars.com/posts/heart-of-the-matter-why-microplastics-not-cholesterol-in-the-diet-may-be-driving-heart-disease

Heart of the Matter: Why Microplastics, not Cholesterol in the Diet, May Be Driving Heart Disease

I’m not the first person to call the “lipid-heart hypothesis”—the theory that consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat causes heart disease—the biggest medical scam of the last hundred years. Maybe of all time.

It’s the reason cholesterol is basically the most demonised substance in medicine, apart from tobacco. Although it’s actually been overturned and discredited for the most part now, the lipid-heart hypothesis still lives on, zombie-like, in medical textbooks, food advertising and popular consciousness. If I went to my doctor now and told him how many eggs and how much beef I eat a day, he’d probably be the one to have a heart attack—and not me.

The lipid-heart hypothesis was cooked up by a man called Angel Keys in the 1940s. I say “cooked up,” because I mean to be disparaging. It was known to be nonsense from the start. Keys was a man with no claim to authority in the emerging field of nutritional science except the fact he had helped design the famous K-ration during the War.

His colleagues laughed at him when he suggested saturated fat was the cause of rising rates of heart disease in the Western world and especially America. Keys had gerrymandered the data—picked countries that showed a correlation between saturated-fat consumption and heart disease rates and flat out ignored the many countries that didn’t—and his fellow researchers knew it. The French, for example, eat and always have ate prodigious quantities of butter: Why didn’t they have the highest rates of heart disease in the world?

Keys didn’t have an answer, but he did have big money from the margarine industry, which needed some cherrypicked science to show its perverted spreadable muck was better for you than the animal fats we’ve all been eating since the dawn of time.

The money went a long way. So did President Eisenhower’s heart attack in the White House a few years later, which made heart disease a national-security issue in need of a ready-made industry-backed theory of causation.

The theory was given a further presidential imprimatur in the mid-‘60s, when rising inflation was proving a headache for Lyndon B. Johnson. People were complaining especially about the price of eggs. So what did Johnson do? He told the Surgeon General to issue a warning about eating eggs because of their cholesterol content. Problem solved.

To this day, eggs remain the only food in the US ever to have had a specific health warning attached to their consumption.

Over decades, conflicting data—of which there were huge amounts—was simply ignored or swept under the rug. Look up the Minnesota Coronary Experiment from the 1970s. When this expensive piece of gold-standard double blind testing completely disconfirmed the lipid-heart hypothesis—it actually showed that reducing cholesterol in your diet is more not less likely to kill you—the scientists threw the whole thing in the bin, where it remained for 30 years till some other scientists fished it out.

The lipid-heart hypothesis and its advocates promised us renewed health, the end of heart disease, if we just stopped eating eggs, bacon and buttered toast for breakfast and ate more plants and “heart healthy” fats like vegetable and seed oils. Of course, that didn’t happen. Yes, we abandoned eggs, bacon and butter, and increased the amounts of novel plant-based fats in our diets, but look at us now. We’re the unhealthiest we’ve ever been, and it’s only getting worse. Heart disease, far from disappearing, is now the leading cause of death in the US, killing 2,500 people a day.

Things could have been very different. In his 1939 book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Weston A. Price showed that the healthiest societies around the world, whether in sub-Arctic Canada or Subsaharan Africa, prioritised nutrient-dense animal foods over all others. Foods like organ meat and fatty cuts, shellfish, eggs and dairy—foods rich in protein but also fats and, of course, cholesterol.

How different the history of the last hundred years might have been if Price’s book, and not the junk science of Angel Keys, had become the foundation of nutritional science. If we had paid attention to what the healthiest, most vibrant people actually ate, instead of believing industry-backed studies could tell us what nature, tradition and our own bodies had been telling us for hundreds of thousands of years.

Would the Make America Healthy Again crusade even be necessary now? Maybe not; although it’s not just changes to our diets that are making us all so ill. We’re exposed to toxic chemicals, to blue light, to electromagnetic radiation, to stress in ways that are totally novel in our history as a species.

Still, thanks to Make America Healthy Again, the Department of Health and Human Services is well placed to investigate the real causes of heart disease. Note the plural there: I think it’s far more likely there are multiple causes or aggravating factors at play.

One of them appears to be microplastics, those ubiquitous tiny little pieces of plastics we keep hearing more and more about.

As I reported today, a new study (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025006890) suggests a clear link between exposure to microplastics and the arterial plaques that cause heart disease.

Lab rats exposed to microplastics at concentrations found in the wider environment developed plaques in their arteries—the first stage of heart disease before a heart attack or stroke, when blood flow becomes restricted.

Notably, the rats didn’t gain weight and their cholesterol levels didn’t change.

Notable too is the fact that female rats were unaffected by the microplastics. The researchers think it could have something to do with increased levels of the “female” hormone estrogen; although that remains to be investigated.

This new study follows on from research published last year (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822) that looked at over 300 plaque samples from patients undergoing surgery in their neck arteries. The researchers found microplastics in 58% of the samples and, what’s more, they discovered that patients with microplastics in their plaques had a 4.5x higher risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke or dying of any cause over a period of nearly three years.

New population-level research, taking in over 100,000 US adults, also showed (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039891) a significantly increased risk of stroke for those who live in coastal areas with higher levels of microplastic pollution.

Whatever the true causes of heart disease, the American medical establishment and the government owe it to the American people to find out. After all, they’re the ones who sold the cholesterol lie in the first place.

[Bill Ryan]

Copying this post by onawah on the Poisoning the Food Supply thread: (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?117557-Poisoning-the-Food-Supply&p=1701385&viewfull=1#post1701385)

~~~

Microplastic Detox: How to Reduce Exposure and Support Natural Detox Pathways
Dr. Laurel Matthews ND
2/7/26

https://drlaurell.com/2026/02/07/microplastic-detox-how-to-reduce-exposure-and-support-natural-detox-pathways/


Microplastics are tiny plastic particles found in food, water, air, and everyday products. They have been detected in human blood, stool, and organs such as the heart and lungs.
Helpful supports for microplastic detox may include:
Reducing exposure is the first step in microplastic detox. Avoid heating food in plastic, limit bottled water, choose natural fibers, and reduce packaged foods.
Gut health is essential, as most ingested microplastics are eliminated through the digestive tract.
Leaky gut and food sensitivities may increase the likelihood that microplastics linger in the body. Supporting gut lining integrity is an important part of detox.





L-glutamine for leaky gut support
Milk thistle for liver detox support
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to support antioxidant and detox pathways
Calcium D-glucarate, which helps prevent the recirculation of plastic-related toxins
Chorella binds toxins in the gut, including possibly microplastics.

Microplastic detox works best when exposure reduction, gut health, and detox support are addressed together.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have become an unavoidable part of modern life. They are found in food, drinking water, air, and many everyday household products. Because of their small size, microplastics can be inhaled or swallowed and may accumulate in the body over time.

Researchers have now detected microplastics in human stool, blood, and organs such as the heart and lungs, raising important concerns about how long-term exposure may affect human health.

While research is still evolving, microplastic accumulation has been associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, hormone disruption, and immune system strain. These effects may contribute to common symptoms such as digestive discomfort, fatigue, brain fog, increased sensitivities, and possibly metabolic challenges, including obesity.

https://drlaurell.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/thlt-lcx-he17vnkq6pm-unsplash.jpg?w=1024
A microplastic detox of your kitchen can be just as important as a microplastic detox of your body

There is increasing media attention and concern about microplastics, yet relatively little guidance on what individuals can realistically do to address this issue. Using current research and an understanding of how plastic-related chemicals are processed through detoxification pathways, I have developed a multi-pronged approach to support microplastic detox. This approach begins with reducing exposure and strengthening the body’s natural elimination systems.

Reducing Microplastic Exposure in Daily Life

One of the most effective ways to support microplastic detox is to limit ongoing exposure whenever possible.

In the kitchen, avoid heating food in plastic containers and choose glass or stainless steel for food storage. Reducing bottled water and minimizing highly packaged or ultra-processed foods can significantly lower plastic intake.

Plastic cookware, cutting boards, and food utensils can also shed microplastics over time. Choosing alternatives such as wood, bamboo, stainless steel, or cast iron can further reduce exposure.

Synthetic clothing made from polyester or nylon sheds microplastics during wear and washing. When possible, opt for natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool, and wash synthetic garments less frequently.

For a deeper dive into practical, research-based ways to reduce exposure, you can read this consumer guide from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on microplastics and everyday exposure reduction.

On a personal note, I have also switched my dental floss to one made from silk to avoid the plastic found in most flosses. Make changes where you can, but don’t stress about changing everything at once—even small steps can make a meaningful difference over time.

Gut Health: A Critical Foundation for Microplastic Detox

Gut health plays a central role in preventing microplastic accumulation.

Most ingested microplastics are eliminated through the digestive tract. When digestion is functioning well, these particles pass through the body efficiently. However, poor gut motility, inflammation, or damage to the intestinal lining may increase the likelihood that microplastics enter the bloodstream rather than being eliminated.

Supporting digestion and elimination is therefore one of the most important steps in any microplastic detox strategy.

Preventing Constipation and Supporting Elimination

Regular bowel movements help carry waste, toxins, and environmental contaminants out of the body.

Adequate hydration, fiber-rich whole foods, regular physical activity, and responding promptly to the urge to have a bowel movement all support healthy elimination. Ideally, bowel movements should be comfortable and occur at least once daily.

When elimination slows, toxins may be reabsorbed rather than removed, placing additional stress on the body’s detoxification systems.

Leaky Gut, Food Sensitivities, and Microplastic Detox

A healthy intestinal lining acts as a barrier, allowing nutrients to enter the body while keeping unwanted substances out. When this barrier is compromised—commonly referred to as leaky gut—larger particles and inflammatory compounds may pass into circulation instead of being eliminated.

Food sensitivity reactions can play a major role in the development and persistence of leaky gut. Identifying and avoiding foods that trigger immune reactions can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation and support gut repair.

One commonly used supplement for leaky gut support is L-glutamine, an amino acid that serves as fuel for intestinal cells and helps maintain the integrity of the gut lining.

If you’d like a deeper look at how food sensitivities affect gut health and how to support healing, you can read my earlier blog post here:

Steps to Heal the Gut From Food Sensitivities (https://drlaurell.com/2015/04/29/steps-to-heal-the-gut-from-food-sensitivities/)

Herbs and Supplements That Support Microplastic Detox

In addition to reducing exposure and strengthening gut health, certain herbs and supplements may support the body’s natural detoxification pathways.

Microplastic particles can release chemicals into the body, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. By supporting liver detoxification pathways, we can help the body neutralize and eliminate some of these compounds.

Milk thistle is one of the most well-known herbs for liver support. It has a long history of use in helping the liver process toxins, including pathways involved in the elimination of BPA, phthalates, dioxins, and other environmental chemicals.

Another supportive nutrient is N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC helps the body produce glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that the liver uses to neutralize many toxins, including BPA.

Calcium D-glucarate supports detoxification through a liver pathway known as glucuronidation, which plays a role in eliminating phthalates and other plastic-related chemicals. It also helps prevent certain gut bacteria from reversing this process, reducing the likelihood that toxins are reabsorbed and recirculated.

Chlorella has been shown to remove microplastics from bodies of water so this popular toxin binder might be able to bind microplastics in the gut to prevent their absorption.

These natural supports are most effective when combined with regular elimination, a healthy gut lining, and reduced exposure to environmental plastics.

A Practical, Sustainable Approach to Microplastic Detox

Microplastic exposure is a modern reality, but detoxification does not require extreme measures. By reducing exposure, supporting digestion, addressing leaky gut and food sensitivities, and using targeted herbal and nutritional support, the body is better equipped to eliminate what it does not need.

A steady, foundation approach to microplastic detox supports resilience and long-term health without fear or overwhelm.

Written by Dr. Laurell Matthews, N

[shaberon]

This is kind of a multi-faceted subject.

Taken in isolation, plastic depends on one thing, petroleum.

In actuality, the human body is saturated with numerous modern substances, coal dust, rocket exhaust, paper, ink, benzene, drugs, and maybe others. Benzene is about 100 times more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke, but I've never heard of anybody call for a ban on parking lots.

What bugs me in a way related to food inflation that I sometimes post, is packaging.

That is to say, portions have gotten ridiculously smaller, which means more packaging. For example, we now have a serving size called two cookies. Instead of a cardboard box holding a wax paper bag full of cookies, it contains numerous small packs of two. So if you're going to eat ten tiny little cookies, you have to tear open five packages, all covered with glossy ink. Surely that cannot reduce exposure as described in this thread.

Most commercial food is in a plastic bag. Sometimes we cook it two or three times before actually using it, meaning, yes, cooked in the bag.

So, I guess, "advancement" consists of increasingly-small plastic packages, whose idea is to sell you intellectual property rather than the contents. This is obviously unsustainable in terms of production, and certainly questionable as to whether it should be done at all.

Offhand, I don't know of an alternative to packaging, but I do know that I don't need it to be blinged out in bright colors and clever phrases, just a simple description in, perhaps, soy ink.

[onawah]

Millions of Americans Drink Water Contaminated With Microplastics, Drugs — EPA Signals It May Finally Act
by Brenda Baletti, Ph.D.
April 3, 2026
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/epa-federal-initiative-microplastics-drugs-american-drinking-water-contaminants-list/

(Podcast at the link)

"The EPA said it is considering adding microplastics, pharmaceuticals and PFAS to its latest list of drinking water contaminants, opening the door to new research and potential regulation. The move comes alongside a $144 million federal initiative aimed at understanding and reducing microplastics in the human body, as officials warn of growing — but still poorly understood — health risks.

For the first time in its history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering adding microplastics and pharmaceuticals to the agency’s official list of drinking water contaminants.

The EPA’s Contaminant Candidate List identifies contaminants in drinking water that aren’t regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The agency is publishing a draft of the sixth and most recent version of the list, which is published every five years.

The draft will be open for public comment for 60 days.

The move to put those contaminants, along with nine microbes and 75 other chemicals, including PFAS, could lead to more federal funding for research into their prevalence in the environment and their health effects, and to new regulatory standards, according to the EPA.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a press conference that the proposal is “a direct response to the concern of millions of Americans who have long demanded answers about what they and their families are drinking every day.”

Zeldin announced the plan in a joint press conference on Thursday with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also announced a new $144 million federal initiative aimed at understanding and reducing the growing presence of microplastics in the human body.

The program — STOMP (Systematic Targeting of Microplastics) — will be led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). It seeks to develop new tools to measure, study, and ultimately remove microplastics and nanoplastics from the human body, addressing what officials describe as a potentially significant public health concern.

“Americans deserve clear answers about how microplastics in their bodies affect their health,” Kennedy said in the announcement. He emphasized that the program will focus on identifying exposure sources and developing targeted solutions to reduce risks.

The EPA called the joint announcement a “major step forward in President Trump’s commitment to Make America Healthy Again.” The EPA and HHS plans drew praise from MAHA activists, many of whom have been critical of Zeldin, with some even calling for his removal.

Other environmental activists viewed the announcement with skepticism, noting that the Trump administration rolled back drinking water standards for some PFAS chemicals last year.

The administration also paved the way for more agrotoxins in the U.S. food and water system through a recent executive order aimed at boosting U.S. production of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller.

Erik D. Olson, senior strategic director for environmental health at the Natural Resources Defense Council, told The New York Times, “This is smoke and mirrors. I would not hold my breath that this is going to amount to anything.”

‘Evidence that exposure begins before birth’

Microplastics — tiny particles up to 5 millimeters long that are ubiquitous in food, air and water — have been detected in oceans, animal organs, and in multiple parts of the human body, including lungs, arterial plaques and the brain.

Studies indicate that microplastics can harm the human digestive, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems.

“We are not dealing with a distant or theoretical risk,” Kennedy said during the press conference. “We are dealing with a measurable and growing presence inside the human body.”

Kennedy said microplastics have also been found in the human placenta, providing “evidence that exposure begins before birth".
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@SecKennedy:
“In a study of 62 placentas, every single sample contained microplastics — evidence that exposure begins before birth. This is not a rare exposure…We are dealing with a measurable and growing presence inside the human body.”
2:06 PM · Apr 2, 2026
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While animal studies link microplastics to disease and human studies show correlations, scientists still lack definitive answers about their health effects.

One major challenge is measurement. Current techniques are inconsistent, making it difficult for researchers to determine how much plastic is present in the body and which types pose the greatest risk, according to ARPA-H Director Alicia Jackson.

“Microplastics are in every organ we look at … but we don’t know which ones are harmful or how to remove them.” Jackson said the field is still operating with significant unknowns.

Research also shows that people in the U.S. are often exposed to other toxicants in drinking water that the EPA is adding to the list.

For example, fluorinated pharmaceuticals, including medications such as Prozac and Flonase, have been identified in U.S. water supplies.

The drugs end up in water supplies after people excrete them into sewer systems. A host of drugs fed to livestock in industrial factory farms are discharged directly into rivers or groundwater.

Pharmaceutical factories also release drugs into water supplies.

The drugs, and the products they break down into, are classified as PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which have increasingly been associated with a range of health concerns, including cancers, developmental delays and hormonal disruptions.

STOMP program will unfold in two phases

HHS said the STOMP program to research microplastics will include two phases.

During Phase 1 — measurement and mechanisms — researchers will develop standardized methods to detect and quantify microplastics in the body, including a clinical test to measure an individual’s “microplastic burden.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will validate these methods to ensure consistency across labs.

Researchers will also attempt to classify different types of plastics based on their biological impact and create a system to rank risks. The system will guide future research and policy.

During Phase 2, scientists will build on the data from phase one to design targeted interventions to remove harmful microplastics from the human body. These approaches may draw on pharmaceutical and bioremediation techniques.

Officials said STOMP is designed not just for scientific discovery but for widespread public health improvement. The goal is to develop affordable, scalable tools that healthcare providers and public health agencies nationwide can use.

ARPA-H is encouraging multidisciplinary teams to propose research for program funding in the next month."

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