According to recent studies, humans swallow an average of 70,000 microplastic particles each year. That is the equivalent of approximately one credit card each week. These tiny granules of industrial waste and consumer products enter our food, water, and bodies daily.
Scientists aren’t yet clear on the effects of consuming microplastics on humans or marine life. So do you want to wait for a long-term study to learn the exact nature of microplastics’ harm to our bodies?
We’ve created this guide to help you understand what microplastics are and aren’t. We’ll provide some tips to help you learn how to avoid microplastics and live a greener, healthier life. We will even suggest a few products you can use to immediately offset the harm caused by our society’s reliance on plastics.
Ready to make a change? Read on to learn how you can take action in your own home.
What Are Microplastics?
The average microplastic particle is about the size of a sesame seed. Most start as large pieces of plastic, which degrade over time. A single-use water bottle can break down into hundreds or thousands of plastic shards the size of a grain of rice.
Take a walk around your home and look at all the plastic. In time, all of that plastic will also break down. Some of it might already be small, such as the microbeads in your face soap or body wash.
Each time you use cosmetic products with added plastics, those plastics go down the drain, eventually making it into the ocean. But, unfortunately, that’s not the only way plastic gets into our water. It breaks down in dishwashers, washing machines, sewage systems, and sinks.
This plastic also enters ecosystems, where it can harm marine life.
Sea creatures consume these microplastics, which enter their bodies. It’s also given to livestock worldwide. Humans consume this plastic each time we enjoy a seafood or steak dinner.
These microplastics also re-enters our water, and we use it for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more.
In other words, microplastics in water lead to microplastics in food, which leads directly to microplastics in humans. From there, the chain begins again. More plastics enter ecosystems each day.
Consumers aren’t the only ones responsible. For example, industrial waste and the commercial fishing industry play a massive role in depositing plastics into the food chain. Still, the products you use in the home can make a difference in the long-term health of the human race.
Start With Food Storage
Much of the plastic in our homes is for food storage. BPA and BPA-free plastic food containers can break down and enter our water supply. Unfortunately, most recycling facilities cannot process every type of consumer plastic product, and many enter landfills.
On the contrary, glass is 100% recyclable. There is no limit to the number of times you can recycle a single piece of glass. That makes it one of the most sustainable substances on earth.
Glass containers take longer to break down, are less prone to discoloration, and rarely melt or become distorted. Glass does not release any chemicals, unlike plastic, which is more porous. However, even BPA-free plastic is capable of emitting chemicals during food storage.
You can store any food in glass that you would typically store in plastic. While BPA and non-BPA plastic containers degrade and release chemicals during washing, you can wash glass containers without ill effects. In addition, you can wash your glass food storage containers at higher temperatures without fear of melting or distortion, eliminating germs and bacteria.
Additionally, you can add warm or hot food products to glass without worrying about a chemical transfer. However, when using plastic, you must wait for the food to cool or risk contamination.
Glass containers are also safer for room temperature storage, such as the storage of dry goods or bulk ingredients. The non-porous surface of glass containers prevents the spread of chemical residue and bacteria.
Ultimately, glass is more sustainable and sanitary and can help eliminate the presence of microplastics in our water supply over time.
Other Ways to Reduce Microplastics
In 2015, President Barack Obama passed legislation making it illegal to use plastic microbeads in commercial products. At the moment, however, microplastics from many sources continue to enter our water and our bodies. Until widespread climate action leads to more pervasive change, there are steps you can take to reduce your consumption of microplastics.
Change the Way You Drink
Begin using a carbon-block water filter. A filter rated two or below can help prevent microplastics from entering the water you drink. Instead of single-use or plastic water bottles and cups, use a glass water bottle and drinking glasses.
Read Your Fabric Tags
Pay attention to the materials used in your clothing. For example, many synthetic fibers contain plastics that degrade in the washing machine and enter the water supply. Choosing sustainable clothing, bedsheets, and linens made from natural fibers can help.
Do Laundry Responsibly
A laundry ball can catch plastic microfibers in the washing machine. Using a laundry line instead of a dryer can help garments last longer. Plastic microfibers in clothing break down faster when exposed to high heat.
Consider a Flexible Diet
The most sustainable diet is veganism, but simply cutting back on meat and seafood can help reduce your consumption of microplastics. Many consumers enjoy “meat-free Mondays” or follow a flexitarian diet. Ideally, you should prioritize fresh, local, organic produce.
Take Action Against Harmful Microplastics
No human or animal should have to consume harmful substances without their consent. But, now that you know how many microplastics are entering our ecosystems and bodies each year, how can you sit back and accept it? Taking action begins in your home when you transition to sustainable products and practices.
At Be Green Monkey, we’ve made it our goal to help you live a more ecologically conscious lifestyle. Check out the rest of the blog for more posts about making the switch to sustainable practices. Click here to contact us and learn more about our mission.