Microplastics and the Chemical Cocktail We’re Drinking Every Day

weissangie121
May 8
5 min read

Four people wearing improvised face coverings sit against a bright blue background. Items include a paper bag, plastic containers, and a yellow mask reminding us how we are wearing microplastics — Yes, we are wearing plastics, whether we know it or not (Image courtesy of Pexels)

Every time we sip iced tea from a plastic cup, store leftovers in a flimsy plastic container, or wear “breathable” activewear, we’re exposing ourselves to an invisible menace: microplastics and the chemicals they carry.

A groundbreaking study published in eBioMedicine and led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine estimates that exposure to di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)—a common plasticiser used to soften plastic—was associated with 356 238 cardiovascular deaths worldwide in 2018 among adults aged 55–64. That’s roughly 13% of heart-related deaths in that age group, amounting to more than a third of a million lives lost to chemical exposure, not diet or genetic factors alone (WebMD).

“By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health,” said Sara Hyman, associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine (WebMD).

Despite the EPA’s ongoing review of five harmful phthalates (including DEHP), the report stresses that any exposure to microplastics carries risk—because as plastic items wear out, flex, or warm up, they continually release these toxic chemicals into our bodies. (WebMD).

A Tsunami of Microplastic Waste on the Horizon

Plastic bottle on a beach with twigs and debris. Ocean in the background; overcast sky, conveying pollution and neglect and reminder of how microplastics collect in the water.. — Plastic debris on a beach. A familiar sight these days (Image courtesy of Pexels)

Our health crisis reflects a global environmental crisis. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Plastics Outlook report, global plastic waste is on track to almost triple by 2060, soaring from 353 million tonnes in 2019 to over 1 billion tonnes in four decades—with half of that destined for landfills and less than 20% actually recycled (World Economic Forum, OECD).

Without “bold new policies,” the world’s appetite for plastic—driven by convenience, cost, and corporate profit—will bury us under a mountain of waste that our recycling systems simply can’t handle.

This surge isn’t limited to packaging. Construction, transport, textiles, and electronics all contribute to the avalanche. And much of this ends up in our waterways: rivers ferry an estimated 60–99 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste into oceans each year, according to environmental studies.

As plastics break down into ever-smaller fragments (microplastics), they enter food chains—from plankton to fish to our dinner plates—bringing toxic additives like phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) along for the ride (Wikipedia).

“More Plastic, More Waste, More Microplastic Pollution”

Path covered in scattered trash under green trees, creating an environmental concern of all the plastic breaking down into microplastics. Bright daylight, no visible text. — We are drowning in plastic (Image courtesy of Pexels)

Despite countless pledges to curb single-use plastics, production figures keep climbing. Between 2019 and 2021, global single-use plastic output rose by 6 million tonnes per year, hitting 139 million tonnes in 2021—an all-time high—even as regulations were tightened in many regions (News24).

The Minderoo Foundation’s Plastic Waste Makers Index bluntly concludes:

“More plastic, more waste and more pollution … For the petrochemical industry to argue otherwise is greenwashing of the highest order. We need a fundamentally different approach that turns the tap off on new plastic production,” said Minderoo Chairman Dr. Andrew Forrest (EcoWatch).

Behind this statistic lies a familiar cast of characters: ExxonMobil, Sinopec, and other petrochemical giants leading the charge on “virgin” plastic—plastics made directly from fossil fuels, with recycled content “at best a marginal activity” in their operations (News News | Slashdot).

A Blueprint To Reduce Microplastics That’s Gathering Dust

Plastic bottles of various colors piled outdoors against a leafy background, creating an environmental focus to combat microplastic accumulation. — More and more plastic is produced despite us knowing the danger of it (Image courtesy of Pexels)

In May 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme published Turning Off the Tap: How the World Can End Plastic Pollution and Create a Circular Economy, demonstrating that we already have the tools to slash plastic pollution by 80% by 2040.

According to UNEP, implementing three key market shifts—reuse, recycle, and reorient/diversify—would cut pollution dramatically:

Reuse (refillable bottles, deposit-return systems) could eliminate 30% of pollution.
Recycle improvements (design guidelines, subsidy removals) could account for another 20%.
Reorient/Diversify (alternative materials for wrappers, sachets like paper or compostable materials) would yield an additional 17% reduction (UNEP - UN Environment Programme).

“The way we produce, use and dispose of plastics is polluting ecosystems, creating risks for human health and destabilising the climate,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “If we follow this roadmap … we can deliver major economic, social and environmental wins” (UNEP - UN Environment Programme). Yet, three years on, few governments or corporations have taken the necessary policy steps—or provided the financial incentives—to implement these solutions at scale.

Why We’re Still Stuck in Slow Motion

It’s easy to blame recyclers for “not fixing the problem,” but the reality is that recycling is an end-of-pipe solution that does nothing to curb production.

As Veena Singla of Columbia University notes, “Recycling may be a very, very small portion of the solution … it does not require industry to cut down its production or its profits and plans for expansion” (CBS News).

Meanwhile, the international treaty negotiations intended to cap production have stalled over deep divides between fossil-fuel exporting nations and “high ambition” countries seeking binding production limits (The Guardian).

What You Can Do About Microplastic Pollution—Starting Today

Plastic garbage bag on wooden floor, partially open door, dimly lit room, dark and moody atmosphere to show how we can help recycle plastics at home. — Collecting plastic waste for recycling is a start (Image courtesy of Pexels)

While systemic change remains critical, individual choices matter too. Here are five steps to reduce your personal microplastic and phthalate footprint:

Ditch single-use: Carry a refillable water bottle and coffee cup to your favourite coffee shops.
Choose safer storage: Use more glass or stainless-steel containers at home.
Read labels when buying personal care products: Avoid those that list “fragrance” (a catch-all term that can hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals) ingredients, and seek out products that are EWG-verified through the Environmental Working Group’s verification program.
Demand government policy transparency: familiarise yourself with our current plastic regulations, support leaders pushing for strict limits on plastic production, and favour extended producer responsibility.
Spread the word: Share articles, engage on social media, and pressure local businesses to use fewer single-use plastic items.

Plastic pollution and microplastic exposure aren’t abstract problems of “some distant future.” They’re here, present in our blood, our lungs, and our rainfall. Unless we force big business and our policymakers to stop pumping poisons into our environment, we’ll continue down this path of mounting health crises and ecological collapse. But with the facts on our side—80% reduction by 2040 is achievable, and cumulative deaths from plastic chemicals are quantifiable—we can demand urgent action for our planet and our hearts, which we desperately need.