Are Microplastics Really Everywhere?

You Should Know: Most news stories about microplastics are of the doom-and-gloom variety: They’re everywhere and in everything, including in our blood, brains, and other organs. But in a recent “bombshell” article in The Guardian, a group of European and Australian scientists argue several major microplastics studies are flawed and the resulting claims (and fears) about how harmful nanoparticles are to our health may be overblown.

Going Deeper: These scientists argue that nanoparticles are too tiny to be measured accurately and that there’s a lot of potential for contamination and false positives. Fat, for instance, emits polyethylene, also found in microplastics. They claim study authors didn’t adequately take into account rising obesity rates or that the brain is mostly fat.

Takeaway: Microplastics have been found virtually everywhere — in water, soil, air, animals, food, consumer goods — and linked to serious health problems. But it’s a relatively new field, and the science, as well as the technology to properly measure nanoparticles, continues to emerge. It’s also not uncommon for research to be challenged like this. 

Bottom Line: There’s been far more research indicating microplastics’ health harms and the environmental impact of plastic pollution. Playing it safe and using less isn’t a bad idea.