Microplastic storm

What is the scale of hidden microplastic exposure?

Research on 350+ scientific studies

Leading scientist Heather Leslie highlights the vast scale of microplastic exposure in daily life. Her research on over 350 peer-reviewed studies shows that human exposure is continuous and global.

Overlooked and emerging sources of microplastic

The findings of this study lay bare an exposure crisis, that experts are calling a “microplastic storm”.

Heather Leslie maps microplastic release across five categories of everyday life: outdoor sources, indoor environments, children’s products, healthcare and personal care and food and drink.

This research and related work are funded by the Plastic Soup Foundation and the Flotilla Foundation. Help fund urgent research with a donation.

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Microplastic exposure study finds

A summary of findings from the study...

Rain already contains microplastics

Among the report's most striking findings is evidence that emerging climate interventions could make microplastic exposure significantly worse.

For example, stratospheric aerosol injection - a form of solar geoengineering being advanced by countries including the United Kingdom and United States - involves dispersing vast quantities of particles high into the atmosphere.

Multiple patents already exist describing the release of particles including micro sized polymeric particles at altitudes of up to 20 km in the atmosphere, creating a potentially ‘tera scale’ source of intentionally added airborne microplastics and fallout.

The research identifies that rainfall already contains microplastics with wear and tear from car tires and synthetic textiles and clothing contributing to atmospheric pollution.

Children's products are of significant concern

Building bricks, baby play mats and other products for children releasing PET, polypropylene, polyethylene and PVC into a child’s living environment. As children naturally ingest more settled dust during play and breathe in more air per kilogram bodyweight, their exposure is proportionally higher than adults.

What do the experts say?

"This report highlights the hidden reality of plastic in our lives. Many people still think of plastic pollution as something that affects oceans and beaches, not their own health. But our living environments themselves are microplastic generators, and exposure is happening all the time, in ways most people have never considered."

Dr Heather Leslie, author of Exploring Everyday Microplastic Exposures

"When plastic stops being the answer to almost every design question - from teabags to towels to toys and beyond - humanity can end up successfully abating the microplastic storm."

Maria Westerbos, founder Plastic Soup Foundation

"This doesn't have to be a story of helplessness. Understanding where exposure comes from empowers people. They can make informed choices about the products they use and demand more from the governments and industries responsible."

Indoor exposure via paint

Another unexpected indoor exposure is via paint. Plastic is the main component of many paint products and emits microplastics when it wears down or when old layers are scraped off. A single coat applied across 100 square meters is estimated to contain between 17 and 68 quadrillion polymeric particles.

Plastic particles in hospital environments

In hospitals, plastic particles may be introduced into the body via devices and treatments, with microplastic fallout in operating rooms recorded at up to 9,258 particles per square meter during a single shift. Cardiac catheters, silicone breast implants, orthopedic implants or intravenous fluid all cited as sources with the potential of inadvertently dosing patients with microplastics.

Startlingly, premature babies fed intravenously in neonatal units are estimated to receive up to 115 microplastic particles over a 72-hour feeding period from the infusion circuits alone. Baby formula intake exposes babies to microplastics at levels from <1 to 17 microplastics per gram formula with packaging types playing a role in releasing the observed microplastics.

Heavy use of synthetic fibers in fashion

Synthetic textiles and clothing are contributing to atmospheric pollution. Fast Plastic Fashion remains a growing problem.

In this video...