Becoming Barbie and Ken

No, I’m not talking about perfectionism, I’m referring to their genetic makeup, their DNA so to speak. Ken and Barbie are made primarily of plastic and it is becoming clear that we are also being riddled with this same foreign substance.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics refer to plastic debris that is less than five millimeters, or about the size of a sesame seed. Most microplastics are sorted into two categories based on how they form: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics.

Primary microplastics are made for commercial use such as “microbeads” in cosmetics, lotions and toothpaste, or microfibers in textiles or netting. Although the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 prohibits manufacturing microbeads in cosmetic products in America, primary microplastics are still accumulating in the environment.

Secondary microplastics are particles that are broken down from larger plastic products like containers and water bottles, usually through environmental means like erosion. Most secondary microplastics will not decompose completely.

The prevalence of microplastics in the environment is well documented, along with their negative impacts on marine life. However, only a handful of studies have examined their potential health impacts on mammals.

According to studies, microplastics have turned up in Antarctic sea ice, in snowfall in the Arctic and in human stool samples collected across the globe.

We found that a lot of micro- and nanoparticles were released from plastic food containers. We also found the potential toxicity of these released plastic particles on human kidney cells.

Microwaving released the highest amount of both micro- and nanoplastics into food than the other use conditions, with some containers releasing as many as 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles from just one square centimetre of plastic area within three minutes of microwave heating.

So how about hot drinks, would they effect the release of plastics and chemicals?

Watch this video, she makes some valid points.

Microplastics accumulate in the brain and cause behavioral changes associated with dementia

A recent study found that microplastics can latch on to the outer membranes of red blood cells and may limit their ability to transport oxygen. The particles have also been found in the placentas of pregnant women, and in pregnant rats they pass rapidly through the lungs into the hearts, brains and other organs of the fetuses.

This inspired Jaime Ross, a professor from the University of Rhode Island (URI), to conduct a study on the effects of microplastic exposure.

For the study, the researchers exposed young and old mice to different levels of microplastics via their drinking water for three weeks. The results showed that microplastic exposure induces behavioral changes and alterations in immune markers in liver and brain tissues.

After being exposed to microplastics, the research team noticed that the mice began to move and behave peculiarly, exhibiting behaviors similar to those caused by dementia in humans. The results were more profound among older mice.

Microplastics alter the shape of human lung cells, warn scientists

FSU researchers analyzed the health risks of inhaling and ingesting microplastics. They conducted experiments on human lung cells in a Petri dish that were subjected to environmental concentrations of polystyrene particles. Within several days, the scientists observed some unusual changes. The tiny plastic particles caused the cells’ metabolism to slow down and hampered their proliferation and growth.

Microplastics accumulate in all organs

Researchers in Ross’ study found that microplastic particles had started to bioaccumulate in every organ, including the brain, and even in bodily waste. Because the microplastics got inside the animals’ bodies through their drinking water, Ross and her colleagues expected to find microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract as well as in the liver and kidneys.

Ross noted that the presence of microplastics in the heart and lungs indicates that they spread beyond the digestive system and potentially undergo systemic circulation. This is dangerous because the blood-brain barrier is supposed to be “difficult to permeate.”

Microplastics found in human blood for first time

Microplastic pollution has been detected in human blood for the first time, with scientists finding the tiny particles in almost 80% of the people tested.

The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The full impact on health is as yet unknown. But researchers are concerned as microplastics cause damage to human cells in the laboratory and air pollution particles are already known to enter the body and cause millions of early deaths a year.

The scientists analysed blood samples from 22 anonymous donors, all healthy adults and found plastic particles in 17. Half the samples contained PET plastic, which is commonly used in drinks bottles, while a third contained polystyrene, used for packaging food and other products. A quarter of the blood samples contained polyethylene, from which plastic carrier bags are made.

Tips to reduce exposure to microplastics

Do not purchase ready-to-heat products such as boil-in-the-bag rice.
Don’t buy fruit sealed in plastic.
Avoid heating anything in plastic.
Avoid consuming food or beverages that have come into contact with plastic.
Avoid food-grade nylon used for food packaging and as liners in slow cookers.
If possible, drink filtered tap water over bottled water.
When buying clothes or furnishings, choose more natural fabrics.
If you’re buying carpet, look for something made of wool, not polyester. While natural fibers are usually more expensive, you can save some money with second-hand carpets.

Here are some of the most common culprits in the American kitchen today.

Salt – best to use is from Utah, the ancient seabed is isolated from the ocean, so it’s less likely to have microplastics and the unrefined version is not bleaches and has all the minerals we need.

Water – Stop using single-use bottled water, not just because you don’t know how it was filtered, but also you don’t know what temperature flux each bottle has gone through. Extreme heat can cause plastic to leak chemicals and extreem cold can leak microplastics. Drink filtered tap water in refillable bottle (that are NOT plastic).

Tea – Most tea bags are now made of plastic mesh. Opt for paper tea bags or better yet, buy loose leaf and use an infuser.

Cutting boards – don’t use plastic cutting boards. Just cutting your food on them ADDs more microplastic to your meal. Instead, opt for a bamboo, wooden or glass cutting board.

Non-stick cookware – We all know the coating on non-stick cookware gets gross after continued use, but it is also a big culprit in adding plastic to your diet. Instead, cast iron and stainless steel are your best options.

Microwave safe containers – This is a misnomer when it comes to plastic exposure. When reheating your food in the microwave, use glass containers. Better yet, avoid the microwave and use the stove or oven.

Plastic utensils – Even on low heat, that plastic spoon you use to stir your soup is melting or discarding microplastic into your meal. Use stainless steel, bamboo or wooden spoons instead.

Single-use plastics – Instead of using the single-use plastics like plastic wrap, baggies and plastic plates and silverware, opt for reusble beeswax wrap, reuseable containers and paper goods.

Even though Ken and Barbie are cute and popular, I really don’t want to turn into them. I know that I can’t eliminate all plastic from my life, but I can make choices every day to help reduce it a little bit more. By the way, recycling is a red herring! Only about 9% of all the plastic thrown away is actually recycled, so don’t let that deter you.