Alarming Amount of Microplastics Found in Homes and Cars
A study has found that thousands of microplastics so small they can penetrate deep into the lungs are in your home and car. The particles are likely the result of the degradation of plastic-filled objects like carpets, curtains, furniture, and textiles and plastic parts of car interiors, according to the study that was published in the journal PLOS One. People are exposed to microplastic pollution in their daily lives indoors including homes, workplaces, shops, and transportation. Microplastics are an invisible threat indoors in the air that we are just starting to understand.
Research is still going on, but there is concern that long-term exposure to microplastics and their additives could contribute to respiratory problems, disrupt endocrine function, and increase risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, reproductive birth defects, infertility, cardiovascular disease, and cancers. The study found adults may inhale some 68,000 microplastic particles of 1 to 10 micrometers per day from indoor air, which is 100 times more than was expected. For comparison, a red blood cell is between 6.8 and 8.2 micrometers while E. coli bacteria are between one and two micrometers long.
This shows that microplastics are everywhere and are getting into humans in every way imaginable. Microplastics have been detected by scientists in human testes and the penis, human blood, lung and liver tissues, urine and feces, mother’s milk, and the placenta. A study in February found a spoons worth of microplastics in human brain tissue. A March 2024 study found people with microplastics in their carotid artery were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die from any cause over the next three years than those who had none.
The study was performed by scientists who took air samples from their apartments and while in their cars driving between cities in France. It was found that an average American spent about 60 minutes a day inside a car in 2023. Cars are a significant source of microplastic exposure because they are small, enclosed spaces filled with plastic based materials including dashboards, steering wheels, door handles, seat fabrics, carpets, and carpet liners. These materials can shed tiny plastic particles over time, especially by solar irradiance, friction, heat, and daily use. Cars also have limited ventilation, allowing microplastic particles to accumulate and concentrate in the air. They can be inhaled in higher amounts during regular commutes or long drives. Testing found 2,238 microplastics particles per cubic meter of air inside cars, which is more than 528 particles per cubic meter found inside homes.
There are different ways people can cut back on their plastic pollution. Some plastics are unavoidable like in cell phones and computers but stay away from plastic you can avoid like single use plastics. It is hard to avoid food wrapped in plastic film, but it is wise to take food out of plastic wrapping before cooking or putting in the microwave. You can also invest in a zippered fabric bag instead of the plastic sheets for your dry cleaning. Bringing a travel mug and getting your coffee in that at the local coffee shop is a great way to reduce plastic usage. Don’t use plastic bags when shopping, instead use a cloth bag or paper bag to bring home groceries. Also, avoid plastic water bottles as much as you can.
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