We know that microplastics have been detected in various organs in our bodies and that studies have linked their presence with all sorts of unpleasant health effects, from inflammation and fatty liver disease to reduced sperm quality and Alzheimer’s. What we do not yet know is how alarmed we should be about our actual level of exposure to these particles, which are everywhere, from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat.
“While we are still uncertain of the exact levels of risk for us, I’m sure there’s no disadvantage from minimising our exposure to these things,” says Dr Stephanie Wright, associate professor in environmental toxicology at Imperial, whose research focuses on microplastics and their potential health impacts on humans.
