Yes, you likely have microplastics in your body, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. If you drink bottled water or use a tea bag, microplastics are quietly being consumed by you as part of your daily life cycle.

Microplastics have been seen in human blood, human lungs, human placenta, and even the human brain. If you’re here to find out what are microplastics, where they are in the planet, how to avoid them, and whether they are harmful or cancerous, you’re not alone. These are real questions, urgent questions, that millions of people are looking into as plastic pollution becomes personal.

In this blog we will explore microplastics—from where they come from, how they enter into our bodies, how harmful they really are, and whether we can ever get rid of them.

What are Microplastics?

Microplastics are defined as tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in length (think sesame seed). Microplastics can be derived from two main sources:

Primary microplastics.  These are small plastics that are deliberately manufactured for personal care products (exfoliating beads) or fracturing nondurable plastics using abrasives in a manufacture environment.

Secondary microplastics.  These are created when larger plastic items such as water bottles, clothes made of synthetic materials, car tires and other packaging break down to sunlight, chemical reactions, or friction.

How small are microplastics?

Microplastics are defined as being less than 5 millimeters, but some are as small as a few microns. Even nanoplastics (under 1 micron) exist and can enter cells, tissues, and even pass into the brain.

Where Do Microplastics Come From?

They are everywhere. Literally.

• Textiles: Just washing polyester and other synthetic clothing releases microfibers directly into the waterways.
• Tires: As tires break down through use, they also release microplastics into the air and waterways.
• Packaging: Food packaging and plastic water bottles will break down slowly, particularly when heat is added.
• Cosmetics & toothpaste: some cosmetics and some toothpaste still contain microbeads (despite being banned in many areas).
• Dust: Indoor dust that accumulates in homes from plastic-based furniture, paint and electronics, exposes are everyday presence of microplastics.

How Do Microplastics Enter the Human Body?

Microplastics enter your body from three primary sources:

1. Ingestion (food and water):

• Bottled water and tap water is contaminated with microplastics.
• Seafood; especially filter feeding (i.e. mussels) will accumulate plastic particles.
• Processed foods and salt contain microplastics caused by the packaging and processing.

2. Inhalation:

• Microplastics become airborne in indoor environments (especially in synthetic-heavy environments) and can be inhaled.
• Clothing scrapings and carpet fibers often find their ways into lungs.

3. Dermal absorption:

With the right conditions, microplastics can also enter the body via skin levels (absorption).
Some cosmetics or dust particles may be absorbed through skin.

Currently trending: “Do tea bags introduce microplastics?” Yes they do, especially if they are sealed with plastic or made from nylon.

What Do Microplastics Do to Your Body?

Once a microplastic particle is in your body, it is unclear how easily it will exit the body. Microplastics may:

• Cause inflammation to gut and organs
  Disrupt hormones systems through leaching chemicals such as BPA and phthalates
• Cross the blood-brain barrier (as recent studies suggest)
• Accumulate in organs like liver, kidneys, and brain tissue
• Damage cells and DNA through oxidative stress

Top question: “What do microplastics do once they enter the gut?”
They can harm gut lining, affect microbiome balance, and increase permeability (“leaky gut”).

Are Microplastics Harmful?

Yes. While we are still determining the full damage, there is an increasing amount of evidence that microplastics are linked with:

• Chronic inflammation
• Dysfunction of the immune system
• Reproductive issues
• Disruption of the endocrine system
• Developmental issues (especially in children)

A popular search online is “Why are microplastics bad?”
One answer is that they are like tiny Trojan horses delivering toxic chemicals inside the sensitive tissues in our body.

Do Microplastics Cause Cancer?

There is no conclusive evidence that microplastics cause cancer, yet researchers have significant concerns:

Why?

• Many microplastics include carcinogenic additives.
• Some microplastics transfer pollutants including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which are actively carcinogenic.
• Chronic inflammation is a known risk for cancer

Does Reverse Osmosis Remove Microplastics?

Yes, reverse osmosis (RO) is one of the most effective home filtration systems to remove microplastics from water.

There are other water filtration forms that are being developed as well, such as ZeroWater, LifeStraw and Berkey.

Brita is not capable of microplastic filtration (they have larger pore sizes).

Top trending questions is: “Does boiling water remove microplastics? – No.

How to Avoid Microplastics

Complete avoidance is nearly impossible today, but you can drastically reduce exposure:

In Water:

• Install an RO or multi-stage filtration system.
• Drink from glass or stainless steel containers.
• Avoid bottled water when possible.

In Food:

• Choose fresh, unpackaged produce.
• Don’t microwave food in plastic.
• Avoid heavily processed items and plastic-packaged food.
• Store food in glass or stainless steel.

In Air:

• Vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Keep indoor spaces dust-free.
• Choose natural fabrics for bedding and clothing.

How to Detox from Microplastics Naturally?

There’s no official detox, but support your natural elimination systems with:

• Hydration
• High-fiber diet
• Liver-supporting foods (like garlic, turmeric, and cruciferous veggies)
• Sweating through exercise or sauna
• Antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress caused by plastic exposure

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Can You Remove Microplastics From Your Body?

Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof method to eliminate microplastics from your body. But you can support your body’s natural detox systems.

Should I be Worried About Microplastics in My Body?

It is totally normal to be concerned–headlines about plastic in our blood, lungs, and brains are alarming! But panic is not helpful; action is.

Yes, the science is concerning, but here is what to remember:

• Your body has a detox system.
• You can eliminate microplastic exposure through small lifestyle changes.
• Science is always evolving and many effects are potential risks and not guarantees.

So instead of letting panic stop you, find the things you can control–like choosing safe containers, eating less processed food, and filtering your water…

Being aware is empowering, but no need to feel anxious. Think of it this way: you are not getting rid of all the microplastics (impossible) you are limiting the exposure in simple and sustainable ways.

FAQs

Do all tea bags have microplastics?

Not all, but many do. Plastic-based or nylon pyramid tea bags release billions of microplastic particles when steeped in hot water. Look for brands that use unbleached paper tea bags sealed with string or metal staples, not plastic.

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Does gum have microplastics?

Yes. Most commercial chewing gum contains synthetic polymers (like polyethylene) that are essentially plastic. Look for natural gums made with chicle or other plant-based bases if you want to avoid plastic.

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Does BPA-free mean no microplastics?

No. BPA-free simply means the product doesn’t contain Bisphenol A, a specific endocrine disruptor. However, BPA-free plastics can still shed microplastics—so the absence of BPA doesn’t make a plastic “microplastic-free.”

Conclusion

Ultimately you cannot opt out of plastic exposure (it is everywhere), but you can take little actions that can add up. The science will continue, and awareness is your first line of defense. As the environment is flooded with microscopic plastics, to protect your health, it means going back to the basics: clean air, clean water, and real food.

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