The Big Problem with Microplastics

This year, Canadians will throw away 3 million tonnes of plastic―91 percent of which isn’t recycled. When this plastic breaks down into microplastics―defined as small plastic particles that are smaller than 5 millimetres, with most not visible to the naked eye―they pollute the soil, air, and water.

The culprits aren’t just discarded water bottles or plastic takeout containers. Microplastics can also come from surprising sources like household paints and adhesives, the exfoliating beads in your skincare, and even clothes containing synthetic fibres.

This invisible plastic pollution is now basically omnipresent. It’s in the air we breathe (especially indoor air). It’s present in people’s bloodstreams, and even in a mother’s womb and her breastmilk. When scientists sampled fish in the Great Lakes, every single fish was contaminated with microplastics.

Escaping to extremely remote areas won’t protect you, either. In the first-ever large-scale sampling of ice, soil, and water in the Canadian Arctic, microplastics were found nearly everywhere.

How do microplastics get inside of us?

Environmental pollution plays a direct role, but a lot of our plastic exposure is through what we eat and drink. For example, most meats, fruits, and vegetables have tested positive for microplastics. There’s also the trickle-up effect. Fish, for instance, absorb microplastics in the ocean and we then eat the fish. Meanwhile, plants absorb plastics in the soil, which then accumulate in their leaves and fruits.

Tiny particles, big health questions

Microplastic pollution is a fast-growing, yet relatively new, problem. Researchers are sprinting to catch up and monitor the potential health problems associated with microplastics. For instance, it was only two years ago that researchers developed a way to detect microplastics in our blood (and they found a lot of it).

Scientists caution that there are still many questions to be answered about how microplastics affect our health, but there are already dozens of studies suggesting how harmful this plastic pollution can be. As these plastics spread through our bodies, they’ve been linked to inflammation, oxidative stress (which is a risk factor for a wide range of diseases, including heart disease), cancer, and even neurotoxicity.

“As you get older, you become less efficient at filtering out toxins, and microplastics can accumulate over time, potentially leading to serious health issues,” says attorney C.L. Mike Schmidt. He has represented numerous high-profile clients who were exposed to harmful substances and now specializes in the legal and health implications of microplastic pollution. “In fact, research suggests that microplastics may even contribute to conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Innovation to the rescue

Can technology save us from our plastic addiction? While researchers are still rushing to quantify all the ways microplastics affect the well-being of both Canadians and the environment, innovators aren’t waiting to start looking for a solution to our microplastic epidemic.

Take the new plastic-eating microorganisms that were developed by scientists last year. They “eat” and transform plastic compounds into useful things like vanilla flavouring and ingredients used to manufacture medication and fragrances.

But what if we changed the plastic itself? Traditional plastic lasts forever—it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Even microplastics break up into smaller pieces known as nanoplastics. Some companies are looking to change that through the use of a newer type of plastic: polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

“PHA is a biodegradable polymer produced by bacteria through the fermentation of sugars or lipids, making it a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics,” says Schmidt. “Unlike traditional plastics, which can take centuries to degrade and release harmful chemicals, PHA degrades naturally in a variety of environments, lowering the risk of environmental pollution and wildlife harm.”

That’s good for us, too. “PHA is much more biocompatible than traditional plastics, meaning that it can be metabolized by our bodies instead of remaining in our bodies,” adds registered dietitian nutritionist Catherine Rall.

Canadian innovators are leading the way. Scarborough’s clean-tech startup Genecis Bioindustries has developed a way to use highly engineered bacteria (supported by the University of Toronto’s laboratories) to convert food waste into PHAs.

The resulting plastic can be deployed in many of the areas where traditional plastics are currently used, including packaging, clothing, single-use plastics like takeout food containers, and even medical tools and supplies.

According to their founder Luna Yu, the resulting plastic products can fully compost within 30 days. Should your plastic spoon or bag end up in the ocean (where a lot of our plastic waste ends up), the PHA product completely degrades within a year—all without releasing microplastics.

Genecis isn’t alone. In Quebec, BOSK Bioproducts also makes PHAs, this time from industrial waste like the sludge from manufacturing paper. On the opposite coast is BioForm, a University of British Columbia startup that makes bioplastic out of pulp fibre, kelp, and salt. It, too, can be used like conventional plastic while being completely biodegradable.

The future of plastics is here, with the aim of ensuring microplastics stay forever in the past.

Just the tip of the plastic knife

·         There are more than 13,000 chemicals used to produce plastic, and some, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and heavy metals, are known toxins.

·         Microplastics in animals, plants, and seafood may reduce their nutritional value, which Harvard Medical School warns may “reverberate up the food chain.”

·         Microplastics may increase the toxicity of other toxins, such as the heavy metal cadmium.

Because microplastics accumulate over time, these problems are likely to worsen as we age.

Tea could put your health in hot water

Steeping a single plastic tea bag (sometimes referred to as a “silken tea bag”) releases 11.6 billion microplastics into your mug. Reduce your risks by looking for organic tea in paper tea bags.

Benefits beyond microplastics

Virtually all traditional plastic is made from fossil fuels. Combined with manufacturing and disposal, plastics require a lot of resources that drive climate change. Companies like Genecis are changing the story. Aside from reducing microplastics, Genecis’ innovations help reduce food waste and produce 80 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional plastic manufacturing.

How to lessen your microplastic exposure

Get fresh air

Indoor air carries significantly more microplastics than outdoor air. Crack a window during warmer months, and run a HEPA air filter when possible.

Rethink your drink 

A litre (34 oz) of bottled water can hold an average of 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. Instead, drink filtered tap water (the best home filters to remove microplastics are those with membrane filtration).

Avoid highly processed foods

Microplastics often end up in food when it’s being processed and packaged. Focus on minimally processed whole foods, which contain significantly fewer microplastics.

Question reality 

We’ve grown so accustomed to plastic that we accept it as the status quo. But does the fruit you buy really need to come packaged in plastic? Can you spare an extra minute to wash a metal or glass container instead of throwing dinner leftovers into a plastic zipper food storage bag or using plastic food wrap? Bring awareness to how much plastic you use on a daily basis and begin to challenge the status quo.

This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue of alive magazine.