Climate Corner with Dr. Jay Slater: Plastics and Health

Most of us, by now, have a mental image of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling mass of 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste, 1.8 trillion pieces in all, covering an area three times the size of France. Most of us know that, since it doesn’t decompose, all the plastic ever produced still exists in some form. And while plastic pollution has long been a threat to the environment and to wildlife, it is increasingly evident that it’s also a human health problem.

As plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, these microplastics and nanoplastics enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, and even skin contact. They have been found in virtually all human tissues including lung, gut, liver, kidney, and brain. Microplastics are seen in breast milk and placenta. And evidence is growing that they are associated with numerous health risks. A 2024 study of patients with coronary heart disease found microplastics in the plaque of almost 60% of participants, and they were more likely to have heart attacks, stroke, or death of any cause than patients whose plaques did not contain microplastics. Other health effects and risks are being studied, from asthma and lung cancer to endocrine disruption to cellular damage and inflammation. Sadly, the list of possible associations between microplastics and disease is growing.

Individually and collectively, we can work to reduce our contribution to plastics in the environment. We can make personal choices about the products we buy and use, including the single use, disposable plastics in our workplaces. We can educate our patients about potential risk and encourage them to also take action. And we can lobby our leaders to make reducing plastic production and use a priority.

I invite you to watch the sobering documentary “Plastic People” to learn more and engage with experts in this field.