Looking to reduce your exposure to microplastics? Microplastics have been having a moment in the news lately after a recently released scientific study showed that, on average, there is one spoon’s worth of microplastics found in the human brain. Not a spoonful–but an amount of plastic equivalent to an actual plastic spoon.
That’s alarming news, but fortunately there are concrete steps you can take to reduce your exposure. In this post, we’ll talk about what microplastics are, how we’re exposed to them, and most importantly, share some simple home swaps you can make to reduce your exposure to microplastics.
What Are Microplastics?
“Microplastics” are typically defined by scientists as pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long. “Nanoplastics” are less than one micrometer long. Too small to be seen with the naked eye, nanoplastics are the most likely to enter your blood and tissue.
How Do Microplastics Get Into The Human Body?
Microplastics generally come from larger pieces of plastic that degrade in the environment over time. For example, daily wear and tear on car tires sheds microplastics, as does improperly disposed trash. Everyday objects such as plastic cutting boards and synthetic fabrics shed microplastics, too.
Humans breathe in or ingest these microplastics. We pass some of these particles but others, especially nanoplastics, stay in our bodies where they enter the blood and can travel to organs such as the brain. Some scientists suspect that we can even absorb microplastics through our skin from products like lotions, cosmetics, and synthetic fabrics.
What Effect Do Microplastics Have On Our Health?
At this time, research into the effects of microplastics on human health is in the early stages. But animal studies suggest that microplastics can impact reproduction, increase the risk of certain cancers and dementia, and even weaken our immune systems.
How Can We Reduce Our Exposure To Microplastics?
Truthfully, a lot of microplastic exposure is simply outside of our control, because microplastics are prevalent in our environment. That said, there’s a lot we can do within our own lives and homes to reduce our personal exposure–and the amount of microplastics that we release into the world.
Here are four simple home swaps that you can make to reduce your exposure:
Swap Plastic for Wooden Cutting Boards
A recent scientific study found that “plastic cutting boards are a potentially significant source of microplastics in human food.” Researchers estimated that a plastic cutting board could shed up to 50 grams of microplastics per person per year.
To reduce your microplastic exposure, consider switching out your plastic cutting board for a wooden one. Make sure you choose a cutting board made with all-natural, food-safe wood finishes.
At Spencer Peterman, we offer a full collection of handcrafted, sustainably sourced wooden cutting boards, always made with natural, food-safe finishes.
Toss the Plastic Food Packaging
Food packaging is another big source of microplastics, as the packaging materials shed and break down. Opting for fresh, unpackaged food, or food packaged in materials such as glass, paper, or metal, will reduce your microplastic exposure.
Get a Reusable Water Bottle
Single-use plastic water bottles are another significant source of microplastic. This type of thin plastic breaks down easily, especially when exposed to heat. Invest in a metal or glass water bottle instead—you’ll save money, reduce your plastic exposure, and of course, it’s better for the environment, too!
Forget Fast, Plastic Fashion
We don’t usually associate fabric with plastic, but the truth is that 60% of our clothing is made from plastic! While synthetic fabrics are an opportunity to recycle plastics into something useful, the downside is that these materials are a significant source of microplastics. According to one report, microplastics shed from clothing make up nearly 10% of the microplastics found in our oceans.
The next time you buy clothing, opt for all-natural fibers like wool or cotton. And if you do purchase something synthetic, make sure to wash the item before wearing–at the very least, that will reduce your own exposure to microplastics from the manufacturing and packaging process.
Conclusion
While we can’t control every variable, there’s a lot that’s within our own power to reduce microplastics exposure, starting right in our own homes and kitchens. Whether it’s switching to sustainably made wooden kitchenware or opting for reusable water bottles or natural fibers, these actions also have the added benefit of being great for our environment (and sometimes our wallets!).
Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/well/microplastics-health-risks.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37220346/
- https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/nx-s1-5382300/should-you-toss-your-plastic-kitchen-tools-health-reasons
- https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/fashions-tiny-hidden-secret
- https://scienceblog.com/spoonful-of-microplastics-in-human-brain-linked-to-mental-health
