MICROPLASTICS

March 19, 2025

While microplastics have harmful health effects of their own, they can also act as carriers of additives and toxic chemicals that can leach into our bodies.

Microplastics are Carriers of Toxic Additives

Figure 1: Orange and Blue Sweater 5x Magified

Microplastics have gained significant attention due to their pervasive presence in the environment and potential health implications for humans. Microplastic particles are concerning, and the chemical additives they carry pose additional health risks. These additives, incorporated during manufacturing to enhance plastic properties, can leach out, leading to various health hazards. Additionally, environmental toxins can stick to microplastics, and they can act as a vector to enter the human body.

Common Additives in Microplastics

Plasticizers are added to plastics to increase flexibility. Phthalates, a common group of plasticizers, are found in products like food packaging, toys, and personal care items. Exposure to phthalates has been linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, and developmental problems. Despite regulatory measures limiting certain phthalates, their ubiquitous presence makes complete avoidance challenging.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is another additive used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA is prevalent in items like water bottles and food can linings. BPA can mimic estrogen, leading to hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and has been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. Its ability to leach into food and beverages raises significant health concerns.

Heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and chromium are sometimes used in plastics for color stabilization and other purposes. These metals are toxic and can cause various health problems, including neurological and developmental disorders.

Health Implications of Additives in Microplastics

The leaching of these additives from microplastics into the human body can lead to several adverse health effects including endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and cardiovascular disease. Compounds like phthalates and BPA can interfere with hormone function, leading to reproductive issues, developmental problems, and metabolic disorders.

Exposure to certain additives, such as heavy metals, has been linked to neurodevelopmental deficits and cognitive impairments. Some plastic additives are also known or suspected carcinogens, increasing the risk of cancers. Lastly, recent studies suggest that microplastics and their additives may contribute to cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes.

Mitigation Strategies

Addressing the issue of microplastics and their harmful additives requires a multifaceted approach, including policy and regulation, consumer awareness, and continued research on the effects of plastic additives on human health. Implementing stricter regulations on hazardous plastic additives and promoting the development of safer alternatives is essential.

However, preventing microplastics from entering our water systems in the first place is one extremely effective way to reduce exposure opportunities. Many of these toxic particles originate from synthetic fabrics in laundry, making filtration at the source a crucial solution. The CLEANR filter captures over 90% of microplastics before they leave our washing machines, preventing them from contaminating our water and, ultimately, our bodies. As research continues to uncover the health risks posed by microplastic additives, it is critical to take action now.

CLEANR’s Premium Microplastic Filter for washing machines captures 90%+ of microplastics from the largest source of microplastic pollution, preventing them from entering our environment.

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Written by Anna Miller

About CLEANR

CLEANR builds best-in-class microplastic filters for washing machines that effortlessly remove the largest source of microplastics into the environment. Its technology, VORTX, represents a breakthrough in filtration, with a patent-pending design that is inspired by nature and proven to outperform conventional filtration technologies by over 300%. The company is building a platform filter technology that enables product manufacturers and business customers to materially reduce their microplastic emissions from impacted in-bound and out-bound fluid streams, including residential and commercial washing machine wastewater, in-home water systems, wastewater treatment, textile manufacturing effluents, industrial wastewater, and other sources. www.cleanr.life

Campanale, C., Massarelli, C., Savino, I., Locaputo, V., & Uricchio, V. F. (2020). A Detailed Review Study on Potential Effects of Microplastics and Additives of Concern on Human Health. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(4), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041212
Belmaker, I., Anca, E. D., Rubin, L. P., Magen-Molho, H., Miodovnik, A., & van der Hal, N. (2024). Adverse health effects of exposure to plastic, microplastics and their additives: environmental, legal and policy implications for Israel. Israel journal of health policy research, 13(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-024-00628-6