MicroplasticHealth

Peer-reviewed · Updated June 2026

Your body contains microplastics.
Here's what the science actually says.

Microplastic particles have been detected in human blood¹, arterial plaque², the placenta³, and breast milk⁴. MicroplasticHealth translates peer-reviewed evidence into plain English — and connects you with filters, tests, and products that can help reduce your exposure.

Read the health effectsHow to reduce exposure
Glass of clear filtered water on a warm cream background
77%

of healthy adults had microplastics detected in their blood in the first human blood study

Leslie et al., 2022

4.5×

higher risk of heart attack, stroke or death in patients with microplastics in arterial plaque

Marfella et al., NEJM 2024

0

global regulatory safe limits established for microplastics in food or water

WHO, 2019

What we cover

Plain-English summaries of peer-reviewed studies, organised so you can find what matters.

What are microplastics

Definition, sources, and the polymers most commonly found in humans.

Read →

Health effects

Cardiovascular, reproductive, gut, brain, and endocrine evidence — graded by strength.

Read →

Food & drink sources

Tea bags, cutting boards, bottled water, chewing gum — the studies, source by source.

Read →

Reduce exposure

Evidence-ranked steps that target confirmed routes of microplastic intake.

Read →

Stay current with the research

Once a month, a short digest of new peer-reviewed microplastic studies and what they do — and don't — show. No spam.

Monthly digest of new microplastic research. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Sources cited on this page

  1. [1]Leslie, H.A. et al. (2022). Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International, 163, 107199. doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
  2. [2]Marfella, R. et al. (2024). Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. New England Journal of Medicine, 390(10), 900–910. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
  3. [3]Ragusa, A. et al. (2021). Plasticenta: First evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environment International, 146, 106274. doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
  4. [4]Ragusa, A. et al. (2022). Raman Microspectroscopy Detection and Characterisation of Microplastics in Human Breastmilk. Polymers, 14(13), 2700. doi.org/10.3390/polym14132700
  5. [5]Cox, K.D. et al. (2019). Human Consumption of Microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(12), 7068–7074. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b01517
  6. [6]World Health Organization (2019). Microplastics in Drinking-water. WHO, Geneva. ISBN 978-92-4-151619-8. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516198