Microplastics...it's FAR worse than you think | How To Cook That Ann Reardon

Summary

This video delves into the alarming presence of microplastics in our environment and food, focusing on their impact on health. The narrator explores a beach in Spain with Professor Joaquim, discussing how microplastics, especially from clothing fibers, enter the ocean, affecting mussels and oysters. These microplastics make their way into our bodies, posing potential health risks, including inflammation and the absorption of toxic chemicals. Despite rising research, the full consequences are still unclear. The video urges viewers to reduce plastic use, emphasizing the importance of drinking tap water and choosing products with minimal plastic packaging.

Takeaways

• 😀 Microplastics, which are smaller than 5mm, are pervasive in the environment, even in food like mussels and oysters.
• 😀 Mussels filter the ocean water to get their food, which leads to microplastics being found in their bodies, often from fibers like those shed by clothing.
• 😀 Microplastics are primarily from synthetic fibers, especially those from washing clothes, and they can account for significant pollution in oceans.
• 😀 Microplastics are found in virtually all food sources, with seafood and marine animals containing the highest concentrations.
• 😀 There's a concern about microplastics entering the human body through ingestion of contaminated food, especially those with a size under 100 micrometers.
• 😀 Recent studies have shown that microplastics can cause inflammation in the human body, potentially affecting organs like the liver, kidneys, and even the brain.
• 😀 A study published in 2025 revealed that microplastics can obstruct brain capillaries, raising concerns about stroke and other brain-related issues.
• 😀 Microplastics can carry toxic chemicals like flame retardants, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors, which may migrate into the human body when ingested.
• 😀 There is still a lack of conclusive data on the long-term health impacts of microplastics, but research is growing, with more than 6,000 studies published since 2017.
• 😀 Microplastics are found not only in food but also in tap water, bottled water, and even in products like tea bags, packaged food, and plastic cutting boards.
• 😀 The plastic pollution issue is growing rapidly, and even if plastic production stopped today, the existing pollution would continue to break down into microplastics for centuries.

Q & A

What are 'mermaid tears' and why are they significant?

Mermaid tears refer to small pieces of plastic that have broken down into microplastics. They are significant because they represent the widespread presence of plastic pollution in the ocean, which can end up in our food chain and affect human health.

What is microplastic, and how is it created?

Microplastic refers to plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm. It is created when larger plastic items break down over time due to environmental factors like sunlight, saltwater, and mechanical forces.

How does microplastic contamination affect our health?

Microplastics can enter our bodies through food, water, and air. Research has shown that microplastics can be absorbed by the body and accumulate in various organs, including the liver, kidneys, placenta, and even the brain, potentially causing inflammation and other health risks.

What role do mussels and oysters play in studying microplastic contamination?

Mussels and oysters are filter feeders, meaning they filter ocean water to obtain food. Because they consume particles from the water, studying them helps scientists understand the levels of microplastics in the ocean and the potential for these plastics to enter the food chain.

Why are fibers from clothing the most common type of microplastic found in mussels?

Fibers from clothing are the most common microplastics found in mussels because when we wash clothes, tiny fibers break off and enter wastewater systems. These fibers are small enough to remain suspended in the water, where filter feeders like mussels ingest them.

How long do microplastics last in the environment?

Microplastics can persist in the environment for up to 500 years, posing long-term environmental and health risks.

What is the risk of ingesting microplastics from eating seafood?

Ingesting seafood, particularly mussels and oysters, can lead to the consumption of microplastics. For an average person, eating mussels could result in consuming several meters of microplastic fibers over the course of a year.

What types of pollutants are associated with microplastics?

Microplastics can absorb and carry a variety of toxic chemicals, including carcinogens, flame retardants, and endocrine disruptors, which can leach into the body when ingested.

How does plastic in the environment interact with other pollutants?

Plastic in the environment can act as a 'Trojan horse,' absorbing and carrying harmful chemicals like pesticides and industrial pollutants, which can enter the body when plastic particles are consumed.

What can individuals do to reduce their exposure to microplastics?

Individuals can reduce exposure to microplastics by drinking tap water instead of bottled water, using less plastic packaging, choosing clothing made from natural fibers, and avoiding plastic items like plastic chopping boards and tea bags made from polyester.