Plastic’s Origin and the Broken System

Our planet is drowning in plastic because the system meant to handle our waste is fundamentally failing. We produce plastics from fossil fuels at a staggering pace (99% of plastics are made from oil, gas, and coal), yet only about 9% of all plastic ever created has been recycled. Think about that, the vast majority of plastic ends up in landfills, gets burned, or leaks into the environment. And unlike organic materials, plastic doesn’t biodegrade. Every piece of plastic ever made still exists in some form. It may break into tiny fragments, but it doesn’t truly go away. This means we keep accumulating more and more plastic waste with each passing year, with no real end-of-life plan. The result? A flood of plastic in our oceans, rivers, and soil. Experts warn that if we don’t change course, by 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish. In short, we have a one-way production pipeline (from fossil fuels to consumer products) and a “disposal” system that lets plastic pile up endlessly. This broken loop is how plastic has exploded into an environmental nightmare.

Plastic’s Path to Our Food and Bodies:

An estimated 8 million tons of plastic leaks into our oceans every year, that’s like a garbage truck dumping plastic into the sea every minute. Once in the ocean, plastics break apart into microscopic pieces. Marine creatures like fish, shellfish, even plankton, are ingesting these microplastics mistaking them for food. One recent study found 99% of sampled seafood had microplastics in it. Yes, virtually all the fish and shellfish tested were contaminated. These plastic bits also infiltrate our drinking water (a major source of human intake), bottled water, especially, often contains microscopic plastic fibers (93% of bottled brands in one analysis). They’ve been detected in everything from tap water and beer to table salt. In other words, plastic has woven its way into every corner of our food and water supply.

So what does that mean for us? It means that every day, with every meal or drink, we’re likely ingesting tiny doses of plastic. Over time, those doses add up. Researchers estimate the average person consumes tens of thousands of microplastic particles each year just through food and drink. One headline-making report even suggested we could be eating about 5 grams of plastic a week, roughly the weight of a credit card. Imagine swallowing a credit card’s worth of plastic every week! It sounds absurd, but that’s the reality our plastic pollution has created. These particles are invisible in our food, so we don’t realize it, but they are entering our bodies bite by bite, sip by sip. From the ocean to the dinner table, plastic is infiltrating the food chain and ultimately winding up inside us.

Why This is a Human Health Crisis: Plastic in our food isn’t just an icky thought, it’s an unfolding human health crisis. The plastic particles and the cocktail of chemicals they carry pose a serious threat inside our bodies. Many plastics contain toxic additives like Bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, flame retardants, and other chemicals. These are known endocrine disruptors, they interfere with our hormones. What does that mean in real terms? It means they can wreak havoc on our reproductive systems, metabolism, and more. Phthalate exposure, for example, has been linked to increased risks of infertility and even certain cancers (like breast cancer). Studies show these plastic-related chemicals can reduce sperm count and quality, one experiment found microplastic exposure damaged sperm within just 30 minutes. Plastics have also been implicated in developmental problems, metabolic disorders, and other illnesses. So, when we talk about ingesting plastic, we’re talking about dosing ourselves with substances that may contribute to cancer, infertility, obesity, and more. It’s like a slow poison infiltrating our diets.

On top of chemical risks, the physical presence of microplastics in our bodies is alarming scientists. These particles don’t just pass through harmlessly; our organs are starting to collect a lifetime’s worth of plastic. Research has now found microplastics in human blood, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, even the placenta of unborn babies. Yes, microscopic plastic bits are crossing into the womb. Perhaps most disturbing, scientists recently detected microplastics in human brains. In fact, concentrations in the brain were higher than in any other organ, and have increased 50% in the last 8 years. Plastic in our brain! This raises huge red flags for neurological health. Early research suggests these particles can trigger inflammation and may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s. We are only beginning to understand the health fallout. But what we’re learning is grim: plastic ingestion has been linked to hormone imbalances, developmental delays, immune system effects, and potentially increased risks of cancers and neurological diseases. In short, plastic inside our bodies is a ticking time bomb.

Action Steps for Consumers: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you are not powerless. Every one of us can take steps today to turn outrage into action. Here are concrete ways to fight back against plastic contamination in your life and community:

• Ditch single-use plastics: Say no to throwaway plastics like water bottles, coffee cups, straws, grocery bags, and utensils. Carry a reusable bottle and tote bag.
• Avoid plastic-packaged foods: Choose fresh produce or products with minimal packaging. Opt for bulk bins or brands that use paper, glass, or metal instead of plastic.
• Support policies that reduce plastic: Advocate for policies that cut plastic production at the source. Write to your representatives, show up at city council meetings, and demand action.
• Pressure brands to adopt safer alternatives: Choose brands that use sustainable or plastic-free packaging. Call out companies that are flooding the market with unnecessary plastic.

Call to Action: Plastic doesn’t belong in our food, our bodies, or our brains, period. The overwhelming response to my last post proved that people care. Now, we need to turn that awareness into action. Please share this post to keep the conversation going. Comment with your thoughts or additional tips, let’s learn from each other and keep the momentum. Together, we can build a movement that pushes industry and government to protect us. Let’s demand a #PlasticFreeFuture where we’re not literally eating pollution. The time to act is now. Who’s with me? Join the movement, our food, our bodies, and our kids will thank us.