The Research

Patients who had microplastics and nanoplastics detected in carotid artery plaque were significantly more likely to experience a major adverse cardiovascular event over a 34-month follow-up period compared to those with no detected particles.

Marfella R. et al. Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. N Engl J Med, 2024; 390:900–910.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309822 ↗

A scratched or damaged PTFE (Teflon) non-stick pan can shed over 2.3 million microplastic and nanoplastic particles into food during a single cooking session — with higher temperatures accelerating release.

Kutralam-Muniasamy G. et al. Microplastics from non-stick cookware during cooking. Sci Total Environ, 2022.
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154328 ↗

Plastic cutting boards shed between 7.4 and 50.7 grams of microplastics into food per year depending on use intensity. Wooden boards have been shown to shed significantly fewer particles.

Yue Zi et al. Plastic cutting boards as a source of microplastics in food. Environ Sci Technol, 2023.

Synthetic bedding — including polyester-fill pillows, microfiber comforters, and fleece blankets — continuously sheds plastic microfibers into the surrounding air during sleep movement and washing. These fibers are among the most common indoor microplastic types detected in human blood and lungs.

Gasperi J. et al. Microplastics in air: Are we breathing it in? Curr Opin Environ Sci Health, 2018; 1:1–5.

A landmark study detected microplastic particles in 77% of human blood donors tested, including PET from plastic bottles and polystyrene. Researchers noted indoor textile exposure as a key source of ongoing accumulation.

Leslie H.A. et al. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environ Int, 2022; 163:107199.
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199 ↗

A single synthetic garment or towel can release more than 700,000 plastic microfibers per wash. These fibers become airborne during drying and remain suspended in bathroom air long after the wash is done — where they are inhaled and settle on surfaces.

Napper I.E. & Thompson R.C. Release of synthetic microplastic fibres from domestic washing machines. Mar Pollut Bull, 2016; 112:39–45.
doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.09.025 ↗

Many body washes, exfoliants, and toothpastes have historically contained polyethylene microbeads. While rinse-off microbeads are banned in several countries, microplastic particles from synthetic packaging and formulation ingredients remain common.

Jiménez-Skrzypek G. et al. Microplastics in cosmetics and personal care products. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021.