Microplastics research hub
Every major microplastics study explained
Plain-English explainers of every landmark microplastics study: NEJM, PNAS, McGill, UCLA, UNM, WHO. Where microplastics have been detected, what the numbers actually say, and the limits of what the research can tell us. All primary citations linked.
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3 studies
Cardiovascular & circulation
The single most consequential finding so far: microplastics in arterial plaque associate with a 4.53× higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death (NEJM 2024).
2024 NEJM
Microplastics in Arterial Plaque
Marfella et al.: 58.4% of carotid plaques contain polyethylene; 4.53× cardiovascular event risk.
2022 Leslie
Microplastics in Human Blood
First detection of plastic particles in human blood across 77% of 22 healthy donors.
Review
Microplastics and Cancer
Inflammation, oxidative damage, and endocrine pathways linking microplastics to cancer risk.
3 studies
Brain & neurological
A 2025 UNM study found microplastics in human brains increased 50% over 8 years, with dementia patients showing 10× higher concentrations.
2025 UNM
Microplastics in the Brain
Nihart et al.: brain microplastic load up 50% in 8 years; 10× in dementia patients.
2025 UNM
Microplastics and Alzheimer's / Dementia
The 10× study explained: mechanism, limitations, and what seniors can do.
Review
Nanoplastics vs Microplastics
Why size matters: nanoplastics cross the blood-brain barrier; microplastics generally do not.
4 studies
Pregnancy & reproduction
Microplastics have been detected in 100% of human placentas tested (UNM 2024), in amniotic fluid, in semen, and in breast milk. The pregnancy window is the highest-stakes exposure-reduction window.
2024 UNM
Microplastics in the Placenta
100% of 62 placentas tested, averaging ~127 μg/g; polyethylene dominant.
Review
Microplastics in Amniotic Fluid
Three routes of fetal exposure: what studies have found from week 12 onward.
2022 Ragusa
Microplastics in Breast Milk
First detection in breast milk: which plastics, how they get there, what to do.
2024
Microplastics in Semen
Detected in every semen sample tested in two 2024 studies; correlated with sperm quality.
5 studies
Tissue accumulation & exposure
Where microplastics end up in the body, and the studies that measured how many we ingest.
Review
How Much Plastic Do We Eat Per Week?
The widely-cited "credit card of plastic per week" stat: what the research actually says.
2025 UCLA
Microplastics in Chewing Gum
A single piece releases hundreds of particles.
Review
Microplastics and Gut Health
Microbiome disruption, intestinal inflammation, particles detected in human stool.
Review
Microplastics and Diabetes
BPA and phthalate exposure linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk.
Review
Microplastics and Thyroid
How BPA, BPS, PFAS, and phthalates disrupt thyroid hormone signaling.
3 studies
Exposure source studies
The studies that quantified how much plastic comes from specific products and packaging.
2024 PNAS
Bottled Water: 240,000 Particles/L
Qian et al.: ~240,000 particles per liter, ~90% nanoplastics.
2024
Electric Kettles: 11.8M Particles/mL
A new plastic kettle releases up to 11.8 million nanoplastic particles per mL on first boil.
2026
International Drinking Water Report 2026
WHO, PNAS, EPA findings on global drinking water contamination.
1 study
Policy & regulation
How regulators are responding to the evidence, and what changes for consumers in 2026.
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