You might be drinking thousands of pieces of plastic a year and not even know it.

They’re called microplastics—microscopic shreds of plastic that can silently slip into your bloodstream, cling to your organs, and even reach your brain.

Think of them like smoke in the air—too small to see, but dangerous with every breath (or sip).

And with plastic production exploding, the threat is only growing.

Let’s dive into why microplastics are dangerous, how they're getting into our water supply, and how to keep them out of your glass.

They’re showing up everywhere: in bottled water, tap water, food, air—even inside us.

That's because plastic doesn't decompose like a banana peel.

Instead, it breaks down through a process called photodegradation, where sunlight, heat, and friction gradually break it into smaller and smaller pieces.

Over time, one plastic bottle can splinter into millions of microscopic fragments called microplastics—and eventually nanoplastics—that almost never fully disappear from the environment.

At less than 5 millimeters in size, microplastics are about the size of a sesame seed (or smaller). And nanoplastics are up to 5,000 times smaller than microplastics.

Some are so tiny, they can pass through cellular membranes and cross the blood-brain barrier, where they can infiltrate vital organs and tissue.

That's why they're not just in the environment... they're in us.

Studies have found microplastics and nanoplastics in placental tissue, breast milk, lungs, and even the human brain.

But why does that matter?

Because these tiny particles are like chemical delivery systems, carrying toxins like BPA and phthalates into the body.

And these chemicals are known to:

• Disrupt hormones

• Interfere with metabolism

• Affect fertility, immune health, and brain development.

In fact, one recent study found that individuals with dementia had up to 10x more microplastics in their brains than those without—suggesting a possible link to Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Microplastics exposure has also been linked to:

• Heart disease and stroke

• Reproductive issues

• Immune system dysfunction

• Reduced infant weight

• Colon cancer and digestive problems

And perhaps most concerning: researchers admit we’re only beginning to understand the full scope of harm microplastics may cause.

Meanwhile, the average person now consumes about 5 grams of plastic every week—roughly the size of a credit card—primarily through drinking water, food, and plasticware.

Yes—even the water you drink at home may be at risk.

That's because microplastics sneak into public water sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater, then slip through conventional filtration systems at treatment plants.

Here's how it happens:

• Plastic Debris: Sunlight and weather break down plastic litter into smaller pieces that can flow into lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

• Clothing: Wearing and washing polyester, nylon, and acrylic clothing can release microplastics into both the environment and wastewater systems.

• Personal Care Products: Some toothpastes, scrubs, and cosmetics contain microbeads—tiny plastic particles that easily enter waterways.

• Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizers and plastic mulch used in farming can break down and leach microplastics into soil and water supplies.

• Plastic Pipes: Older plumbing made from PVC or similar plastics may degrade over time, releasing microplastics into tap water.

• Tires, Paint, Plastic Bags, and Other Waste: Everyday items shed microplastics into the environment through friction, erosion, and decay.

A landmark 2017 study by Orb Media analyzed 159 tap water samples from cities across five continents. The results were startling: 94% of U.S. tap water samples contained microplastic fibers—the highest contamination rate of any country tested.

More recent research suggests Americans may ingest approximately 4,000 microplastic particles per year from tap water alone.

In other words, there's no question microplastics are in our tap water—and we're drinking them.

Despite these findings, the EPA still has no federal limit on microplastic levels in U.S. drinking water.

While some states like California have begun implementing their own testing protocols and water quality guidelines, water treatment facilities are not required to test for microplastics and most aren't equipped to filter them out.

And if you're considering bottled water as a safer alternative, think again...

Studies suggest Americans consume 4,000 to 7,000 microplastic particles per year from tap water.

Meanwhile, a 2024 study found an average of 240,000 plastic particles per liter of bottled water (around 90% of which were nanoplastics). That's roughly 24 times more microplastics per liter than tap water.

And it gets worse...

Leaving single-use plastic water bottles in the sun accelerates plastic leaching. Plus, recent research suggests simply twisting the cap on plastic water bottles can release hundreds more microplastic particles right into the water inside.

Plastic production has exploded from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to over 400 million metrics tons in 2023.

Meanwhile, around 85% of single-use plastic bottles end up in landfills or as pollution, where they can take centuries to breakdown.

Point is: The problem is accelerating. And at this point, the EPA is not required to do anything it.

Thus, you need to protect yourself.

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