Plastics and your health

An evidence-based look at how plastics and their chemicals enter our bodies, what they do to our health, and the science, laws, and resources behind the fight for a healthier future.

Change is coming!

California’s legislation for combatting plastic pollution and mitigating human health effects

*Including Statewide Microplastics Strategy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements

Microplastics & Health-Related Actions (2022–2026)

SB 1263 Statewide Microplastics Strategy (2022)
DTSC Safer Consumer Products (2025): Candidate Chemical
AB 2300-The California Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act (2024) it bans the manufacture, sale and use of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in IV bags and tubing in California

Plastic Pollution Legislation

SB 54 (Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act - 2022): shifts the burden from consumers to producers.
SB1053 Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund - 2026): expands the SB 54 framework
SB 343 (Truth in Labeling Act - 2022): Prohibits the use of the chasing-arrows recycling symbol on products

Single-Use and Checkout Bans

Statewide Plastic Bag Ban (2025-2026)
AB 1276 Foodware-upon-request “Skip the Stuff”- 2021

What is plastic?

Plastic is created from fossil fuels and chemicals
Plastics consist of long molecular chains called polymers made of strongly-bound monomers that don’t break down in nature.
Chemicals called additives (16,000+) are added to make the polymers usable and transform the plastic into shapes and items we recognize.
The chemicals can break down or leach out into our soil, our food, and the air we breathe.

Click image to expand

The impacts of climate change on human health relating to air pollution, changes in vector ecology, increased allergens, water quality, water and food supply, environmental degradation, extreme heat, and severe weather.

Source: https://www.plasticsforchange.org/blog/different-types-of-plastic

The Plastic Life Cycle

Extraction and refining

Fossil fuels refined into monomers like ethylene and propylene.

Manufacturing

Monomers are converted into plastic resins through polymerization, then formed into pellets, flakes, or products.

Distribution and Usage

Products are packaged and shipped. Many are single-use items.

Disposal

Products are discarded in landfills, incinerated (releasing toxic chemicals), or escape into the environment.

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Persistent Environmental Impact

Plastic is not biodegradeable, but breaks down via ultraviolet rays into microplastics which contaminate the soil, water, enter the food chain, and enters the human body

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Extraction & Refining

Fossil fuels refined into monomers like ethylene and propylene.

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Manufacturing

Monomers are converted into plastic resins through polymerization, then formed into pellets, flakes, or products

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Distribution & Usage

Products are packaged and shipped. Many are single-use items

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Disposal

Products are discarded in landfills, incinerated (releasing toxic chemicals), or escape into the environment

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Persistent Environmental Impact

plastic is not biodegradeable, but breaks down via ultraviolet rays into microplastics which contaminate the soil, water, enter the food chain, and enters the human body

Plastic does not biodegrade; it breaks down into smaller pieces.

Plastic pieces are formed by the degradation of plastic waste and:

Contaminate air, water, and food.
Cross biological barriers, accumulating in human tissues raising concerns about inflammation, cell damage, and long-term health effects

Microplastics are visible pieces of plastic

Nanoplastics are far smaller - invisible to the naked eye and small enough to interact with human cells.

How We’re Exposed to Plastics

We’re Exposed to Plastics via Three Routes:

Inhalation - The Respiratory Barrier
- The Route: We breathe in airborne microplastics suspended in indoor and outdoor environments.
- The Mechanism: Particles that are small enough can bypass the respiratory tract's natural defenses and deposit into the deep lungs. From there, they can easily cross the delicate alveolar-capillary membrane directly into the pulmonary blood vessels.
Ingestion - The Gut Barrier (The most common route of exposure)
- The Route: Particles are consumed via drinking water, food (seafood, salt, sugar), and shedding from food packaging or plastic utensils.
- The Mechanism: In the digestive tract, nano- and microplastics can cross the intestinal epithelium (the gut lining) via endocytosis or paracellular diffusion and enter the lymphatic system or directly into nearby capillaries.
Dermal contact - The Skin Barrier
- The Route: Exposure comes from everyday contact with synthetic clothing, cosmetics, and personal care products.
- The Mechanism: While the skin is generally a strong barrier, microscopic tears or highly permeable sweat glands and hair follicles can allow incredibly small nanoparticles to seep through the cutaneous layer and eventually reach local blood vessels.

Diagram of the different ways the human can be exposed to plastics.

Are we becoming plastic people?

Humans ingest, inhale or absorb roughly the weight of a credit card (5 grams) weekly
Emerging studies have found evidence of plastic across all major organ system throughout the human body.

Minadroo-Monaco report

Health Impacts of Plastic Exposure

Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDCs)

EDC’s
- Once inside the body, nanoplastics are internalized by cells and can cross epithelial barriers.
- They enter systemic circulation and can be transported to deep tissues, bypassing natural defenses to settle in organs like the liver, spleen, and brain.
Disruption of Endocrine Functions
- The added chemicals in plastics and environmental pollutants easily leach out once inside the body
- They act by mimicking, blocking, or altering natural hormones (like estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones)
- The presence of these foreign nanoparticles in tissues triggers chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.
- This sustained cellular stress alters the function of major endocrine glands, such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries.

Diagram of three humans at various stages and genders with labels showing conditions caused by EDCs.

Diagram of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Impacts of Plastic

Respiratory, Cardiovascular and GI impact

Inhalation and ingestion of MPs and NPs trigger systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell damage.
Studies link these pollutants to lung tissue damage and a significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes

Respiratory, Cardiovascular and GI impact

As MPs and NPs enter the bloodstream and accumulate in immune organs (spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes),
They interfere with macrophages, impairing their ability to fight off viruses and bacteria.
Oxidative Stress & Inflammation: Leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death, and the release of inflammatory chemicals—resulting in chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Barrier Breakdown: Disrupt the gut lining, can alter the microbiome composition. and can exacerbate conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Plastic particles often act as carriers for heavy metals, pesticides, and bacterial pathogens, amplifying their toxicological impact on the body.

Reduce Plastic

The Recycling Myth

Most Plastic isn’t truly recyclable because it is:

Easily contaminated
Chemically complex containing more than 16,000 distinct chemical
Degrades with processing
Recycled plastic often contains higher levels of toxic chemicals
Economically unattractive to recycle

These are the materials can be reprocessed or “recycled”

#1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Clear, rigid plastics used for water bottles, soda bottles, and peanut butter jars.
#2 HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Opaque, stiff plastics used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and laundry detergent containers.

Conditionally Recyclable Plastics

Acceptance depends entirely on your local facility's capabilities:

#5 PP (Polypropylene): Used for yogurt tubs, margarine tubs, and takeout containers. Processing rates are much lower, and many curbside programs do not accept them.

Diagram showing the many ways that plastics are not recyclable.

Plastics in Healthcare

U.S. Healthcare facilities produce 15,000 tons of waste daily, 25% of that is plastic
Health risks: Many devices contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and hazardous additives like DEHP (phthalates), which can leach into patients.
Limited Recycling: Most healthcare waste is not contaminated but is often not separated and sorted from contaminated waste. It is then incinerated, releasing hazardous emissions.
The shift toward disposable items—such as syringes, IV bags, and PPE—drives the crisis, with, on average, seven bags of plastic produced per patient
Global Injustice: Developed countries often export waste, with under-resourced nations bearing the burden of managing it.

Diagram showing the many products used in health care that can only be used once

Alternatives for Health Care

Diagram showing alternative products to single-use plastics in healthcare

Nurses can work to reduce plastic consumption by:

Advocating for Reusables
Rationalizing Supply Stocking
Prioritizing proper segregation of waste--proper use of red biohazard bags
Get involved with audits
Promote educational campaigns for sustainability practices and waste management
Global Advocacy: Supporting international efforts, such as the Global Plastics Treaty, to hold the healthcare sector accountable for reducing its environmental footprint

Initiatives and Resources

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH): A network that connects hospitals to implement sustainability initiatives.
Plastics Toolkit for Hospitals: A guide by HCWH Southeast Asia to help facilities audit and reduce plastic waste.
Sustainable Procurement: Strategies to select greener materials and reduce toxic chemical use

7 Harmful Chemicals Types

Bisphenols (e.g., BPA, BPS): Used in polycarbonate plastics (#7) and epoxy resins to create hard, shatterproof plastics.
Phthalates (e.g., DEHP, DINP): Used to make plastics flexible (often found in #3 PVC).
Flame Retardants (e.g., PBDEs): Added to electronic plastic casings and foams to reduce flammability.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Often called "forever chemicals," these are used in food wrappers and to make plastics grease- or water-resistant.
Dioxins and Furans: Not intentionally added but formed during the manufacturing and incineration of PVC plastic.
Alkylphenols: Used as stabilizers and in plastic production
UV stabilizers/Heavy Metals: Used as stabilizers or pigments (especially in PVC or low-cost, brightly colored plastics)

Read Article "Toxic threats from plastic waste"

Click a chemical name to read more below

1. Bisphenols

Bisphenols (e.g., BPA, BPS): Used in polycarbonate plastics (#7) and epoxy resins to create hard, shatterproof plastics.

A group of industrial chemical compounds related to diphenylmethane. commonly used in the production of plastics and epoxy resins.
Primarily used to harden plastics (polycarbonate) and create epoxy resins for lining food/drink cans, as well as in thermal paper receipts.
"Bisphenol" is a common name; the letter following denotes the variant, which has additional substituents.
Many bisphenols, including Bisphenols A (BPA), F (BPF) and S (BPS), have been shown to be endocrine disruptors, potentially relating to adverse health effects
Bisphenols are linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, infertility, and neurodevelopmental issues, particularly with prenatal or early-life exposure.

2. Phthalates

Phthalates (e.g., DEHP, DINP): Used to make plastics flexible (often found in #3 PVC).
Phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid.
Used to increase the flexibility, transparency and durability of plastics, particularly in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Heavily used in food packaging and clothing
Endocrine Disruptors:
- They interfere with hormones, affecting reproduction and development.
- Developmental Issues: Exposure during pregnancy may affect child development and, in males, cause reproductive harm.
Other Potential Effects: Studies suggest links to cancer, asthma, and behavioral issues in children.
Chronic Disease: High exposure levels have been associated with increased risk of heart disease-related mortality in adults

3. Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)

Flame Retardants (e.g., PBDEs): Added to electronic plastic casings and foams to reduce flammability.
Are organobromine compounds that have an inhibitory effect on combustion and reduce the flammability of products containing them
BFRs are frequently incorporated into plastics, such as high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
Commonly used in electrical/electronic equipment housings and circuitry., black kitchen utensils and toys
BFRs leach from products and have been detected in household dust, air, and, in recycled plastic products (such as toys and food service ware).

Diagram of common plastic items that are made from BFRs

4. PFAS and PFOA Per- and Polyfluorinated Compounds

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Often called "forever chemicals," these are used in food wrappers and to make plastics grease- or water-resistant.
Make plastics water and stain resistant, reduce friction, improve durability, and help molded parts release easily from machines.
Persistence,"forever chemicals"
Strong carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down easily
Accumulate in the environment and human tissues.
Exposure is linked to elevated cholesterol, reduced vaccine response, thyroid diseases, low infant birth weights, pregnancy complications, and kidney/testicular cancers.
They bioaccumulate by moving through the food chain, with seafood, eggs, and milk from contaminated areas being significant exposure sources

5. Dioxins and Furans

Dioxins and Furans: Not intentionally added but formed during the manufacturing and incineration of PVC plastic.
Dioxins and Furans are highly toxic, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) unintentionally generated during the manufacturing, chlorine bleaching, and incineration of plastics.
The incineration of PVC, is a major source of these compounds.
Incomplete combustion of plastics like PE, PP, PS, and PVC in low-temperature waste fires releases these pollutants into the air, where they settle into soil and water.
They bioaccumulate in the environment
They can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer
Over 90% of human exposure is through food, particularly meat and daily

diagram of how dioxins and furans are in plastic

6. Alkylphenols (AP’s)

Alkylphenols: Used as stabilizers and in plastic production
The most common AP variants found in plastic are nonylphenol and octylphenol
Used for protecting plastics (especially PVC) from degradation, and act as UV stabilizers.
Known as Endocrine disruptors and are linked to higher breast cancer risk and low sperm counts
AP’s leach from plastic containers, especially when exposed to heat, as shown in studies of PET bottled water and food packaging.

Diagram of how Alkylphenols are in plastics

7. UV Stabilizers

UV stabilizers/Heavy Metals: Used as stabilizers or pigments (especially in PVC or low-cost, brightly colored plastics)
Chemical additives (such as benzotriazoles or HALS) incorporated into plastics to prevent degradation caused by sunlight.
Benzotriazoles and other UV stabilizers (BUVS) used in plastics do not biodegradable effectively and accumulate in the environment.
Pose significant health risks:
- Many UV stabilizers, notably UV-328, are highly persistent in the environment and can accumulate in human tissue, blood, and milk
- Act as endocrine disruptors-interfering with estrogen and androgen receptors resulting in reduced fertility, reproductive system issues, and developmental harm.
- Exposure is linked to liver damage, kidney damage, immunotoxicity, and neurotoxicity
- Linked to cancer, immune system suppression, and developmental issues

Book recommendations

The Problem with Plastic

by Judith Enck with Adam Mahoney

How we can save ourselves and our planet before it’s too late.

Plastic is everywhere—wrapped around our food, stitched into our clothes, even coursing through our veins. Once a marvel of modern science, plastic has become so inextricably woven into our lives that imagining a world without it can seem impossible.

A Poison Like No Other

by Matt Simon

How microplastics corrupted our planet and our bodies.

It’s falling from the sky and in the air we breathe. It’s in our food, our clothes, and our homes. It’s microplastic and it’s everywhere—including our own bodies. Scientists are just beginning to discover how these tiny particles threaten health, but the studies are alarming.

Count Down

by Shanna H. Swan and Stacey Colino

How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race

In 2017, author Shanna Swan and her team of researchers completed a major study. They found that over the past four decades, sperm levels among men in Western countries have dropped by more than 50 percent.

Year of No Garbage

by Eve O. Schaub

Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman's Trashy Journey to Zero Waste

In this book Eve O. Schaub, humorist and stunt memoirist extraordinaire, tackles her most difficult challenge to date: garbage. Convincing her husband and two daughters to go along with her, Schaub attempts the seemingly impossible: living in the modern world without creating any trash at all. For an entire year. And- as it turns out- during a pandemic.