Understanding Microplastics

Microplastics, they are a ubiquitous class of substances that are in damn near everything. Everyone of us has plastic in our blood. Whether through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal contact, these substances can have various effects on human health like endocrine disruption, gastrointestinal problems, and respiratory consequences. A in-depth study on the various ways microplastics enter our bodies, and the potential health effects they have can be found at science direct.

The average size of microplastics typically ranges from 1 micron (1 μm) to 5 millimeters (5,000 μm) in diameter. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Primary Microplastics: Intentionally small particles, such as those found in cosmetics, toothpaste, or industrial abrasives, often measure between 1 μm to 1,000 μm (1 mm).
• Secondary Microplastics: Resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic debris through UV radiation, weathering, and physical wear, these fragments typically fall into the range of 100 μm to 5 mm.

Here is a helpful image to better understand the size of common objects:

Taking Action: Investing in Filtration

Invest in a water filter that filters out all of these chemicals, a reverse osmosis filter in conjunction with a carbon filter will do the trick. Reverse osmosis membranes can remove particles larger than .001 microns. The smallest microplastic particles can be around 1 micrometer. RO filters are a great way to eliminate contaminants that a standard carbon filter cannot.

Personal Accountability

Don’t rely on your local government, take matters into your own hands to give you that peace of mind. A tool to check your local water supply’s levels of these chemicals can be found Here Here