Microplastics Continue to Threaten Public Health – mercola.com

Story at-a-glance

Microplastics mimic hormones like estrogen, leading to health issues such as infertility and breast cancer due to their endocrine-disrupting properties
These particles are linked to increased risks of heart attack and stroke, highlighting their broader impact on cardiovascular health
Plastic production is projected to increase by 70% by 2040, exacerbating pollution and human exposure to microplastics
Microplastics accumulate in organs, causing inflammation and immune disruption, which leads to chronic health conditions
Strategies to reduce microplastic exposure include using reusable items, avoiding plastic packaging and implementing legislative measures like plastic bag bans

Microplastics and nanoplastics have infiltrated every corner of our environment and bodies. These tiny particles, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, are characterized by their minuscule size — microplastics measuring less than 5 millimeters and nanoplastics under 0.1 micrometers — and easily penetrate and accumulate within the human body.

Once inside your body, these plastic particles mimic natural hormones like estrogen, disrupting the endocrine system and exacerbating hormone-driven conditions such as breast cancer. This hormonal chaos also has profound implications for reproductive health worldwide, necessitating the need for policies that reduce both plastic waste and subsequent exposure.

The Effects of Microplastics on Hormonal Health

A recent report published in Forbes highlights the pervasive presence of microplastics in our environment and their impact on human health.¹ Specifically, it explores how these tiny plastic particles interact with our hormonal systems and the broader implications of their widespread contamination.

To start, the report touched on the impact of microplastics as endocrine disruptors. For context, endocrine disruptors are substances that interfere with hormone function, and in this case, microplastics were identified as major culprits. These particles mimic natural hormones like estrogen and cortisol. As noted by Dr. Christopher Thompson, a medical professor at Harvard University:²

“By mimicking hormones like estrogen and cortisol, microplastics may contribute to weight gain, metabolic issues, fertility and other serious health problems.”

Once microplastics enter your body, estrogen dominance occurs — a state where there is too much estrogen relative to other hormones. This contributes to infertility and increases the risk of hormone-driven cancers, such as breast cancer.³

Furthermore, the report underscored the connection between microplastic exposure and serious cardiovascular risks. Another previously published Forbes report indicated that individuals exposed to higher levels of microplastics face an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. This association highlights the broader health implications of microplastics beyond hormonal disruptions.^4,5

What causes the different health problems to appear? Simply put, it’s the bioaccumulation of microplastics in your various organs. As microplastics enter your body through ingestion, inhalation or skin contact, they travel to different organs, including the liver, kidneys and brain. Once there, they release endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which interfere with normal hormonal functions, subsequently contributing to oxidative stress.^6,7

Microplastics also cause chronic inflammation, which is a significant concern for public health.⁸ Inflammation is the body’s natural response to harmful stimuli, but when it becomes chronic, it leads to a host of health issues, including autoimmune diseases and increased susceptibility to infections.^9,10,11,12

Enacting Waste Reduction on a Massive Scale

The Forbes report also addressed the environmental aspect of microplastics. In particular, over 400 million tons of plastic is discarded annually. This massive waste contributes to the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in our water, air and soil. The sheer volume has spurred authorities to come up with various solutions, or else we’ll end up being buried in plastic waste that will take centuries to decompose.¹³

One strategy that authorities have tried is banning single-use plastic bags, which was proven to be effective in reducing plastic litter and pollution. The European Union’s target for citizens to use a maximum of 40 plastic bags per year is an example of international efforts to curb plastic pollution. However, more policies are needed to help curb plastic exposure right at the beginning.¹⁴

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Recycling Plastic Isn’t an Effective Way to Reduce Waste

A study published in Nanomaterials highlights the alarming scale of plastic production and its subsequent environmental dispersion. In 2019 alone, global plastic production surpassed 368 million tons, with a significant portion inadequately managed and disposed of. This rampant production trend is set to reach 736 million tons by 2040, intensifying pollution levels and increasing human exposure to plastics.¹⁵

In another report, published by Smaller Footprint Co., found that although plastics have become integral to modern life, their overuse and poor management have led to severe environmental challenges.¹⁶

Moreover, the report highlights the rapid increase in global plastic production, which doubled between 2000 and 2019 and is expected to rise by 70% by 2040. The study emphasizes that recycling alone is insufficient to address the growing plastic crisis, as only 6% of plastics are projected to be recycled by 2040.¹⁷

One contributing factor to the dismal recycling is the concept of “recycling bias” or “reduction neglect.” This means that people often prioritize recycling over avoiding plastic consumption in the first place. Why? Consumers feel justified in using more plastics, mistakenly believing that sending waste to recycling centers will mitigate the environmental impact.

Recycling bias undermines efforts to decrease overall plastic consumption, as the reliance on recycling detracts from more effective strategies. Consequently, without addressing the root cause, plastic leakage into the environment will continue to escalate. To combat this, the report suggests shifting focus toward mindful consumption. By consciously reducing plastic use from the beginning, you’ll be able to make a more significant impact on lowering plastic pollution.¹⁸

Other suggestions include implementing a plastics-free day each week, choosing reusable items and supporting brands that prioritize reducing their plastic footprint. These actions promote sustainable habits that are both achievable and reasonable, encouraging long-term behavioral changes.¹⁹

The report emphasizes that small, consistent changes will lead to significant reductions in plastic consumption over time.²⁰ For example, advocating sustainable brands will play a crucial role in driving broader change. By choosing companies committed to reducing their plastic use, consumers will eventually influence the market so much so that other companies will adopt environmentally responsible practices.²¹

How to Reduce Your Dependence on Plastics

Microplastics are a significant threat to the public’s hormonal health and overall well-being. In fact, I believe that it’s one of the biggest contributors to declining fertility rates. Tackling this issue requires a multifaceted approach that results in reducing plastic usage in your daily life. Here are some effective strategies I recommend:

1.Opt for reusable shopping bags — Switch to reusable bags made from materials like canvas or other sustainable fabrics when you go grocery shopping. This simple change will significantly reduce the number of single-use plastic bags you bring into your home, diminishing the accumulation of plastics in the environment and lowering your personal plastic exposure.

2.Choose alternatives to plastic containers — Use glass, stainless steel or BPA-free containers for storing food and beverages. Avoid plastic wraps and opt for beeswax wraps or silicone lids instead. This not only reduces the leaching of harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates but also minimizes the ingestion of microplastics from food packaging.

3.Avoid single-use plastics — Reduce your reliance on single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery and water bottles. Carry your own reusable utensils and invest in a durable, refillable water bottle. These will help decrease the overall production and disposal of plastic waste, addressing the root cause of microplastic pollution.

4.Limit use of plastic in your home — Minimize the use of plastic products in your household by replacing them with natural or eco-friendly alternatives. For instance, use bamboo or metal toothbrushes instead of plastic ones, choose wooden or glass dishes, and opt for natural cleaning products that come in non-plastic packaging.

This comprehensive approach helps lower the presence of plastics in your living environment, reducing the risk of chronic exposure to endocrine disruptors.

Other Strategies to Help Reduce Plastic Exposure

Exposure to plastic packaging is one of the most common ways people get microplastics inside their body, but there are other routes as well. According to published research, microplastics enter your body through your skin and nose. This means that you also have to pay attention to other plastics in your household.

For parents, I recommend replacing plastic toys with those made from sustainable, clean materials. Similarly, replace all your household cleaning products and cosmetics that contain phthalates with natural alternatives.

The very items that make up the identity of your home are also made from plastics. These include vinyl blinds, flooring and wallpaper. Once dust settles on these items, it becomes contaminated and easily inhaled by people in the home.

In cases of estrogen dominance, supplemental progesterone can be helpful. Progesterone is a natural estrogen antagonist and will counteract the adverse effects of excess estrogen. It’s one of four hormones I believe many adults can benefit from. The remaining three are thyroid hormone T34, DHEA and pregnenolone. In the next section, I’ll go into detail how to administer progesterone properly.

How to Use Progesterone

Before you consider using progesterone, it is important to understand that it is not a magic bullet, and that you get the most benefit by implementing a Bioenergetic diet approach that allows you to effectively burn glucose as your primary fuel without backing up electrons in your mitochondria that reduces your energy production. My new book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy,” covers this process in great detail.

Once you have dialed in your diet, an effective strategy that can help counteract estrogen excess is to take transmucosal progesterone (i.e., applied to your gums, not oral or transdermal), which is a natural estrogen antagonist. Progesterone is one of only four hormones I believe many adults can benefit from. (The other three are thyroid hormone T3, DHEA and pregnenolone.)

I do not recommend transdermal progesterone, as your skin expresses high levels of 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which causes a significant portion of the progesterone you’re taking to be irreversibly converted primarily into allopregnanolone and cannot be converted back into progesterone.

Ideal Way to Administer Progesterone

Please note that when progesterone is used transmucosally on your gums as I advise, the FDA believes that somehow converts it into a drug and prohibits any company from advising that on its label. This is why companies like Health Natura promotes their progesterone products as “topical.”

However, please understand that it is perfectly legal for any physician to recommend an off-label indication for a drug to their patient. In this case, progesterone is a natural hormone and not a drug and is very safe even in high doses. This is unlike synthetic progesterone called progestins that are used by drug companies, but frequently, and incorrectly, referred.

Dr. Ray Peat has done the seminal work in progesterone and probably was the world’s greatest expert on progesterone. He wrote his Ph.D. on estrogen in 1982 and spent most of his professional career documenting the need to counteract the dangers of excess estrogen with low LA diets and transmucosal progesterone supplementation.

He determined that most solvents do not dissolve progesterone well and discovered that vitamin E is the best solvent to optimally provide progesterone in your tissue. Vitamin E also protects you against damage from LA. You just need to be very careful about which vitamin E you use as most supplemental vitamin E on the market is worse than worthless and will cause you harm not benefit.

It is imperative to avoid using any synthetic vitamin E (alpha tocopherol acetate — the acetate indicates that it’s synthetic). Natural vitamin E will be labeled “d alpha tocopherol.” This is the pure D isomer, which is what your body can use.

There are also other vitamin E isomers, and you want the complete spectrum of tocopherols and tocotrienols, specifically the beta, gamma, and delta types, in the effective D isomer. As an example of an ideal vitamin E, you can look at the label on our vitamin E in our store. You can use any brand that has a similar label.

You can purchase pharmaceutical grade bioidentical progesterone as Progesterone Powder, Bioidentical Micronized Powder, 10 grams for about $40 on many online stores like Amazon. That is nearly a year’s supply, depending on the dose you choose.

However, you will need to purchase some small stainless steel measuring spoons as you will need a 1/64 tsp, which is 25 mg and a 1/32 tsp, which is 50 mg. A normal dose is typically 25-50 mg and is taken 30 minutes before bed, as it has an anti-cortisol function and will increase GABA levels for a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, this vendor frequently runs out of product, and if that’s the case, then you can use Simply Progesterone by Health Natura. It’s premixed with vitamin E and MCT oil. Again, while Health Natura states that its product is for “topical use only,” I recommend applying it transmucosally, by rubbing it on your gums.

If you are a menstruating woman, you should take the progesterone during the luteal phase or the last half of your cycle, which can be determined by starting 10 days after the first day of your period and stopping the progesterone when your period starts.

If you are a male or non-menstruating woman, you can take the progesterone every day for four to six months and then cycle off for one week. The best time of day to take progesterone is 30 minutes before bed as it has an anti-cortisol function and will increase GABA levels for a good night’s sleep.

This is what I have been personally doing for over a year with very good results. I am a physician so do not have any problems doing this. If you aren’t a physician, you should consult one before using this therapy, as transmucosal progesterone therapy requires a doctor’s prescription.

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