We Inhale 70,000 Pieces of Plastic a Day from Inside Our Homes

Humans inhale nearly 70,000 pieces of plastic that are small enough to penetrate deep inside our lungs — and they’re largely coming from our homes and cars, according to a new study.

The concentration of microplastics and nanoplastics inside our homes is “higher than previously thought,” according to a study published in the journal Plos, which measured the plastic in the air in living spaces. 

Microplastics are the size of a grain of sand; Nanoplastics are thousands of times smaller than that. And they’re coming from carpets, tile floors, curtains, the interior of cars — all places where humans live, work and spend time indoors with the windows rolled up.

“These particles are smaller than a speck of dust and more than 7 times thinner than the width of a single strand of hair. Upon inhalation, they can penetrate deep into the lungs,” researchers Nadiia Yakovenko and Jeroen E. Sonke, from the French Université de Toulouse, said in a joint statement.

The number of particles they found was 100 times higher than previously thought, and is “the result of the degradation of numerous plastic objects in our homes, including carpet, curtains, paint, textiles, and other household items,” the statement said. 

Cars, in particular, may be a concerning source: ”They are small, enclosed spaces filled with plastic-based materials, like dashboards, seat fabrics, carpets, etc. These materials can shed tiny plastic particles over time, especially by solar irradiance, friction, heat and daily use,” the researchers said.

They continued, “Unlike homes, car cabins often have limited ventilation, allowing microplastic particles to accumulate and concentrate in the air.  As a result, they can be inhaled in higher amounts during regular commutes or long drives.”

When these plastics are inhaled, “tiny particles can enter deep into our respiratory system and potentially cause inflammation or irritation,” the researchers explained.

They noted that microplastics feature toxic additives, including bisphenol A and phthalates, which can enter the bloodstream.

“While research is still ongoing,” the researchers said, “there is concern that long-term exposure to microplastics and their additives may contribute to respiratory problems, disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, reproductive birth defects, infertility, cardiovascular disease, and cancers.”

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Microplastics have been found in human brains, testicles and placenta — to name a few — and one researcher even called them a “time bomb” because of their ubiquity across the globe.