Microplastics - October 2025 Newsletter
Microplastics
Hello, this is Dr. Ellen. In this month’s newsletter, I want to talk about the possible health challenges we might be facing from the ever-increasing amount of microplastics finding their way into our bodies. I will review some of what has been discovered and what might be done to help decrease our exposure.
By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to see my previous newsletters, you can find them on my website, www.drellencutler.com under ‘Free Resources’.
A Ubiquitous Problem
Microplastics (and even smaller nanoplastics) form from larger plastic objects, which break down into our air, water, and food. They can be found anywhere and everywhere in our environment.(1) Globally, we produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastics every year, a large percentage of which is disposed of in the oceans. Plastic accounts for about 85% of all the refuse and waste found in our oceans. The problem is compounded by the fact that plastics take hundreds of years to decompose. Plastic poses great health risks to marine animals, where they can accidentally ingest or disrupt ecosystems.(2)
But of even greater concern is that microplastics have been discovered in the tissues of living animals, including every part of the human body that has been examined. They have even been found in organs that have additional protective barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier. Tiny fragments of plastic and the chemicals used to make them, including phthalates that are used to give more flexibility, durability, and longevity to plastics (such as polyvinyl chloride [PVC]), are found everywhere. A newborn taking their first breath is immediately exposed to plastic-related chemicals.(1)
Common sources of microplastics in our everyday environments include household dust, indoor air, personal care products, and synthetic clothing such as polyester and fleece. Microplastics also come from plastic packaging and containers used to store or cover the food we eat or the water we drink, food can liners (which contain bisphenol A [BPA]), and plastic tea bags. Heating plastics covering or containing foods or liquids (e.g., microwaving) significantly increases the release and enhances the transfer of microplastics to the contained food or beverage. Chewing gum releases thousands of microplastic particles, as does simply opening a plastic water bottle.(1) Counterintuitively, a recent study in France found that with the exception of wine, the microplastic content of glass bottled beverages, including water, cola, tea, lemonade, and beer, was significantly higher than found in plastic bottled beverages!(3)
Concerns over Microplastics
Exposure of the human body to microplastics by way of the food and water we ingest, the air we breathe, and even the materials we touch may pose potential health risks. One review includes cancer, immunotoxicity, intestinal diseases, pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, and even exposure of the unborn during pregnancy as possible health risks.(4) Another systematic review found that microplastics are “suspected” to have harmful effects on human digestive, respiratory, and reproductive health; and an association to colon and lung cancer.(5) Although there has been correlation demonstrated between microplastics and illnesses, however, it is still unclear if microplastics are directly causing those illnesses.
An increasing number of concerned investigators have made some disturbing discoveries. In one study, patients with carotid artery plaque in which micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) were detected had a higher risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death at 34 months of follow-up compared to those in whom MNPs were not detected.(6) Another study found a trend of increasing concentrations of MNPs in the brain and liver, and brain samples from dementia cases exhibited even greater levels of MNPs.(7) A study on mice found that a specific microplastic, polystyrene, may interact with a specific gene, APOE4, and promote cognitive dysfunction and alter immune and metabolic pathways which may contribute to disease-like states.(8) Animal and in-vitro studies have found microplastics associated with markers of oxidative stress, which are linked to long-term inflammation and increased risk of chronic disease. Also, plastics often carry compounds such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors that can interfere with reproductive and thyroid hormone signaling.(9)
What can be done?
Obviously, given the health concerns of the seemingly ever-increasing amounts of microplastics, the need for common sense regulations on local, national, and especially international levels is required.(9) This would cover a number of areas. Reducing the amount of plastics produced would help decrease the burden of MNPs, as would reusing and/or actual recycling of existing plastic products. Utilizing environmentally safe methods for disposal of other plastics would further help decrease the burden. Another avenue for improvement is using materials other than those that produce MNPs, such as glass or biodegradable bioplastics instead of conventional plastic.(4)
But what can each of us as individuals do now? Changes in our daily practices and the choices we make may help reduce the release of microplastics into waterways, such as using natural instead of synthetic clothing and personal care products, and avoiding single-use plastic items like bags, cups, and bottles.(4) Other changes we can make to decrease our own exposure to microplastics include storing and heating food in glass or ceramic instead of plastic containers (especially when microwaving), using wood or bamboo cutting boards and glass or stainless steel bottles, using an appropriate filter for drinking water and a HEPA filter for indoor air, and vacuuming and wet mopping regularly.(1)
Ellen Cutler Method (ECM)
Over my years of practice, I have had many opportunities to use ECM energetic testing methods to determine if there were specific reactivities, often including MNPs, related to many of the conditions mentioned above, as well as to identify optimal lifestyle choices. Once uncovered, I have used ECM clearing methods to desensitize the identified reactivities. Those desensitized to MNPs have frequently reported symptomatic improvements, oftentimes after also moving toward a whole food plant-based diet and sometimes when making the changes described in the paragraph above used to help decrease exposure to MNPs. Although I cannot say that this implies that MNPs were causative or contributory to the problems, my testing has indicated that the changes in lifestyle were likely beneficial to the overall health and wellbeing of those patients.
Please be well, be healthy, but remember…
“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.”
― from the song “Garbage” by Pete Seeger
Dr. Ellen
References:
“How to reduce microplastic exposure and protect your health” at https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/05/how-to-reduce-microplastic-exposure-and-protect-your-health/
“15 Plastic Pollution Quotes to Inspire You to Go Waste Free” at https://earth.org/plastic-pollution-quotes/
“Microplastic contaminations in a set of beverages sold in France” at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157525005344
“Microplastic sources, formation, toxicity and remediation: a review” at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10072287/
“Effects of Microplastic Exposure on Human Digestive, Reproductive, and Respiratory Health: A Rapid Systematic Review” at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c09524
“Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events” at https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
“Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains” at https://hsc.unm.edu/news/2025/_media/41591_2024_article_3453.pdf
“Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics alters cognition, immune, and metabolic markers in an apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and sex-dependent manner” at https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7620/adf8ae
“Impact of Microplastics on Human Health: Risks, Diseases, and Affected Body Systems” at https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8929/4/2/23
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease.
