Microplastics

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that contaminate our water, food, air, and even our bodies. While research is limited so far, concern is only growing. Experiments have shown that exposure to microplastics can cause a variety of toxic effects, including oxidative stress (cell damage), metabolic disorders that increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and neurotoxicity, in addition to reproductive and developmental toxicity. The good news: small lifestyle changes and informed choices can help reduce exposure — and collective action can lead to systemic change in New York State and beyond.

🎥 Watch the webinar “Tiny Plastics, Big Problems: How to Protect Yourself from Microplastics with Dr. Megan Wolff and Katrin Scholz-Barth

Hear from two experts—Dr. Megan Wolff, Executive Director of the Physician and Scientist Network Addressing Plastics and Health (PSNAP), and Katrin Scholz-Barth, environmental engineer and educator—on where microplastics come from, how they affect our health, and how we can reduce our exposure.

Webinar recording: 

🎥Learn More: Sirens of The Sea – a documentary about the all-female, Round-The-World eXXpedition Sailing Voyage to collect, research and ultimately fight ocean plastics and toxins. Our plastics webinar speaker Katrin Sholtz Barth was one of the participants! 

💡What can everyone do? 

🧼 Everyday Steps to Reduce Microplastic Exposure

✔️ Choose Safer Products

• Avoid plastic packaging and containers, especially for food and drinks.
• Switch to bar soap and shampoo bars instead of liquid products in plastic bottles.
• Use natural fabrics like cotton, linen, or wool — synthetic clothes shed microplastics in every wash.

✔️ Filter Your Water

• Use a high-quality water filter certified to remove microplastics.
• EWG’s Tap Water Database helps you find what’s in your local water supply.

✔️ Be Mindful with Laundry

• Wash synthetic fabrics less often and on colder, gentler cycles.
• Use a microfiber-catching laundry bag (like Guppyfriend) or install a filter on your washing machine.

🧴 Safer Products and Brands

These sites research and rate consumer goods for microplastic exposure, toxic chemicals, and environmental health.

🧪 Environmental Working Group (EWG)

• Search the Skin Deep Database to find personal care products without harmful plastics.
• Use their Healthy Living App to scan barcodes while shopping.

🛒 Consumer Reports

• Access product safety testing, especially for water filters, baby gear, cookware, and food packaging.
• Follow their science-based reports on plastics in food, packaging, and household goods.

👶 Mamavation

• Offers detailed guides on plastic-free living, including:
  • Non-toxic cookware
  • Plastic-free period products
  • Safe baby bottles and cleaning supplies

🧬 Million Marker

• A mail-in urine test to detect plastic-related chemicals in your body.
• Includes a personalized detox guide with safer product suggestions.

📍 Get Involved in New York City and State

🏛️ Support Local Legislation

• NYS has already banned microbeads, styrofoam and plastic bags — next steps: packaging, microplastic filters on washing machines, and synthetic clothing regulations.
• Write letters to Speaker Heastie and your state reps to urge them to support:
  • The Plastic Reduction Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA)
  • The Senate Bill S3797 introduced by Senator Zellnor Myrie: Establishes a moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf pending a comprehensive environmental and public health study
• Local bills to support include: 
  • Water fountain bill (which passed! On July 12, 2025) 

New Yorkers shouldn’t have to purchase a single use bottle of water because there’s no public option available in city parks,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “My new law will add durable and permanent drinking fountains near entrances to parks citywide. It’s not so easy to find a fountain to have a drink of water. We have amazing water in New York City thanks to the Department of Environmental Protection and others. But it’s one thing to have the resource and another to have access to it. It’s time for city agencies to get to work.” Call your local council members and ask that they follow through with the law and install water fountains in your local park.

• Support NYC Council Member Christopher Marte’s bill Int 1202-2025 to stop the installation of artificial turf in NYC parks.

♻️ Join or Support Groups Working Locally like 350 Brooklyn’s Plastic Free team and Beyond Plastics.

📬 Stay Informed & Take Action

• Sign up for alerts from the EWG, Million Marker, and Consumer Reports.
• Write your NY State Assembly member to support anti-plastic legislation.
• Educate friends and family — microplastic reduction starts with awareness.

📌 Quick Tips

| Do This Instead Of This |
|—————-|——————|
| Use glass or stainless steel > Plastic water bottles |
| Buy in bulk with your own containers > Single-use packaging |
| Natural fiber clothes > Synthetics (polyester, nylon) |
| Bar soap & shampoo > Bottled products |
| Reusable beeswax wraps > Plastic wrap |

💚 Every Small Change Counts

Reducing microplastics helps protect your health, your family, and the environment. By choosing safer products and supporting smarter policy in New York, we can help turn the tide on plastic pollution.

🧠Extra credit/Exciting Developments: 

–Documentary Film “Closing the Loop”

–U Austin, TX “Plastic Eating Enzymes”

–TED Are mushrooms the new plastic?

–Edible Cutlery

–MAGNIFECO. Your Head-to-Toe Guide to Ethical Fashion and Non-toxic Beauty.

–Transforming flies into degradable plastics

–Travel without single-use plastic

–Feature Film “Dark Waters” This is a powerful film about the fight against Dupont dumping toxic chemicals from Teflon production into the water on West Virginia farms

–Rain Coats made from Algae

-Read this New York Times Article “You are Contaminated” by Wallace-Wells