How plastic affects your health

Science is sounding the alarm

More and more evidence shows health risks.

Plastic in your body? Time to act

Microplastics have been found in our blood, lungs and even placentas. Yet health is still ignored in global treaty talks. Together with scientists, we demand: put human health at the heart of the Plastics Treaty.

Demand action

How does plastic affect your health?

Plastic breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics that enter our bodies via air, water, food and skin. They’ve been found in lungs, brains, placentas – even in babies. They carry toxic chemicals and may cause inflammation and hormonal disruption. Scientists are deeply concerned.

Microplastics in blood, lungs and brain

Microplastics have been found in blood, lungs, brains and placentas. They carry chemicals like PFAS and phthalates. Over 400 studies show plastic may harm our health.

See the facts

Scientists speak out

In our series Scientists Speak Out, leading researchers share their concerns about plastic’s effects on the human body.

Watch the series

Microplastics travel through the nose into the brain

Groundbreaking research, led by Professor Thais Mauad, supported by the Plastic Soup Foundation, shows that microplastics can travel through the nose directly into the brain – a route once thought to be safe. Even nanoplastics, a thousand times smaller, can enter brain cells. The risks to our health may be greater than we realised.

Prof. Dr. Thais Mauad

“Not only do we inhale plastic, it also enters our brains through our olfactory organs, where it damages cells”

Read research

Prof. Dr. Lukas Kenner

"I genuinely fear plastic particles could trigger early cancer."

Read about plastic and cancer

Dr. Jane Muncke

"Plastics end up in our food through disposable packaging"

Watch video: Chemicals in plastics

PlasticFreeFuture app Plastic Soup Foundation

What can I do to ingest less plastic?

Do you know what’s in your shampoo, toothpaste or sunscreen? The PlasticFreeFuture app shows whether your products contain microplastics – and helps you choose better ones.

Download the app

Who is most at risk?

Children inhale up to three times more microplastics than adults. Babies are exposed through plastic bottles and toys. Studies found dozens of chemicals in the blood of pregnant women. Burning plastic waste also poses a serious health risk.

You make independent research possible

Plastic Soup Foundation helped launch the world’s first study on plastic fibres in human lungs in 2019. Three years later, over 200 studies had followed worldwide. That’s the power of action. Together, we stop plastic at the source: less production, better laws and protection for our health. Your support makes the difference.

Support research

Campaigns for a healthier future

Plastic Soup Foundation runs campaigns with health at the core. From plastic in fast fashion to microplastics in your body – we fight for better laws, honest information and real solutions. This is how we protect your health, and that of future generations.