Microplastics: Facts, Figures & Why They Matter

We hear about microplastics more and more—but what exactly are they, where are they hiding, and how are they impacting our planet and our health? Let’s break it down.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles ranging in size from 100 nanometers to 5 millimeters. Even smaller are nanoplastics, which are defined as under 100 nanometers.

They fall into two categories:

• Primary microplastics: Intentionally manufactured to be small (like microbeads or industrial abrasives).

• Secondary microplastics: Formed when larger plastic items break down over time.

Regardless of size or origin, all plastics—including microplastics—often contain chemical additives like:

• Plasticizers

• Fillers

• Pigments

• Antimicrobials

• Flame retardants

• Heat and UV stabilizers

These additives make plastics flexible, durable, and resilient—but they also make them more harmful when released into the environment.

Common Sources of Microplastics

Microplastics show up in more everyday products than you might expect. Some of the most common forms include:

• Plastic fragments

• Paint particles

• Nurdles (tiny plastic pellets used in manufacturing)

• Microbeads (found in exfoliating scrubs)

• Microfibers (shed from synthetic clothing during washing)

• PVA-based laundry detergent sheets

• Laundry and dishwasher pods

Environmental Impact

Microplastics are now found across nearly every ecosystem on Earth—from deep ocean trenches to mountain peaks. The numbers are staggering:

• Over 1,300 marine species have been documented ingesting plastic.

• A global review of studies from 2019–2020 found that 60% of fish sampled contained microplastics—especially carnivorous fish, which ingest more than herbivores or omnivores.

• Microfibers are the most commonly ingested form by marine life, including fish, crustaceans, oysters, and clams.

• Even blue whales—the largest animals on Earth—may consume up to 10 million microplastic particles per day.

And it’s not just ingestion. The additives in plastics can leach into water, including chemicals like:

• Phthalates

• PBDEs (flame retardants)

• Nonylphenols (NP)

• Bisphenol-A (BPA)

• Antioxidants

These toxins can harm marine organisms by reducing food intake, growth, and reproduction. They’ve also been linked to cell damage, altered gene expression, and DNA disruption.

Human Health Risks

We’re not immune. Recent research shows that adults may consume up to 121,000 microplastic particles each year—primarily through air, drinking water, and food.

Microplastics have been detected in:

• Human lungs

• The colon

• Bloodstreams

• Even the placenta

Scientists are still studying the long-term effects of microplastic exposure in humans, but early findings raise serious concerns:

• Microplastics can carry bacteria and pathogens, potentially spreading disease.

• Additives like BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, have been correlated with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

• The fate of microplastics in the body—and how many are excreted versus stored—remains unknown.

Why Proofed! Cares

At Proofed!, we take microplastic pollution seriously. That’s why we’ve created the first and only laundry detergent sheet that’s 100% free of plastics and PVA—a known microplastic that’s used in most other sheets and pods.

Choosing products like ours is a small but powerful way to protect your health and the environment.

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