“Microplastics and Chemicals Are in Us + Everywhere. Now What?”
I. The Shocking Truth: Microplastics Have Crossed the Blood-Brain Barrier
“Microplastics Are in Our Brains. What Does That Mean?”
— New York Times, April 8, 2025, by Nina Agrawal & Theodore Tae
"Microplastics Found in Human Brains, Raising Health Concerns"
— Neuroscience News, October 6, 2024
"A study from the United States has, for the first time, found microplastics in human brains. The study, which has yet to be independently verified by other scientists, has been described in the media as scary, shocking and alarming." Neuro Science News
Let that headline settle in. According to recent research highlighted by the NYT, the average adult brain now contains a spoon’s worth of plastic—about 7 grams. That’s not a metaphor. That’s measured matter—shard-like micro- and nanoplastics found in actual human brain tissue.
And that number is rising.
Researchers from the University of New Mexico, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children’s Hospital are finding plastics not only in the brain but in placentas, testes, arteries, breastmilk, semen, and even a newborn’s first stool.
II. What Scientists Are Actually Seeing
Dementia brains had higher concentrations of plastics than non-dementia brains.
Preterm placentas had more plastic than full-term—despite having less time to accumulate toxins.
Nanoplastics measured as small as 200 nanometers, able to infiltrate cells and tissues once thought impermeable.
This isn’t theoretical. These particles are being extracted from the core of our being—our nervous system, endocrine system, and reproductive organs.
“Everywhere you look, from kitchen plastic to clothes, furniture, air, and food—plastic is breaking down and getting into us.” — Dr. Garcia, UNM lab
Microplastics Derived from Food Packaging Waste—Their Origin and Health Risks by Kornelia Kadac-
III. The Cutting Edge—and the Caveats
According to Dr. Christy Tyler of RIT, the UNM lab under Dr. Matthew Campen is “the very cutting edge” of microplastics research. But the field is still new.
Some findings might be overestimations, or misreadings of lipids that mimic plastics under certain spectrometers. Even so, Dr. Tracey Woodruff of UCSF emphasizes:
“Even if the concentrations seem high, the trend is clear: plastics are increasing in the human body over time. And that aligns with exponential plastic production.”
That truth alone is enough to sound the alarm.
IV. The Real Horror: Plastic Is Becoming Us
It’s not just what researchers are finding under microscopes—it’s what they’re witnessing on shorelines. On a remote Hawaiian beach, Dr. Garcia’s team filmed 1,800 pounds of plastic debris: toothbrushes, pipettes, takeout containers, even lab equipment. What started as convenience is now a slow, irreversible breakdown—into particles that cross into the brain.
“To see it with your own eyes… it just opens your eyes.” — Dr. Garcia, UNM lab
These relics of modern life don’t just litter landscapes. They fragment into our bodies.
V. Industry Disinformation & the Recycled Illusion
Leaked documents reveal petrochemical giants have funded PR efforts to spin the "anti-plastic sentiment."
Their tactics:
Promoting misleading *"mass balance accounting"
Delaying accountability with "innovation" distractions
Greenwashing while doubling virgin plastic production
“Every time we microwave food in plastic or sip hot tea through synthetic bags, we reinforce a system that's poisoning us under the guise of convenience.” — Corporate Accountability, Branded 6 Report, 2024
Corporate Accountability, News - Posted on February 07, 2024https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2024/02/07/bffp-movement-unveils-2023-global-brand-audit-results/
VI. Industry Disinformation & the Recycled Illusion
Leaked documents reveal petrochemical giants have funded PR efforts to spin the "anti-plastic sentiment."
Their tactics:
Promoting misleading *"mass balance accounting"
Delaying accountability with "innovation" distractions
Greenwashing while doubling virgin plastic production
" Every time we microwave food in plastic or sip hot tea through synthetic bags, we reinforce a system that's poisoning us under the guise of convenience."
— Corporate Accountability, Branded 6 Report, 2024
VII. A Call to Care—Together
At Eleven TLC, we believe that true wellness is a shared responsibility—between brands, consumers, and the earth body we all belong to.
We’re not perfect. The world we live in makes it incredibly hard to completely eliminate plastic. Some of our sleeves and barrier layers use industry-standard materials. But here’s what we can say with full heart:
We prioritize glass and reusable containers whenever possible.
We actively avoid plastic in heat-exposed packaging.
We believe in honest education, not fear or shame.
We invite our community to question what’s “normal”—and choose better, one step at a time.
Because wholeness is not just what we take—it’s what we refuse to accept.
Let’s evolve together. Let’s keep asking better questions. Let’s keep finding better answers.
This is not just about product. It’s about principles.
This is Total Life Care. This is Eleven TLC!
VIII. Final Word: The Bigger Picture of Microplastics, Health, and Responsibility
This isn’t just a wellness issue. It’s a public health concern that spans multiple diseases—neurological, hormonal, metabolic, and immunological.
In the U.S., rates of chronic illness are rising sharply. According to the CDC:
Nearly 1 in 2 adults lives with a chronic disease
Obesity affects over 42% of American adults
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death, and endocrine-related cancers like breast and prostate are increasing
These trends can’t be blamed solely on lifestyle. Increasing research points to chemical exposure—including microplastics and plasticizers—as a compounding factor in disease risk.
We don’t yet fully understand all the effects microplastics have on human health—across all age groups. But as more studies emerge linking these particles to inflammation, oxidative stress, and potential disruptions in endocrine and neurological function, it's time to start connecting the dots.
This is about responsibility. Let’s call it what it is: we live in a system that hasn’t prioritized optimizing health for all people. And it’s time to shift that.
This is about making informed choices around our health, what we bring into our homes, and what we put into our bodies. This is a choice—and it starts with us. That starts with what we buy, how we store our food, and what kinds of products we support with our dollars.
We must ask our grocery stores, favorite brands, and healthcare providers to improve and do more to advocate doing what is right for everyone We need to buy products that support our health, the health of the earth, and the integrity of how we live.
Because if we don't demand better, no one will do it for us.
Ask retailers. Ask your grocery store. Ask your favorite brands: how are you helping protect my body, my mind, and my future? They have purchasing power to make requests. Write letters to the board of large corporations and to the CEO. Go to the top as they are the ones who are the decision makers.
Because what we consume affects our clarity, our memory, our hormones—and how we show up for our families, communities, and this shared life.
Let’s start expecting more—of ourselves and each other. We must take personal responsibility for what we buy, what we consume, and what we bring into our homes and bodies. No one can do this for us.
It starts by asking our grocery stores and the companies we purchase from to do better—to show proof that their packaging is safe and tested. It starts by questioning whether so-called BPA-free plastic is actually safe when heated, stored, or reused. It starts by recognizing that these chemicals—phthalates, microplastics, endocrine disruptors—are now in our food, water, and bodies.
This is about aligning our choices with our values. Our health is our sovereignty. If we don’t prioritize it, no one else will.
This is Total Life Care. Feel Good From the Inside Out.
We are no longer just "surrounded" by plastic. We are absorbing it.
It’s not just in the ocean. It’s in our rituals, our memories, our children.
So we ask you:
Do you want your wellness products served in the very material found in dementia brains?
We don’t. We never have. And we’re learning how to do even better.
That’s why we design our packaging with intention, formulate our products with precision, and speak with clarity.
Because if we’re going to heal, we must begin with truth—and act together.
FEEL GOOD FROM THE INSIDE OUT!
Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While emerging research suggests links between microplastics and various health conditions, these associations are not yet fully established—and new findings are being published rapidly. We encourage you to consult multiple sources, stay informed as science evolves, and pay close attention to how your body feels daily in order to make the best decisions for your personal health.
Sources:
New York Times Wire Cutter Plastic is Everywhere
New York Times What are Microplastics Doing in Our Bodies
The Fight Over the Future of Plastics
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
Environmental Health Perspectives Journal