While global attention has remained fixed on viruses and pandemics, another long-term threat has been quietly building: plastic toxicity. The ongoing accumulation of microplastics and nanoplastics in the human body is now being linked to digestive issues and systemic health concerns.
A 2021 study from Nanjing University found that individuals with irritable bowel disease had 50% more microplastics in their stool compared to healthy adults—suggesting a link between plastic exposure and gut dysfunction.
How Much Plastic Are We Consuming?
According to a 2019 study by the University of Newcastle in Australia, the average person consumes around 5 grams of microplastics per week—about the size of a credit card. These particles come from drinking water, packaged foods, air, and even common household items like synthetic clothing and personal care products.
Another 2023 study added that people may also be inhaling a similar amount of microplastics, compounding the total body burden. These particles often bypass the body’s natural detox systems and begin to accumulate in the gut and organs, disrupting natural processes and potentially triggering inflammation and toxicity.
Probiotics Show Promise in Reducing Plastic-Induced Gut Damage
Encouraging new research from Kashan University of Medical Sciences in Iran offers hope. A systematic review, published in Frontiers in Nutrition in July 2023, analyzed dozens of in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the impact of probiotics on microplastic and nanoplastic exposure.
Key findings include:
- Gut dysbiosis (imbalanced gut microbiota) worsened after microplastic exposure, but a probiotic blend helped restore microbial diversity.
- Certain strains of probiotics were shown to degrade bisphenol A (BPA), a common and harmful plastic ingredient.
- In mice, co-exposure to BPA and phthalates caused toxicity—but probiotics helped reduce the negative effects.
- Some probiotics demonstrated biosorptive properties, meaning they could bind and help eliminate toxins from the body.
These results suggest that probiotics could play a role in mitigating the health risks associated with modern plastic exposure—especially in the digestive system, where the concentration of ingested microplastics is highest.
Why This Matters for Long-Term Health
Plastic production isn’t slowing down. In fact, it’s accelerating. Global plastic output hit 368 million tons in 2019 and is projected to soar to 33 billion tons by 2050. As environmental exposure increases, experts warn of a coming health crisis if we don’t address the effects of microplastic toxicity soon.
Adding high-quality probiotics to your daily wellness routine could be one way to defend your body—starting with the gut.
At Optimal Health Systems, we offer probiotic blends designed to support gut health and detox pathways:
Sources: Frontiers in Nutrition, American Chemical Society (ACS.org), Physics of Fluids (AIP.org).