New Study Links Microplastics and Pollutants to Kidney Damage

As more plastic waste is being released into the environment, microplastics in drinking water and food are being ingested by humans, causing damage to internal organs after being absorbed through the digestive system. That’s most notably occurring in the kidneys, as found in a study published by Communications Biology (10 February 2025).

The study has found that microplastics – tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in length – are the primary carriers of the environmental pollutant Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) into the body. The specific pathways are not fully understood, but there is evidence that BaP is being absorbed primarily through the intestines after oral ingestion, posing health risks.

In the study, bottled water was identified as the main source of microplastics, doing damage to the intestinal wall and kidneys and causing systemic inflammation.

What You Can Do

> Invest in a reusable water bottle rather than purchasing single-use plastics.

> Ditch plastic grocery bags and instead use reusable bags when you shop.

> Support brands that use plastic-free packaging.

> Properly recycling plastics is also critical to keeping them out of the environment, where they can be broken down into microplastics that we can breathe and ingest.

– edited extracts from The Cool Down (16 March 2025)

Read more:
https://www.thecooldown.com/…/microplastics-human…/