Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We live in an environment where plastic is everywhere. It’s in our clothing fibers, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the gum we chew, and the water we drink. Jason Somarelli, Ph.D., an assistant professor in medicine at Duke, who studies microplastics and their effects on the human body, and Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD discuss the pervasiveness of plastic pollution, its potential impact on cancer risk, and what we can do to protect ourselves and future generations.
Plastic production is on the rise. We’re not curbing the problem, we’re accelerating it. Animals and humans ingest hundreds of thousands of micro and nano plastic particles every year. These particles contain more than ten thousand chemicals. Plastic particles in every part of the body: tissues; blood; the brain; the heart; the placenta; even breast milk.
Plastic contains hundreds of chemicals and carcinogens but it’s unknown if they cause of cancer. It appears they:
o Disrupt the hormone balance.
o Cause inflammation, an environment in which cancer can grow and thrive.
o Suppress immune function.
00:00 What is the problem with plastic?
00:28 How big of a problem is plastic and plastic pollution?
01:20 What about plastic is potentially dangerous?
02:36 Where have we found plastic in our bodies?
03:09 How do we know if plastic is bad for us?
03:50 Is their a link between plastic and cancer?
07:02 What is Duke doing to curb the plastic problem?
07:31 How can I lessen my plastic intake?
What can people do to lower their personal exposure to microplastics?
We live in an environment where plastic is everywhere. It’s in our clothing fibers, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the gum we chew, and the water we drink. Jason Somarelli, Ph.D., an assistant professor in medicine at Duke, who studies microplastics and their effects on the human body, and Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD discuss the pervasiveness of plastic pollution, its potential impact on cancer risk, and what we can do to protect ourselves and future generations.
Plastic production is on the rise. We’re not curbing the problem, we’re accelerating it. Animals and humans ingest hundreds of thousands of micro and nano plastic particles every year. These particles contain more than ten thousand chemicals. Plastic particles in every part of the body: tissues; blood; the brain; the heart; the placenta; even breast milk.
Plastic contains hundreds of chemicals and carcinogens but it’s unknown if they cause of cancer. It appears they:
o Disrupt the hormone balance.
o Cause inflammation, an environment in which cancer can grow and thrive.
o Suppress immune function.
00:00 What is the problem with plastic?
00:28 How big of a problem is plastic and plastic pollution?
01:20 What about plastic is potentially dangerous?
02:36 Where have we found plastic in our bodies?
03:09 How do we know if plastic is bad for us?
03:50 Is their a link between plastic and cancer?
07:02 What is Duke doing to curb the plastic problem?
07:31 How can I lessen my plastic intake?
What can people do to lower their personal exposure to microplastics?
