Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Plastics have transformed our modern world. Plastics are cheap, durable and easy to make– so much so that we all encounter plastics every single day. And this might be a big problem: plastics has infiltrated our environment, polluted the water we drink, and even made its way into the air we breathe. We are now seeing increasing evidence that microplastics accumulate in various parts of the human body, possibly causing lasting damage. So how bad is it? Here’s what we know about how microplastics affect our health.
🔬 Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
📸 IG: instagram.com/clemens.steinek
🔬Twitter: twitter.com/CSteinek
Microplastics are particles of plastic smaller than 5 mm. Microplastics originate from larger plastic articles that break down over time. We find microplastics in the air, soil or water. However, in 2022 it has been shown that microplastics are also present in the blood. Since then, microplastics have been found in various organs, including the brain, heart or kidneys. We currently do not know what dosages of microplastics cause serious disease, however first studies highlight associations between microplastics intake and inflammation, various types of cancer or brain disorders. We cannot completely avoid microplastics, however there are some simple steps to reduce the amount of microplastic particles we take in: we can use glass bottles instead of plastic bottles, avoid microwaving plastic tupperware or avoid certain foods. In this way, we may be able to avoid negative consequences of microplastics intake.
References, Music and Footage:
docs.google.com/document/d/1p8upzWaBfIPY9qZkYR0vlKOfMtzwZFAjlz3wY6czmZ4
0:00-0:30 Intro
0:30-2:34 Discovery of Plastics
2:34:-4:05 What are Microplastics?
4:05-4:50 How do Microplastics end Up in our Bodies?
4:50-8:48 What are the health consequences of Microplastics?
8:48-11:25 Are there any ways we can avoid ingesting microplastics?
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a researcher (Sciencerely) who is currently conducting research in Germany.
Plastics have transformed our modern world. Plastics are cheap, durable and easy to make– so much so that we all encounter plastics every single day. And this might be a big problem: plastics has infiltrated our environment, polluted the water we drink, and even made its way into the air we breathe. We are now seeing increasing evidence that microplastics accumulate in various parts of the human body, possibly causing lasting damage. So how bad is it? Here’s what we know about how microplastics affect our health.
🔬 Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
📸 IG: instagram.com/clemens.steinek
🔬Twitter: twitter.com/CSteinek
Microplastics are particles of plastic smaller than 5 mm. Microplastics originate from larger plastic articles that break down over time. We find microplastics in the air, soil or water. However, in 2022 it has been shown that microplastics are also present in the blood. Since then, microplastics have been found in various organs, including the brain, heart or kidneys. We currently do not know what dosages of microplastics cause serious disease, however first studies highlight associations between microplastics intake and inflammation, various types of cancer or brain disorders. We cannot completely avoid microplastics, however there are some simple steps to reduce the amount of microplastic particles we take in: we can use glass bottles instead of plastic bottles, avoid microwaving plastic tupperware or avoid certain foods. In this way, we may be able to avoid negative consequences of microplastics intake.
References, Music and Footage:
docs.google.com/document/d/1p8upzWaBfIPY9qZkYR0vlKOfMtzwZFAjlz3wY6czmZ4
0:00-0:30 Intro
0:30-2:34 Discovery of Plastics
2:34:-4:05 What are Microplastics?
4:05-4:50 How do Microplastics end Up in our Bodies?
4:50-8:48 What are the health consequences of Microplastics?
8:48-11:25 Are there any ways we can avoid ingesting microplastics?
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a researcher (Sciencerely) who is currently conducting research in Germany.
