{"id":10769,"date":"2026-04-09T04:58:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T04:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flushinghospital.org\/newsletter\/?p=10769"},"modified":"2026-04-09T05:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T05:59:31","slug":"how-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-affect-our-long-term-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flushinghospital.org\/newsletter\/how-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-affect-our-long-term-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Microplastics and Nanoplastics Affect Our Long-Term Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are plastic particles that fail to break down and have become a major concern for environmental and human health.<\/p>\n

These plastic particles are extremely small, as microplastics range from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters. Nanoplastics are even smaller, as they are less than one micrometer.<\/p>\n

There are two types of microplastics, primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. These microplastics typically come from two main sources. Primary microplastics are manufactured at a small size intentionally. Secondary microplastics are formed from the breakdown of larger plastic items.<\/p>\n

There are public concerns about the health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics, as they have been found in our bodies because of what we eat, drink, or breathe.<\/p>\n

Nanoplastics can behave differently from microplastics or materials that are larger. Their small size means that they may move more easily through biological membranes or interact differently with cells in the body.<\/p>\n

Larger microplastics are filtered by the body\u2019s natural defenses, such as the mucus and cilia in the airways, but can still get inhaled into the lungs and even infiltrate the bloodstream or the barriers to the digestive system.<\/p>\n

Scientific research has pointed to the likelihood of nanoplastics being far more toxicologically active than microplastics, due to their being small enough to pass through some biological barriers and easily absorbed into the body, which can potentially disrupt and damage internal organs and processes.<\/p>\n

Evidence suggests that microplastics may be correlated with health conditions, including:<\/p>\n