Microplastics Invading the Brain: How to Overcome Plastic Anxiety?

by Posted on

I. The Plastic Crisis: A Constantly Renewed Threat

“Microplastics have entered the human brain, with the weight of them inside our heads even surpassing that of a plastic spoon.” Several friends sent me this piece over the past few days.

After joining an environmental organisation a few years ago, I became far more mindful of the materials used in everyday household items. I often found myself, whether deliberately or not, warning friends about what to steer clear of. Over time, whenever they came across related content online, they’d forward it to me for a second opinion. Plastic consistently came up as their biggest concern: “Is it safe to store pickled vegetables in plastic containers?” “Is it true that all black plastic is made from recycled materials?”

I’m certainly not alone in feeling this way. It’s as if headlines about the dangers of plastic are periodic system notifications popping up in ‘Earth Online’, surfacing every few months like clockwork.

Then there are the recurring reports of large marine animals washing ashore, their stomachs invariably packed with plastic bags, or the seemingly endless litter you encounter on a hike, no matter how much you pick up. When anxiety mounts, it often gives way to frustration. Some people choose to tune out these reports entirely, reasoning that if all they can do is worry with no way to help, it’s better not to look.

The recent news about microplastics reaching the human brain sparked another round of panic among my friends.

I initially wanted to calm them down: “Just because plastic has been detected doesn’t necessarily mean it’s harming the brain.” But I quickly recalled that researchers have already identified numerous links between microplastics and various human health conditions. In the end, I offered a rather feeble reply: “Microplastics are already in the air; we can’t completely shield ourselves from them just by trying to avoid them.” Predictably, this only left them feeling more anxious.

●Multiple studies have confirmed that microplastics can harm the brain. For example, in a recent 2025 study, a research team from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and Peking University tracked in real time the movement of microplastics within mouse brains. They found that immune cells engulf the particles, causing the cells to take on irregular shapes. These cells then circulate rapidly through the bloodstream, eventually lodging in the capillaries of the cerebral cortex. As they gradually accumulate within the vessels, they form cerebral thrombosis, leading to reduced blood flow (as shown below) and neurobehavioural abnormalities.
●Photography by Mandi Barker, depicting marine debris that closely resembles living organisms, with plastic fragments being the most common.

Although we know deep down that the proliferation of plastic products poses a serious problem, laypeople struggle to pinpoint exactly what the dangers are. We can scarcely tell which everyday items contain plastic and which do not. Rather than fear, this pervasive threat tends to breed feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and frustration.

Is it actually possible to avoid plastics in everyday life? At the height of my plastic anxiety, I joined several short-term practice groups to track the plastic waste I generated daily and discuss elimination strategies with fellow members. We found that with intense focus, we could achieve a ‘zero-plastic’ run for a day or two, but no one could maintain it for twenty-one days. The day my streak finally broke, I received a box of peaches. Peeling back the plastic packing tape, I was met with over a dozen fruits, each encased in foam netting. That day’s log simply read: ‘Generated an uncountable amount of plastic waste today.’

I cannot fault farmers for bagging their produce, as they must compensate for every damaged item, just as they would when you purchase fruit from a physical supermarket.

● Purchasing fruit from physical supermarkets also makes it difficult to avoid plastic packaging. Encasing the fruit in protective bags while it is still growing is already a common practice among farmers to minimise spoilage.
It is clear that the plastic crisis extends far beyond individual control. I once joked that the only remedy for the “ecological anxiety” triggered by plastic is Morita therapy: accept the reality of plastic pollution, keep using it, and carry on with life.

But does “living with plastic” really mean we are entirely powerless? Is there a pragmatic alternative—a way to shield ourselves as best we can within the limits of what we can actually influence?

For me, the first step in confronting “plastic anxiety” was simply understanding what the actual harms of plastic are.

Two: What Exactly Are the Health Risks of Plastic?

The entire production process for plastic is complex and protracted. Put simply, it entails bonding together “plastic monomers (synthetic resin pellets) + additives”.

When plastic items age and fracture, they do not instantly revert to their base monomers. Instead, they degrade into larger plastic fragments, microplastics, and a range of chemical additives.

● The composition of plastic, along with the materials produced by its initial ageing and breakdown.

For the general public, the primary health risks stem from microplastics and plastic additives. The less durable and more fragile the plastic, the greater the quantity of these substances it releases.

Microplastics are plastic particles with a diameter of less than five millimetres. Mounting research now suggests that they may pose a range of health risks. A study published last year found that, compared with patients whose carotid arteries showed no microplastics, those with microplastics present in their carotid artery plaques faced a 3.53-fold increased risk of heart disease, stroke, or all-cause mortality. Meanwhile, studies on other organisms have shown that microplastics can trigger inflammation, cause embryonic abnormalities, and reduce fertility. Furthermore, the highly porous physical structure of microplastics enables them to adsorb heavy metals, antibiotics, and other substances from the surrounding environment.

● The main sources of human microplastic intake are inhalation and food consumption, with each adult ingesting approximately 163,000 microplastic fragments per year.

Many of these additives are inherently toxic, with the most prevalent being phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA).

Phthalates (PAEs) are typically used as plasticisers to enhance a material’s flexibility. The softer and more pliable the plastic, the higher the concentration of plasticiser it generally contains. Phthalates encompass a vast group of chemicals and are typically incorporated into plastics at concentrations between 10% and 60%, though this can reach up to 90%.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a resin monomer applied across numerous everyday items: epoxy resins (found in food containers, beverage bottles, and the internal linings of canned goods), receipt paper, plastic water bottles, eyeglass lenses, and rubber erasers, to name just a few.

Because both substances share a structural similarity with oestrogen, they have been widely identified as endocrine disruptors.

● Common harmful plastic additives. Information compiled by the author. Illustration by Wang Ke
Once you know the names of these toxic additives, you can confidently ask retailers these three questions when shopping: What material is this product made from? Does it contain phthalates or bisphenols? What are the safe usage conditions?

III. Tips for Avoiding Toxins

After reviewing the research and spending some time experimenting, I have put together a personal guide to avoiding toxic chemicals. Feel free to adapt these suggestions to your own circumstances.

Tip 1: Check plastic identification codes and steer clear of PVC and PS

● Common plastic types and their corresponding identification codes. Illustration by Wan Lin

The first thing most people look for when learning about plastics is the identification code, which indicates different plastic compositions and corresponding uses. Once used outside their intended conditions, they can pose a health risk. Most people are already familiar with this principle—for instance, PET mineral water bottles are not designed to be heated.

Among these, two types are particularly prone to releasing toxins and require extra vigilance in everyday use:

Type 3 plastic, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), stands out as the most hazardous plastic in everyday circulation. The reason is straightforward: pure PVC is inherently brittle and requires substantial additives to achieve workable durability. Flexible PVC products, such as shower curtains, can contain between 60% and 70% plasticiser. However, the base PVC material does not form a stable bond with these additives. Once manufactured, the additives continuously escape from the plastic at varying rates. This is also why most PVC products carry a distinct ‘rubber’ odour—the smell of these additives releasing into the air.

The most common PVC products include: plastic shower curtains, single-use packaging bags, plastic piping, stone-plastic flooring, cling film, various plastic cards such as credit cards, advertising boards, placemats, cleaning brushes, makeup sponges, children’s toy balls, stationery, and raincoats.

● Typical stone-plastic flooring product introduction. Retailers’ marketing can be highly misleading: as a plastic material, it genuinely does not require adhesive, hence the “formaldehyde-free” claim. Sellers often market it as “SPC” (the English term for stone-plastic composite), but fundamentally, it remains a blend of PVC and limestone powder. However, because PVC resin is the primary component, it is impossible to prevent plastic additives from leaching into the environment. Image source: Internet

Plastic No. 6: PS (Polystyrene) Also known as foam plastic, expanded polystyrene, or Styrofoam, it is now most commonly found in insulated foam boxes used for transport.

The monomer styrene, which forms the basis of PS plastic, is a known carcinogen. While the plastic itself is non-toxic, it is highly heat-sensitive. Its safe temperature range is merely 70–90°C; at around 70°C, it begins to warp and soften, releasing styrene and various additives.

Foam food containers, once ubiquitous, carry significant health risks. China officially banned them in 2020. A search on Taobao will inform you that they are no longer for sale under the “plastic ban”, yet they remain visible in the market.

It is important to note that PVC and PS plastics remain permissible for use in contexts approved by regulations. Nevertheless, because plastics slowly leach internal compounds even under standard conditions, their presence in daily life should be minimised wherever possible.

Recommendation Two: Exercise caution when using plastics for food packaging

Daily meals are one of the main routes through which we ingest microplastics and plastic additives, and takeaway packaging is practically a hotspot for substandard plastic products. The high cooking temperatures and generous use of oil in Chinese cuisine only make it easier for these additives to leach out. Consequently, simply reducing your takeaway intake already significantly cuts down the risk. For this reason, the most effective way to steer clear of plastics is to bring your own glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers for packing food, or better still, cook at home.

However, these containers tend to be rather heavy. For the average office worker, hauling them on the daily commute can feel like an ordeal. As a practical compromise, bringing a relatively safer polypropylene (PP) plastic lunch box is still better than nothing. Compared with the disposable containers typically supplied by takeaways, they pose a significantly lower risk.

● The airtight container for the pickled vegetables is glass, which is relatively reassuring, even though the lid is plastic (PP).
● The lunch box I used regularly while working was made of PP. If the day’s meal was particularly oily, I would transfer it to a ceramic plate at the office before microwaving.
● Common disposable paper tableware is, in reality, often a plastic product and can even be more hazardous than plastic food containers. If it offers water- and oil-resistant properties, it is either lined with a plastic film (which may contain BPA) or coated with a PFAS-based water- and oil-repellent treatment (a fluorinated agent). PFAS encompasses nearly 5,000 distinct chemicals, characterised by their mobility and persistence. Research has shown they can cause reproductive, developmental, hepatic, renal, and immune system disorders in laboratory animals.

Furthermore, regardless of the type of plastic packaging your food comes into contact with, always adhere to the principle of “no alcohol, minimal oil, and no high heat”: avoid using plastic containers for alcoholic or high-fat foods, and never use them for high-temperature heating.

Although the theoretical deformation temperature of the PP (polypropylene) plastic commonly used in food containers is 120°C, steam can easily reach this threshold, and heated oils can readily exceed 170°C. It is therefore best to avoid placing plastic containers directly into a steamer or microwave.

In reality, PP plastic is also far from ideal for freezing, as it becomes brittle below 0°C and is highly prone to shattering. Before I knew better about plastics, I once bought a set of PP airtight containers for home use. More than half have already shattered, and I am gradually phasing them out.

If you must order takeaway, prioritise dishes served at lower temperatures with minimal fat, such as cold noodles or salads, or those with less sauce, like shredded chicken rice.

● By the time I bought containers for storing flour, I already had a better understanding of plastics. I bypassed plastic airtight boxes and opted for glass jars instead. However, the container for rice (just out of frame) remains the old PP airtight box.

Recommendation 3: Do not reuse single-use plastics just to save money

Because they are not intended for reuse, single-use plastic items are designed without regard for material stability, abrasion resistance, or ease of cleaning, making them far more likely to shed microplastics and leach additives during use. While reusing them may cut costs, it does carry inherent risks, particularly when storing food.

● Disposable food containers, unlike their reusable counterparts, feature more nooks and crannies that trap grime. Their thinner material is also more susceptible to scratching and shedding microplastics. Image source: Internet

By contrast, more expensive durable plastics tend to be more stable and safer, as their standard testing protocols include requirements such as ensuring that leachates after 1,000 washes remain harmless to human health, and that surfaces stay intact without fracturing after 1,000 friction cycles.

Moreover, many single-use items do not undergo essential washing and sterilisation processes during manufacturing, meaning that even with tableware, complex dust and bacteria are highly likely to be ingested alongside your meal. The Cantonese habit of rinsing dishes with tea before eating out is not merely a psychological comfort. If you handle single-use plastics like courier packaging, it is also advisable to wash your hands.

In reality, for items designed to be used once and tossed, manufacturers and retailers often care less about quality and safety than consumers do. The recent 315 consumer rights exposé highlighting issues with disposable underwear and sanitary pads further underscores this point.

Many people are unaware that sanitary pads are plastic products. The top layer of a traditional pad consists of a perforated film (mesh) or non-woven fabric (cotton-like), while the middle absorbent layer uses fluff pulp, sometimes blended with superabsorbent polymers. The base layer employs a PE polyethylene film to prevent leakage. Liquid sanitary pads, meanwhile, have even less connection to plant fibres; their absorbent core is a patented polyacrylate foam, which is also a form of plastic.

● The disclosed ingredient list for a certain brand of liquid sanitary pads.

I switched to a reusable silicone menstrual cup several years ago. Given that there is still no trustworthy national standard for sanitary pads, readers concerned about this might want to consider this alternative, taking full control of the cleaning and sterilisation process themselves.

On another note, many single-use plastic items do not clearly label the type of plastic used, and distinguishing them by eye alone is notoriously difficult. If you cannot identify the material, it is best to avoid using them proactively. Should you receive one unintentionally, limit its use to a few occasions or simply avoid using it for food storage.

● A milk tea cup of unknown material; I suspect it is PET. Since I rarely drink milk tea, I found the cup novel and visually appealing, so I decided to repurpose it for storing odds and ends.

Recommendation 4: Avoid cling film and plastic bags

Film-based products can arguably be one of the most problematic categories of single-use plastics: soft, transparent, and lightweight, but these qualities come at the cost of durability and stability, achieved by loading them with numerous additives.

Furthermore, their supposed ‘preservation’ capabilities are far from foolproof. Cling film and plastic bags do not inherently offer any antibacterial or preservation benefits; they function mainly by blocking out air and contaminants. Yet, they can sometimes have the exact opposite effect—I am sure most readers recognise the familiar sight of leafy greens going soft and rotten inside a plastic bag. In my experience, vegetables placed directly in a fridge drawer actually stay perfectly fine for half a month.

● Vegetables should generally be kept directly in the fridge’s crisper drawer. Simply lining it with an absorbent cloth prevents them from freezing or spoiling, keeps them easy to grab, and saves time and effort. With this approach, I only need to buy vegetables every fortnight. The garland chrysanthemum on the left in the image barely withered after a month and remained crisp and tasty once washed.

When it comes to portioning and storing food, stainless steel or PP plastic airtight containers are not only fully capable but highly recommended. Stainless steel freezes significantly faster, making it ideal for meat, and its rigid surface won’t freeze solid to the ingredients the way thin plastic films do. Even thick, heavy-duty storage bags simply cannot match their durability.

If you find it impossible to do without cling film and storage bags, I strongly recommend avoiding PVC at all costs. Under no circumstances should they be heated or come into contact with high-fat foods. Although I do use PE-based storage bags at home, I rarely use them for oily dishes. Pickled foods are always kept in glass airtight containers.

● In a cooking tutorial, a chef draped cling film over steamed pork belly to prevent condensation from dripping back onto the meat. While this might be standard practice in professional kitchens, the truth is that the vast majority of PE and PVC cling films cannot withstand high temperatures. I strongly advise against using them this way at home. Image source: Internet
At the same time, thin-film plastics are far more difficult to recycle, yet they readily escape into the natural environment, entangling marine animals in a snare from which they rarely break free. Given my environmental concerns, I am equally reluctant to use them; my household has done without both for the past three or four years.

Recommendation 5:Reject ‘invisible’ plastics such as non-woven fabrics and laundry pods

Formally known as ‘non-woven material’, non-woven fabric is essentially a cloth-like substance. Most varieties are plastic-based, with only a small proportion containing natural fibres. Aside from packaging bags, everyday items made from non-woven fabric include tea bags, sanitary pads, facial cleansing wipes (often used instead of cotton pads), and disposable cleaning cloths.

● In September 2019, a study published by McGill University in Canada in the US journal *Environmental Science & Technology* found that tea bags release tens of billions of plastic particles when exposed to high heat. The research showed that steeping a single plastic tea bag at typical brewing temperature (95°C) releases around 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup.
● Some retailers have upgraded their non-woven tea bags by switching to “corn fibre”. Most simply state that the product is made of “corn fibre” rather than non-woven fabric, without clarifying that its formal designation is PLA (polylactic acid) plastic. While PLA is a biodegradable plastic, it does not prevent the generation of microplastics. Image source: Internet
● I typically opt for a French press or a gaiwan (traditional lidded tea bowl) instead of tea bags to brew my tea. The French press is constructed from borosilicate glass and 304 stainless steel. Its only drawback is that the stainless steel mesh can be slightly fiddly to clean, but a soak in hot water with bicarbonate of soda, or a cycle in the dishwasher, will leave it spotless.
The most familiar plastic items marketed as “water-soluble and degradable” are laundry pods and dishwasher tabs. Lately, I have also seen other products adopting water-soluble plastic films in the name of sustainability. I avoid all products in this category. Although the standard PVOH/PVA (vinyl polymers) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) materials claim to “degrade” in water, the term “degrade” in this context does not mean they break down into carbon dioxide and water. Rather, they fragment into microplastics and additives invisible to the naked eye. The extent to which these microplastic particles degrade in aquatic environments remains highly debated, with studies also highlighting their potential biotoxicity.

I cannot justify deliberately generating vast quantities of microplastics merely for a modicum of convenience. It is simply a poor trade-off. On top of that, their pre-measured format encourages overuse, and they carry a higher price tag than conventional detergents.

4. Keeping a Safe Distance from Plastic

Everything mentioned above merely outlines ways to “coexist with plastic.” Completely avoiding its harms is, for all intents and purposes, impossible. Plastic products are entrenched in every aspect of human life and production; eradicating them entirely is a pipe dream. In certain essential applications, plastic is simply too cost-effective and practical to abandon—it is hard to imagine how hospitals could function without plastic infusion tubes. Moreover, the widespread presence of microplastics in the air and water is now a fait accompli. With current technology, it is impossible to completely shield us from exposure.

Yet there is no need to let this fuel anxiety. Addressing plastic pollution is a highly specialised public issue, and the responsibility squarely lies with governments, corporations, and experts. When you realise that individual changes alone cannot solve the problem, but still feel overwhelmed by anxiety and powerlessness, remind yourself that “I am not the primary party responsible for the pollution,” and instead focus on urging those truly accountable to step up and do their job.

What remains within our control is keeping a safe distance from plastic and using it only within safe, limited parameters. Shifting our mindset is crucial: rather than treating plastic as a throwaway “convenience item,” we should view it as a durable material with specific use cases. Just as metal cutlery shouldn’t go in the microwave, or overglaze ceramics may carry heavy metal risks, plastic is likewise practical but requires careful attention to how and where it is used to maintain safety. The real danger lies in being surrounded by plastic in everyday life while remaining entirely ignorant of its properties and risks.

Modern society is littered with myriad risks to human health: antibiotic overuse, second-hand smoke, contaminated cooking oils… Plastic is merely one among many. At least evidence shows that ingesting microplastics won’t kill you outright or turn you into a “plastic person.” That said, there is still hope for peaceful coexistence with the material.

References

[1]Haipeng Huang et al. ,Microplastics in the bloodstream can induce cerebral thrombosis by causing cell obstruction and lead to neurobehavioral abnormalities.Sci. Adv.11,eadr8243(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adr8243

[2]Toxic-Free Vanguard, Foodthink. Decoding Archives – A Guide to Food Packaging [R]. 2020.

[3]BFFP. The Plastics Atlas – The World of Synthetic Polymers: Facts and Data [R] 2019.:11/17/34-35.

[4] From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution [R]. United Nations Environment Programme，2021. 1.1https://www.gdr-po.cnrs.fr/docs/UNEP_2021.pdf

[5]Marfella, R., Prattichizzo, F., Sardu, C., Fulgenzi, G., Graciotti, L., Spadoni, T., … & Paolisso, G. (2024). Microplastics and nanoplastics in atheromas and cardiovascular events. New England Journal of Medicine, 390(10), 900-910.

[6]Chen, J., Chen, G., Peng, H., Qi, L., Zhang, D., Nie, Q., … & Luo, W. (2023). Microplastic exposure induces muscle growth but reduces meat quality and muscle physiological function in chickens. Science of The Total Environment, 882, 163305.

[7]He Yan, Wang Jing, Zhao Man, et al. Adsorption Behaviour of Sulfadiazine by Biodegradable Microplastics [J/OL]. Environmental Science & Technology, 1-15[2024-04-15].http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/42.1245.x.20240330.1555.008.html.

[8]5 Gyres Institute.BETTER ALTERNATIVES 3.0[R].2023.https://www.5gyres.org/betteralternatives.

[9]Fackelmann,G.,Pham,C.K.,Rodríguez,Y.,Mallory,M.L.,Provencher,J.F.,Baak,J.E.,&Sommer,S.(2023).Current levels of microplastic pollution impact wild seabird gut microbiomes.Nature ecology & evolution,7(5),698-706.

[10]Hu Hongmei, Li Tiejun, Zhu Yingjie, et al. Advances in Research on Pollution Status and Detection Methods of Phthalate Compounds [J]. Journal of Food Safety and Quality, 2021, 12(21):8573-8581.DOI:10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.2021.21.039.

[11]Liu Chunhong, Sun Yuanming, Yang Yichao, et al. Current Status of Pollution and Exposure Assessment of Phthalate Plasticisers [J]. Modern Food Science and Technology, 2012, 28(03):339-341+338.DOI:10.13982/j.mfst.1673-9078.2012.03.033.

[12] Wang Yongfeng, Yu Jingyuan, Zhang Hao. A review on the sources, distribution, and health risks of bisphenol compounds in environmental media in China [J/OL]. Shandong Science, 115 [2025-03-15].http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/37.1188.N.20250313.1424.004.html.

[13] QADEER A, KIRSTEN KL, AJMAL Z, et al. Alternative plasticizers as emerging global environmental and health threat: Another regrettable substitution? [J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 2022, 56(3): 1482-1488. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1e08365.

[14] European Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 [Z].https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02011R0010-20250120.2025-01-20.

[15] GB/T 26572-2011, Limit requirements for restricted substances in electrical and electronic products [S].

[16] National Standards of the People’s Republic of China. Announcement on the approval and publication of 109 national standards including ‘Manganese Silicon Alloy’ and 4 national standard amendment sheets [OL].https://std.sacinfo.org.cn/gnoc/queryInfo?id=E2F76A3B449808FD198E132C41ADD96E,2024-6-29.

[17] State Administration for Market Regulation. Guiding Opinions on the Prevention and Control of Risks from Plasticiser Contamination in Food [OL].https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/spscs/art/2023/art_904e69afd8ea41c69e55509556db15f0.html,2019-11-03.

[18] United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Phthalates Business Guidance [Z].https://www.cpsc.gov/Business–Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Phthalates.

[19] Hua Yingdi, Xu Yiping, Zhao Gaofeng, et al. Environmental migration, toxicity testing, and risk screening of plastic additives: Progress and challenges [J]. Journal of Ecotoxicology, 2024, 19(02): 93-111.

[20] Annie Leonard. Things: A Story of Stuff [M]. Zhejiang People’s Publishing House, 2014-3.

[21] Greenpeace. Is expanded polystyrene plastic number 6? Is polystyrene (PS) toxic? Can it be recycled? [OL].https://www.greenpeace.org/taiwan/update/36710/%E4%BF%9D%E9%BA%97%E9%BE%8D%E6%98%AF6%E8%99%9F%E5%A1%91%E8%86%A0%EF%BC%9F%E8%81%9A%E8%8B%AF%E4%B9%99%E7%83%AF%EF%BC%88ps%EF%BC%89%E6%9C%89%E6%AF%92%EF%BC%9F%E5%8F%AF%E5%9B%9E%E6%94%B6%E5%97%8E/.2023-7-6.

[22] National Development and Reform Commission. Opinions on Further Strengthening the Governance of Plastic Pollution [Z].https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk10/202001/t20200120_760495.html.2020-1-19.

[23] Alonso-López O, López-Ibáñez S, Beiras R. Assessment of Toxicity and Biodegradability of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Based Materials in Marine Water. Polymers (Basel). 2021 Oct 29;13(21):3742. doi: 10.3390/polym13213742. PMID: 34771298; PMCID: PMC8588384.

[24] Suzuki, M., Tachibana, Y. & Kasuya, Ki. Biodegradability of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) via biological carbon cycles in marine environments. Polym J 53, 47–66 (2021).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-020-00396-5

[25] Lianhe Zaobao. Study: Microplastics found in human brain samples increase by 50% over eight years [OL].https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/world/story20240901-4534890.2024-09-01.

[26] CCTV.com. Update on “Tanker Rollover Causes Crude Benzene Leak” in Yongzhou, Hunan: Water Quality Across All Sections Remains Stable and Meets Standards, Emergency Response Terminated[OL].https://news.cctv.com/2025/02/09/ARTIXRe9KRUkrpK32wRTqfGW250209.shtml.2025-02-09.

[27] Ministry of Ecology and Environment, People’s Republic of China. Case Study: Secondary Sudden Environmental Incident Following Tanker Rollover and Crude Benzene Leak in Xinjiang, Shanxi[OL].https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/hjyj/yjxy/201912/t20191228_752089.shtml.2019-12-28.

[28] Zhejiang Provincial Administration for Market Regulation. How to Correctly Choose Sanitary Pad Products?[OL].https://zjamr.zj.gov.cn/art/2021/12/15/art_1228969910_59011990.html.2021-12-15.

[29] Always. Always FlexFoam: Made Differently, Works Differently[OL].https://www.always.com/en-us/about-us/what-are-always-flexfoam-pads-made-of.

[30] Jiemian News. 315 Gala Exposes Non-Sterilised, Handmade Disposable Underwear, Involving Brands Including Langsha, Beziyan, and Chu Yisheng | 3·15 Special Report[OL].https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/k3VCukMVWur0V8dBerR3Sg.2025-03-15.

[31] Jiemian News. 315 Gala Exposes Use of Waste Scrap to Manufacture Sanitary Pads and Diapers, Involving Multiple Brands Including MiFi | 3·15 Special Report[OL].https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FWQwEjPGXR3ghsJUR9iyVg.2025-03-15.

[32] Hernandez LM, Xu EG, Larsson HCE, Tahara R, Maisuria VB, Tufenkji N. Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea. Environ Sci Technol. 2019 Nov 5;53(21):12300-12310. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02540. Epub 2019 Sep 25. PMID: 31552738.

Foodthink author

Doudou

A sustainable living practitioner, with a passion for exploring low-consumption lifestyles.

 

 

 

 

Uncredited images are provided by the author.

Editor: Wang Hao

Published by Foodthink