Microplastics Everywhere. How to Respond to a Silent Invasion

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Microplastics are tiny fragments, invisible to the eye and therefore even more insidious, the offspring of a civilization that has transformed plastic from an industrial marvel into a ubiquitous threat . They arise in two ways: some are created in microscopic form, like certain granules in cosmetics or industrial products. Others break down over time, slowly and silently, from larger plastics (bottles, bags, fabrics, etc.) under the sun, rain, wind... and once "born," they never die. They enter the water cycle, settle in the soil, fly through the air, and even find their way onto the food we bring to the table. Where do they come from? Everywhere. From the clothes we wash, from the tires that skid on the asphalt, from the packaging that wraps every good and food. We breathe them in, ingest them, and accumulate them without realizing it . And our bodies, despite their ingenious defense mechanisms, are increasingly struggling to cope with this slow and silent invasion. Inhaled microplastics reach the lungs' alveoli, where they settle and trigger inflammatory processes and cellular changes.

Doctors are beginning to link them to chronic bronchitis, asthma, and fibrosis . Ingested microplastics are no less insidious: they can alter the intestinal microbiota, promote persistent inflammation, and introduce chemicals into the body such as phthalates and bisphenols, known to negatively affect hormonal balance. Natural defenses exist, yes, but they are not invincible. Mucus in the respiratory tract, natural filters such as the liver and kidneys, the macrophages of the immune system that try to ingest and digest particles: all these systems are put to the test. Recent studies reveal that microplastics can evade or even paralyze these mechanisms, making the immune system less reactive and more vulnerable . And it doesn't end there. Ever smaller particles, called nanoplastics, appear capable of crossing barriers once thought impenetrable, such as the blood-brain barrier. In laboratories, worrying links are observed with cardiovascular disease (remember, microplastics have also been found in blood) and even cancer, although, it must be said, there's still no absolute certainty. And this general uncertainty is one of the most worrying issues. For example, we don't really know how many microplastics our bodies can tolerate. Some estimates put the average adult's intake at five grams per week—about the weight of a sugar packet—between food, water, and air. But these are theoretical calculations, not yet translated into official safety thresholds. The truth is that medicine doesn't yet have all the answers, but it does have enough to raise the alarm.

In Italy, the situation is far from marginal. Coasts, cities, farmland: microplastics are found everywhere. In recent years, they have been found in apples, pears, honey, salt, milk, and even bottled water. Italian researchers have even discovered traces of plastic in the lungs of patients undergoing surgery. We breathe plastic, we eat plastic. Politicians are making progress, albeit slowly. Since 2020, cosmetics containing exfoliating microplastics have been banned in Italy. A ban on single-use plastic tableware has been in place, and in 2024, a technical standard, UNI/PdR 158, came into force, establishing rules to reduce microplastics in industrial processes, especially those related to food production. In Brussels, Regulation 2023/2055 has outlawed microplastics added voluntarily to products and calls for their progressive elimination by 2030.

At the global level, Italy is participating in negotiations for the UN treaty on plastics, which is expected to be finalized by 2025. What awaits us in the coming years? Much depends on political will and collective awareness. Scientists will continue to study the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on the human body, seeking to define risk thresholds and containment strategies. European institutions are planning new restrictions on plastic use and incentives to adopt biodegradable materials. Industries will be encouraged to invest in less polluting technologies. Civil society, increasingly aware (perhaps), could push for a more radical change in consumer habits. Eliminating microplastics overnight isn't an option—that's crazy! They're everywhere and will be here for a long time. But we can limit their spread, slow their spread, and reduce the damage. As in any long and difficult battle, it will require rigor, research, patience. And above all, truth, even when it hurts.

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