This is Your Brain on Plastic: What You Need to Know About Plastics & Health

Scientists recently discovered that the human brain contains the equivalent of a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics. This alarming new research is more evidence of the growing presence of plastic inside our bodies that is linked to an exponential rise in serious health problems. Plastics have been linked to cancer; hormone disruption; infertility and reproductive issues; metabolism disorders such as obesity and thyroid diseases; neurological disabilities and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s—with children and pregnant people among those most vulnerable to these risks. And with more than 400 million metric tons of plastic produced every year as children’s toys, household items, clothing, food and drink packaging, and a seemingly endless array of other plastic products, our exposure to plastic pollution is virtually constant. On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Plastic Pollution Coalition hosted a panel of experts to explore the latest research and discuss how you can protect yourself and your loved ones while also supporting the wider systemic changes needed to solve the plastic pollution crisis. Joining the discussion were Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, Pediatrician & Founder/CEO, Ahimsa; Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, Manager of End Plastic Initiatives, EarthDay.Org; and Ziya Tong, Author & Filmmaker. The webinar was moderated by Erica Cirino, Plastic Pollution Coalition.