In recent years, driven by a ferocious onslaught of exaggerated mainstream media accounts, the narrative surrounding microplastics has been woven into a tale of ecological doom, ultimately painting a picture of a world teetering on the edge of environmental catastrophe. We are being told that these tiny particles are infiltrating our bodies through ingestion and inhalation, accumulating in our lungs, livers, and intestines. We are being spoon-fed anecdotes that microplastics are poisoning our oceans, disrupting entire ecosystems, contaminating our soil, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Microplastics, it would seem, are threatening the geological fabric of life on Earth.
The only problem is that it’s all a lie.
It’s time to confront the uncomfortable truth about microplastics. The actual science is far from the apocalyptic scenario we’ve been led to believe and demonstrates clearly that much of the media rhetoric is rooted far more in fear than in fact. Frankly, I am outraged by the stark contrast between the reality of microplastics and the fantasy we are being fed. And it’s not just me; the US FDA has also released a statement stating that they see no threat based on their own review of the science.
The fact is that the science and the scientists have proven that we’ve been deceived and deluded into believing this fabrication because, on the whole, scaring people is profitable. Sensationalism attracts audiences, gathers higher ratings, and increases audience engagement, ultimately resulting in targeted advertising that resonates with a viewer’s or reader’s emotional state, but ignores the obvious ethical concerns and harmful consequences of such a practice.
The fear of microplastics has been monetized, and in order to maximize the alarm and anxiety (and therefore the revenue), the reports are exaggerating the effects of microplastics by describing biological and environmental after-effects that are associated with microplastic dose rates over a million times higher than those that occur in real life. Dose rates that no one in the real world is ever exposed to. It is more than a shameful level of dishonesty; it is a deliberate distortion of facts originating from operationally confused environmental groups looking for donations and grappling with identity crises.
It’s hard to express, much less quantify, the level of deceitfulness to which we are being exposed. Plastic, for example, makes up a mere 0.001% by weight of the dust we ingest, and 50 years of testing have shown it to be non-toxic. The remaining 99.999% of the dust we ingest contains proven toxins like lead, arsenic, mercury, and known carcinogens such as quartz and asbestos. But, because their impact can be less visible and more complex to convey (yet clearly more harmful), it’s all plastic, all the time. It is a recklessness that borders on criminality.
Recent stories about microplastics in our bodies sound alarming until you consider the fact that particles in our body have been studied since the year 1844. So this is hardly new or groundbreaking information. Over time, we have skewed the narrative to make plastics appear problematic by ignoring the presence of other (more harmful) particles.
A recent scare story claimed that we have a spoonful of microplastics in our brains. Who believes this nonsense? The study has been debunked over and over again by proper scientists who point out that the study relies on a method that simply doesn’t work. The method they used (called pyrolysis GC-MS) detects lipids and other substances that we need in our brain, not plastic.
It’s time we shift our focus to the real threats and demand truthful, science-based information. Fear is not a worthy guide. Rationality and evidence must lead the way. Data shows that plastics make up under 1% of materials we use daily and are, most often, the materials with the least biological and environmental impact. Plastic usage can result in reduced waste and greenhouse gases while limiting the use of fossil fuels. If we continue this unfounded campaign to demonize this material, it will be our world that suffers.
Photo: Blue Planet Studio, Getty Images
Dr. Chris DeArmitt, President and Founder of President of Phantom Plastics, brings over three decades of expertise in plastic materials formulation to some of the world’s most complex industrial challenges. Working with Fortune 100 companies and other leading organizations, he specializes in rapidly identifying solutions by synthesizing vast amounts of technical data with innovative problem-solving approaches.
His track record has earned recognition from a major open innovation platform, which ranked him in the top 0.01% of global innovators for solving difficult industrial problems. As a sought-after speaker and recognized authority in plastics, Dr. DeArmitt presents at conferences worldwide and has been featured in major media outlets, including CBS 60 Minutes, Sky News, and the BBC. He is not paid by the plastics industry.
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