Plastic Penetration and Potential Plant Protection: A Physician’s Perspective

Guest Expert: Dr. Kenna Stephenson, MD, FAAFP

This week, we’re honoured to feature Dr. Kenna Stephenson, a board-certified family physician, clinical professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and internationally recognized clinical research scientist in women’s health, cardiovascular pharmacology, healthy aging and preventative medicine.

With a commitment to holistic patient care, Dr. Stephenson advocates for nutrition and lifestyle changes over medication where possible. In this eye-opening piece, she explores a rising concern in human health: the accumulation of microplastics in the body - and how nature may hold a remedy.

Dr. Kenna writes:

“Scientific research is now revealing the presence of microplastics in human lungs, intestines, liver, kidneys, spleen, blood vessels, placenta – and most recently, these tiny, shard-like particles were discovered in autopsy brain specimens.

Experts describe three paths of exposure:

1.    Ingestion of plastic-contaminated food or drink

2.    Inhalation of microplastic particles

3.    Absorption through the skin via personal care products.

Scientists estimate that we may be consuming a credit card’s worth of plastic per week. While some plastic is expelled through breath or digestion, some remains in the body, and studies are beginning to link microplastics in tissue with health concerns.

Dr. Matthew Campen, a toxicologist at the University of New Mexico, has developed a novel method using pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) to identify and quantify microplastics in human tissue. He shared with me that “the value of the Py-GC-MS approach is that it can be used for the nanoplastics that get absorbed into the body,” adding: “I agree with you that ingestion is the predominant pathway for exposure.”

Dr. Campen’s research found that the most commonly accumulated plastic is polyethylene, widely used in single-serve food and drink packaging. Alarmingly, he discovered that tissue accumulation has increased by 50% in the last 8 years compared to earlier decades, mirroring global plastic production trends.

Microplastics are now found in soil, Arctic regions, and even in the blood of people living in remote areas. The most vulnerable regions to exposure include India, China and the Pacific.

Recent studies are sounding the alarm:

• A 2024 NEJM study links microplastics in blood vessels to higher risk of heart attack and stroke
• A 2023 study connects pregnancy complications with microplastics in the placenta
• The presence of microplastics in the brain has been associated with dementia diagnoses

Can Plants Protect Us?

Researchers are exploring how plant extracts may counteract the effects of plastic in the body.

Dr. Timothy O’Toole at the University of Louisville conducted a rodent study in which one group was given polystyrene-contaminated water and subsequently developed significant weight gain. When the experiment was repeated but paired with anthocyanin-rich plant extract, the weight gain was prevented.

Dr. O’Toole says the mechanisms are not clearly defined, but believes the mechanism may relate to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Anthocyanins (bioactive plant pigments found in dark berries) have shown plastic-protective effects in several studies, including:

• Improving gut microbiome balance
• Promoting elimination of plastics through the stool
• Blocking hormone-disrupting effects of plastics

As Dr. Kenna notes:

“These animal studies make sense to me, as human research from the UK has shown a fat-burning effect from CurraNZ, made from an extract of New Zealand berries – which hail from the anthocyanin family.”

Furthermore, anthocyanins are generally accepted in literature to offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

What You Can Do to Minimize Plastic Exposure

Research also reveals that size matters, and exposure to bigger plastic particles may be less harmful than exposure to smaller particles.

For example, plants exposed to nanoplastics in the soil had stunted roots and lower fruit yield compared to plants exposed to larger plastics.

Similarly, research shows that single-use plastic water bottles leach more plastic into the water as compared to water obtained from the tap.

Dr. Kenna recommends these lifestyle strategies for reducing your microplastic burden:

1. Spend time outside as much as possible
2. Drink from glass or stainless steel containers instead of single-use plastic bottles
3. Remove all plastics before cooking food
4. Avoid plastic tea bags
5. Avoid nail salons (high plastic fume exposure)
6. Change out of synthetic work uniforms immediately after work
7. Avoid personal care products with plastic beads/fillers
8. Prepare meals at home instead of relying on ready-meals/fast foods/take-aways

“This mindful approach is more time-intensive, but we must invest in our health rather than sacrifice it for convenience.”

Finally, she encourages regular anthocyanin intake to help defend against plastic accumulation:

“The data is strong enough for me to encourage anthocyanin consumption to help prevent or reverse the effects of plastics in the body. 

“Anthocyanin availability varies in whole foods around the global.

“For those without easy access to fresh berries, adding a supplement like CurraNZ is a convenient and affordable option.”

References 

Nihart A J, Garcia MA, Hayek, et al. Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nature Medicine 2025; Vol 31.

Garcia MA, Liu R, Nihart A, et al Quantification and identification of microplastics accumulation in human placental specimens using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry Toxicological Sciences 2024;199 (1): 81-88.

Marfella R, Prattichizzo F, Sardu C, et al. Microplastics and nanoplastics in atheromas and cardiovascular events, N Engl J Med 2024; Vol 390(10):900-910.

Zhao j, Adiele N, Gomes D, et al. Obesogenic polystyrene microplastic exposures disrupt the gut-liver-adipose axis. Toxicological Sciences 2024;198(2):210-220.

Ceccanti C, Davini A, Piccolo EL, et al. Polyethylene microplastics alter root functionality and affect strawberry plant physiology and fruit quality traits Journal of Hazardous Materials 2024;(470):134-164.

Chen W, Tu P, Ye X, et al. Cyanidin-3-0-glucoside impacts fecal discharge of polystyrene microplastics in mice; potential role of microbiota-derived metabolites Food Funct 2022(13):1447-58.

Oumeddour DZ, Al-Dalali S, Zhao L, et al. Recent advances on cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in preventing obesity-related metabolic disorders: a comprehensive review Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024;729.

🔗 Learn more from Doctor Kenna Stephenson at doctorkenna.com
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