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Microplastics are everywhere—from cosmetics and food packaging to the dust in our homes. We spoke with Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, ’07, about what practical steps we can take to minimize our exposure. Sathyanarayana is a professor of pediatrics and adjunct faculty in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the UW. At the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, she is associate director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development. Her expertise, which has recently been highlighted in The New York Times and the BBC, focuses on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics.

Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana is a Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor within the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

What do you tell your patients about microplastics?

Many people don’t realize that using plastic can lead to chemical or particle exposures that stay in the body for years. Research on the health effects of plastic particles in humans is still in its early stages, but we do know the science on the chemicals coming from the particles, and these chemical additives can affect our health. So I talk mostly about how we can reduce overall exposures.

How do you approach the topic with your patients?

As a pediatrician, I talk about supportive environments for a child, including consistent mealtimes, stimulating cognitive development and nurturing environments that include both indoor and outdoor play. Each of these activities also presents opportunities to reduce chemical and plastic exposure. For example, ultra-processed foods tend to have more exposure to chemicals from plastic packaging. Focusing on whole, fresh foods and frozen foods can limit exposure. Encouraging outdoor play can also reduce plastic exposure. Many of our everyday choices add up.

Can people ever get to zero exposure to microplastics?

No. I work with pregnant women, and this can be an anxiety-filled time. I tell them, there’s no way to get to zero—it’s not the goal. Instead, I encourage them to focus on the things that can reduce their exposure the most.

What are some everyday practices people can adopt?

Take off your shoes when you come into your house and keep your home free of dust from outside. Dust is one of the biggest sources of exposure for babies, especially since they crawl and put things in their mouths. In your kitchen, reduce the plastic you use in food prep and storage. Heat foods in pots and pans, or use glass in the microwave: Heating plastic can cause chemicals to leach into food and degrade the material itself. Upgrade from plastic mixing bowls, cutting boards and measuring cups. Use wood utensils when you can.

Food-grade silicone generally doesn’t have the harmful chemicals I’m talking about, but it’s still plastic and it degrades over time. Make sure it stays intact. If your spatula has melted, replace it. Many takeout coffee cups also have plastic linings, so use stainless steel cups to reduce exposure. I encounter plastic in my everyday life, too. You can’t avoid it. The key is being mindful about how and when you use it.

What are the most important changes you have made at home?

We use a triple water filtration system to reduce exposure to “forever chemicals,” but you don’t need a fancy system. Though it’s hard to find a good pitcher that’s totally plastic-free, there are some great ones that are certified. Plastic toys are hard to avoid, especially in daycares and schools, but encouraging wooden toys is helpful. Clothing is another big source of plastic fibers, like polyester. Stick to cotton and wool when you can.

Are we facing a new health crisis?

There are 50,000 chemicals used in commerce today, and most are largely unregulated. We only have research on a small fraction of them. And we are still exposed to ones we know are harmful. While this is not entirely new, awareness is crucial. Reducing exposure and improving the environment and health of our population will take a multi-pronged approach: individual choices, policy change and regulatory oversight. At the same time, we’re facing a lot of unknowns around the health impacts of specific microplastic particles. But what we do know is that everyone is exposed, and these conversations are all the more important.