Why are microplastics a growing concern for human health?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that are getting into our bodies and might make us sick.

Imagine you're eating a piece of gum, it's sticky and soft. Now imagine that same gum has been broken down into millions of little pieces, like tiny grains of sand, but they’re made of plastic. These little bits are called microplastics, and they're getting into our food, water, and even the air we breathe.

When we eat fish that have been swimming in polluted oceans, or drink from plastic bottles that have been used many times, those tiny microplastics can end up inside us. It’s like eating a whole bag of tiny sand grains, but made of plastic, and they're not easy to chew!

Our bodies don’t know what to do with these little bits of plastic. They can get stuck in our guts or even go into our bloodstream. Scientists are starting to worry that over time, these tiny plastic bits might cause big problems for our health, just like how eating too much candy can give you a tummy ache, but on a much bigger scale!