According to Daily Express - Health, Dr. Amir Khan described his decision to give up plastic containers, referencing studies on dementia and carotid arteries, though the specific studies and exact level of risk increase for microplastic absorption from plastic containers remain unclear. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles smaller than five millimeters in length, and they are harmful to humans because they infiltrate organs, causing oxidative damage, chronic inflammation, and cellular death.
Heating plastic containers in the microwave increases the risk of microplastics being released into food, as the plastic becomes more unstable, according to Daily Express - Health, where Dr. Khan described this process. Practical tips to reduce microplastic exposure in daily life include reducing consumption of bottled water, processed foods, and seafood, though the prevalence of microplastics in these common foods is not fully known.
Cleaning household dust frequently can help reduce airborne microplastics, and wearing clothes made of cotton, wool, linen, or hemp may lower plastic fibres released during washing. The long-term health impacts of chronic microplastic exposure on humans, as well as how effective alternatives like glass, ceramic, or stainless steel are at preventing exposure compared to plastic, are still uncertain.