Have a plastic water bottle simmering in your car? Heat and UV exposure can speed up the breakdown of plastics. Switch to reusable container in metal or glass and don’t leave in your car!
Eating Take Out can increase your exposure to micro plastics. According to a 2025 study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, exposure to heat can cause plastic containers to release microplastic particles. Bring your own containers.
A peer-reviewed study in the journal Science of the Total Environment, examined microplastic contamination in 155 beverages and found that hot drinks contained higher levels of microplastics. Bring your own cup!
While Scientists note that glass is a better option for food storage, researchers found beverages stored in glass containers can still contain microplastics, often coming from plastic caps, seals, or linings. Soda! The more someone opens and closes a bottle, the more microplastics are shed. Keep the cap off while you drink.
A study published in the journal Chemosphere found that some plastic-based tea bags break down during steeping, releasing microscopic particles into tea. Use bulk tea with a strainer.
In 2025, Ziploc Plastic Bags class-action lawsuit alleged that the company made false promises by stating that its product was "microwave safe." According to the lawsuit, the plastic bags release microplastics when heated or frozen.
"These products are made from polyethylene and polypropylene — materials that scientific and medical evidence shows release microplastics when microwaved and frozen—making them fundamentally unfit for microwave and freezer use."
Research at UCLA revealed that many gums contain synthetic polymers that can shed microplastic particles during chewing. A single gram (slightly less than an average stick) of gum can release 100-600 microplastic fragments. Gum? Really?
Reference Food and Wine December 31, 2025, author Stacey Leasca