By Robert Weitz, Founder, RTK Environmental Group

What Are Microplastics and Why Should Homeowners Care?

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters in diameter. They are present in water sources, food supplies, and the air inside your home.

Research presented at the 2025 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session links higher microplastic concentrations to diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular events.

Microplastics have been detected in human brain tissue, blood, lungs, liver, placenta, and reproductive organs. Scientists estimate adults inhale approximately 68,000 microplastic particles every day (World Economic Forum, 2025).

A separate NYU Langone Health study linked exposure to one phthalate chemical to close to two million preterm births in a single year. The health research is moving fast, and what it shows warrants attention.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters in diameter. They come from two sources: larger plastic debris that degrades into fragments over time, and microbeads manufactured directly into personal care products. Once released, they contaminate water, food, and indoor air.

Researchers estimate that 10 to 40 million metric tons of these particles enter the environment every year, and that volume could double by 2040, according to Stanford Medicine (January 2025).

Phthalates are one category of chemical found in plastic products. Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), one of several chemicals classified as phthalates, is used to make plastic products more flexible.

Phthalates break down into microplastics that travel in food, air, and dust and can accumulate in brains, livers, lungs, placentas, and other human organs and tissue, according to the NYU Langone Health study.

What Are the Health Risks of Microplastic Exposure?

Research on microplastics is still developing, but 2025 findings presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session show communities with higher microplastic concentrations have higher rates of diabetes, stroke, and hypertension.

A separate study at the same conference found a strong correlation between microplastics in arterial plaque and serious cardiovascular events.

Microplastics have now been detected in human brain tissue, blood, lungs, liver, placenta, and reproductive organs. A 2025 study published in Nature found higher microplastic concentrations in the brains of deceased patients diagnosed with dementia compared to those without it (Duke University).

Scientists estimate adults inhale approximately 68,000 microplastic particles every day (World Economic Forum, 2025). Emerging research is also linking microplastics and nanoplastics to a wide range of health issues, from diabetes to liver injury.
Ingesting or inhaling microplastics can:

• • Cause physical damage to organs and tissues
  • Introduce toxic chemicals into the body
  • Trigger inflammatory responses
  • Carry harmful pathogens and pollutants
  • Penetrate tissues at the smallest particle sizes, with potential long-term consequences
  • Increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, based on recent published research

Why Test Your Home for Microplastics?

Microplastics are invisible. They show up in drinking water, food, and everyday products. Testing answers the core question: are you and your family being exposed, and at what level?
With confirmed results, you can act. Without them, you are guessing.

How Does Microplastics Testing Work?

Microplastics testing requires collecting water or air samples, then analyzing them with specialized equipment: microscopes and spectrometers capable of identifying particles at this scale.

The process demands precision that consumer-level DIY kits cannot reliably provide. Professional testing services are the standard for results you can act on.

How Do You Reduce Microplastic Exposure at Home?

Once you have your results, these steps address the most common sources:

• Reduce plastic use at home. Substitute glass, metal, or ceramic containers wherever practical.
• Improve ventilation and clean regularly to limit airborne microplastic accumulation indoors.
• Filter drinking water using a certified filtration system.
• Review personal care products for microbeads and switch to alternatives where available.
• Pay particular attention to products like cosmetics, detergents, and bug repellents, which have been identified as common household sources of phthalates.

How RTK Environmental Can Help

RTK Environmental does not currently perform microplastics testing, but we believe homeowners deserve to know what the science is showing. Staying informed is the first step toward making smarter decisions about your home environment.

What RTK Environmental does offer is comprehensive testing for a wide range of indoor environmental hazards, including water quality, air quality, mold, lead, and asbestos. If you have concerns about what is in your home, contact us to discuss the right testing plan for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microplastics

Are microplastics found in tap water?

Yes. Microplastics are present in water sources and have been found in drinking water. They also show up in food supplies and the air inside homes. Testing your water is the only way to know your actual level of exposure.

Can microplastics affect a pregnancy?

A study from NYU Langone Health linked DEHP, a phthalate chemical found in common household products, to close to two million preterm births in 2018 alone. The same study connected DEHP to the deaths of 74,000 newborns.

Phthalates are a known endocrine disruptor that can cause inflammation and interfere with placental development. Existing analyses of prenatal urine samples, amniotic fluid, and cord blood have all shown evidence of phthalates.

You can read more about the study here.

What common household products contain phthalates?

According to the NYU Langone Health study, phthalates are found in common household products including cosmetics, detergents, and bug repellents. DEHP specifically is used to make plastic products more flexible and is present in a wide range of consumer goods.

How do microplastics get into indoor air?

Microplastics travel in food, air, and dust. Once airborne, they can be inhaled. Scientists estimate adults inhale approximately 68,000 microplastic particles every day (World Economic Forum, 2025). Improving ventilation and cleaning regularly are the steps identified in the research for limiting airborne accumulation indoors.

Is there any way to protect against microplastic toxins?

Certain probiotics, including fermented foods like kimchi, show promise of protecting the gut from microplastic toxins, according to the New York Post report. Reducing plastic use at home, filtering drinking water, improving ventilation, and reviewing personal care products for microbeads are the steps most directly supported by current research.

RTK Environmental can help assess your home’s exposure to a wide range of indoor environmental hazards, including water quality and air quality.