--- title: How does plastic pollution impact human health? description: How does plastic pollution impact human health? --- [Skip to content](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/how-does-plastic-pollution-impact-human-health#main-content) ![TBF AMDI Logo Pair white](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair%20white.png?width=400&height=160&name=TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair%20white.png) - [Events](https://www.tangaroablue.org/events) - [Volunteer](https://tangaroablue.org/volunteer/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Events](https://www.tangaroablue.org/events) - [Volunteer](https://tangaroablue.org/volunteer/) - [Contact us](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) [Contact us](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Marine Debris Knowledge Base](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base?hsLang=en-au) 2. [About Tangaroa Blue](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au) 3. [The Issue - Marine Debris](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#the-issue-marine-debris) 20 January 2026 # How does plastic pollution impact human health? ## Small (micro/nano) plastic particles have been documented in various human tissues, including the brain & reproductive organs. ### What do we know about plastic in our bodies? Recently (Jan 2026), scientists questioned the validity of some (but not all) of these studies. This is because measurement techniques are rapidly evolving to try and keep pace with the scale of the pollution crises, and with this comes increasing pressure to document smaller and smaller particles. This is extremely hard to do while excluding contamination, which can arise from the dust in the air, clothes you are wearing, or the materials used to process samples. This does not mean that plastics are not a problem for humans; only that new and more robust data/methods will become available over the coming months. In the meantime, we know that plastics contain an array of chemicals added during manufacture to give products properties such as flexibility and fire resistance. **Why is plastic in our bodies bad?** Thousands of chemicals have now been documented in household plastics and food packaging. Humans are exposed to these chemicals daily, many of which are hazardous to human health, growth, and development (e.g., by interfering with our endocrine (hormonal) system).  You can learn more about plastics and human health via the [Minderoo Foundation website](https://www.minderoo.org/resources/plastic-health-umbrella-review/). - [About Tangaroa Blue](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Who We Are](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#who-we-are) - [What We Do](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#what-we-do) - [Guidelines and Resources](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#guidelines-and-resources) - [The Issue - Marine Debris](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#the-issue-marine-debris) - [Volunteering & Clean-ups](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Volunteering](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#volunteering) - [Events](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#events) - [Schools, Community and Corporate Events](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#schools-community-and-corporate-events) - [The WA Beach Clean-up](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#the-wa-beach-clean-up) - [The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#the-great-barrier-reef-clean-up) - [Clean-up Tips & Safety Information](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#clean-up-tips-safety-information) - [Data and Monitoring (AMDI)](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [About AMDI](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#about-amdi) - [Methodology](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#methodology) - [Requesting Data](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#requesting-data) - [Troubleshooting](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#troubleshooting) - [Programs & Initiatives](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Rig Recycle](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#rig-recycle) - [Project ReCon](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#project-recon) - [ReefClean](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#reefclean) - [FAD Watch](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#fad-watch) - [Operation Clean Sweep](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#operation-clean-sweep) - [IOT Esky Library Initiative](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#iot-esky-library-initiative) - [Donations, Shop & Support](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Donate](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#donate) - [Sea Store](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#sea-store) - [Source Reduction Plans](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/source-reduction-plans?hsLang=en-au) [![TBF AMDI Logo Pair](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair.png?width=500&height=200&name=TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair.png "TBF AMDI Logo Pair")](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/?hsLang=en-au) [mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) Copyright © 2025, Tangaroa Blue Foundation