Microplastics: What They Are and How Minimize Your Exposure episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 23, 2025 · 13 MIN

Microplastics: What They Are and How Minimize Your Exposure

from Treated with Dr. Sara Szal

Microplastics are everywhere– but what are they doing to our bodies and what can we do about it? Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long. Recently, they have moved from being an environmental concern to a potential human health crisis. Dr. Sara has been tracking them for over 20 years and today, she breaks down what they are, how you're exposed, and who’s most at risk.Right now, we don’t have large-scale human studies to fully understand the clinical implications. While we wait for the science to catch-up, Dr. Sara shares the signs and symptoms of microplastic buildup and actions you can take today to limit your exposure. Microplastics are small but their impact is big and growing. To learn more about them, check out the resources below and make sure to read Dr. Sara’s articles on them (Part One and Part Two). // RESOURCES // Dr. Sara’s Articles on Microplastics: Part One and Part Two. News Reports: Barron’s – More Microplastics In Glass Bottles Than Plastic: StudyCNN – ​​Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink, study findsOther Articles: French Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157525005344Chaïb, Iseline, et al. “Microplastic Contaminations in a Set of Beverages Sold in France.” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 144 (August 2025): 107719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107719.Bocker, R., and E. K. Silva. “Microplastics in Our Diet: A Growing Concern for Human Health.” Science of the Total Environment 968 (2025): 178882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178882. Li, Y., et al. “Microplastics in the Human Body: A Comprehensive Review of Exposure, Distribution, Migration Mechanisms, and Toxicity.” Science of the Total Environment 946 (2024): 174215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174215. Luo, Q., et al. “Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to Human Health: An Overview of Potential Health Impacts.” Journal of Environmental Management 387 (2025): 125915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125915. // KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DR. SARA //If you have a question, leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/treated Follow on IG: @saragottfriedmd @treatedwithdrsaraWatch Treated on YouTube Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Microplastics are everywhere– but what are they doing to our bodies and what can we do about it? Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long. Recently, they have moved from being an environmental concern to a potential human health crisis. Dr. Sara has been tracking them for over 20 years and today, she breaks down what they are, how you're exposed, and who’s most at risk.Right now, we don’t have large-scale human studies to fully understand the clinical implications. While we wait for the science to catch-up, Dr. Sara shares the signs and symptoms of microplastic buildup and actions you can take today to limit your exposure. Microplastics are small but their impact is big and growing. To learn more about them, check out the resources below and make sure to read Dr. Sara’s articles on them (Part One and Part Two). // RESOURCES // Dr. Sara’s Articles on Microplastics: Part One and Part Two. News Reports: Barron’s – More Microplastics In Glass Bottles Than Plastic: StudyCNN – ​​Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink, study findsOther Articles: French Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157525005344Chaïb, Iseline, et al. “Microplastic Contaminations in a Set of Beverages Sold in France.” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 144 (August 2025): 107719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107719.Bocker, R., and E. K. Silva. “Microplastics in Our Diet: A Growing Concern for Human Health.” Science of the Total Environment 968 (2025): 178882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178882. Li, Y., et al. “Microplastics in the Human Body: A Comprehensive Review of Exposure, Distribution, Migration Mechanisms, and Toxicity.” Science of the Total Environment 946 (2024): 174215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174215. Luo, Q., et al. “Microplastics as an Emerging Threat to Human Health: An Overview of Potential Health Impacts.” Journal of Environmental Management 387 (2025): 125915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125915. // KEEP IN TOUCH WITH DR. SARA //If you have a question, leave a voicemail at speakpipe.com/treated Follow on IG: @saragottfriedmd @treatedwithdrsaraWatch Treated on YouTube Produced by Dear Media.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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This episode was published on July 23, 2025.

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Microplastics are everywhere– but what are they doing to our bodies and what can we do about it? Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long. Recently, they have moved from being an environmental concern to a potential...

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