Microplastics - fiction or health epidemic?

Microplastics are everywhere.

They’re in our food, water, air — even recently showing up in human blood, lungs, and placentas.

At Locale, we have done plenty of research to figure out the best way to eat to optimize your health. We were very curious to figure out how microplastics fit into this picture.

Here’s what the science says:

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles under 5mm in size. They’re shed from synthetic clothing, food packaging, plastic bottles, cookware, and even dust.

We consume an estimated 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles per year — and that number more than doubles if you drink bottled water.

📚 Cox et al., 2019 – Human Consumption of Microplastics

Microplastics Have Been Found in Our Bodies

In recent years, scientists have detected microplastics in:

• Human blood
  📚 Leslie et al., 2022 – Discovery of Plastic Particles in Human Blood

• Lung tissue
  📚 Amato-Lourenço et al., 2021 – Presence of Microplastics in Human Lungs

• Placental tissue
  📚 Ragusa et al., 2021 – Plastic Particles in Human Placentas

What does that mean for your health? We're still learning. But early research suggests possible links to inflammation, oxidative stress, hormone disruption, and altered immune function.

Plastic Can Leach Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals

It’s not just the particles — it’s what’s inside them. Many plastics contain additives like phthalates and bisphenols (BPA, BPS), which mimic hormones and interfere with the endocrine system.

These have been linked to:

• Metabolic dysfunction

• Reproductive issues

• Increased risk of obesity and diabetes
  📚 Heindel et al., 2017 – Endocrine Disruptors and Obesity

Even “BPA-free” plastics may not be safe — they often contain BPS, which can have similar or worse hormonal effects.

So What Can You Do?

Here’s how to reduce your exposure:

• Skip plastic containers and cookware
  Use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic instead.

• Avoid heating food in plastic
  Heat accelerates leaching of chemicals.

• Choose fresh over packaged foods
  Less packaging = fewer microplastic particles.

• Drink filtered water from glass or stainless steel
  Bottled water is one of the top sources of microplastics.

What Locale Does Differently

We don’t just care about macros — we care about all the hidden variables that impact your long-term health. Here’s how we reduce microplastic exposure in our meals:

• We deliver all of our meals in re-usable glass packaging
  

• We reduce hot food exposure to plastics whenever possible

You shouldn’t need a degree in toxicology to eat clean. 
That’s why we make meals with ingredients you can trust — no sketchy oils, no mystery additives, and no microplastic-laced packaging.

Just real food, made by chefs, backed by science.