Discover my premium podcast, The Aliquot
Every week, the average person ingests the equivalent weight of a credit card in plastic.* While certain preventive measures can significantly reduce your intake of these harmful substances, it’s crucial to acknowledge a more daunting concern: the bioaccumulation of microplastics in the brain, potentially at ten times the rate of other organs. Microplastics and their associated chemicals are alarmingly ubiquitous — they permeate breast milk, sperm, the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, the air we breathe, medications, the water supply, and our bloodstream, accumulating in most major organ systems. During this episode, we’ll explore the unsettling realities of microplastics and their associated chemicals, diving into how they infiltrate nearly every facet of our environment and body, and discuss actionable strategies to reduce exposure.
Timestamps:
- (00:00) The extent of the problem
- (02:12) Top sources of exposure
- (04:00) Contamination of our water
- (05:04) BPA, phthalates, & PFAS (forever chemicals)
- (07:06) How heating plastic affects BPA exposure
- (09:21) Our unfortunate habit of eating credit cards
- (11:33) Microplastics in major organs
- (14:05) Crossing the blood-brain barrier
- (15:01) How microplastics affect a developing fetus
- (15:55) The bloodstream is a highway for microplastics
- (18:12) Endocrine and hormonal effects
- (23:09) Consequences in pregnant women
- (25:35) How phthalates affect reproductive health
- (26:36) BPA's involvement in autism spectrum disorder
- (29:58) Side effects of prenatal BPA exposure
- (32:18) The brain may be a super-accumulator of plastic
- (34:50) Human brain microplastic levels are rising
- (36:06) Lost fertility in women
- (38:07) Changes in sperm quality
- (39:23) Microplastics in sperm
- (40:59) Why the heart suffers
- (42:51) Microplastics in arterial plaque
- (43:56) How BPA affects blood pressure
- (45:58) Risk of cancer
- (50:31) Topo Chico sparkling water
- (53:02) Reverse osmosis filtration
- (54:56) Food-based strategies for limiting microplastics
- (56:32) The "myth" of BPA-free plastics
- (58:14) Is salt a source of microplastics?
- (59:18) HEPA filters
- (1:00:52) Choose your clothing wisely
- (1:01:47) How to prevent release of microplastics (from laundry)
- (1:02:32) Receipts and thermal paper
- (1:04:17) Microplastic excretion and breakdown
- (1:06:28) Sulforaphane for detoxifying
- (1:08:38) Can dietary fiber increase microplastic excretion?
- (1:10:15) Are plastic chemicals excreted through sweat?
- (1:11:21)
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.