In the 1950s plastic was introduced as a revolutionary material. Since then, its production has skyrocketed to over 8 billion tons produced to date. But most of that plastic is accumulating in our natural environment, because Plastics don’t break down like organic materials do. They just Break into smaller and smaller fragments we call microplastics and nano-plastics.
And, at the current rate of production it is estimated that by 2035 the amount of plastic in the environment will double, compared to2024.
Nano-plastics are far smaller than the cells in our bodies. So small that they are measured in Nanometers, which is a Billionth of a meter. That is the realm of molecules and bacteria.
To put it in perspective, a nano-plastic fragment is about 100 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Nano-plastics are everywhere, and we now know that they enter our body in the food we eat the water we drink and even the air we breathe. Fruits, vegetables, meat, fish,and all of the raw ingredients we use to make our meals contain nano and microplastics.
And that’s how these nano-plastics are invading our bodies.
Nano-plastics are particularly concerning because they are able to cross internal biological barriers, like the Blood-Brain Barrier, or BBB. The BBB is a extremely selective system in our central nervous system that separates blood from the brain’s fluids. It plays a vital role in protecting it from foreign substances in the blood that could damage it and it’s normally only crossed by oxygen and nutrients. Well, according to recent studies, Nano-plastics are able to fool the systems and make it across the BBB, into our brains. That is how they found their way into our brain cells, as well as into our livers, kidneys, placenta, ovaries and testicles, and even breast milk.
Plastics carry harmful chemicals into our bodies which may be leading to the increase in a number of chronic diseases, but the brain is particularly concerning because scientists recently discovered that concentrations of nano-plastics in the brain are increasing at a much higher rate than in other organs.
In Fact, A recent study by Scientists of Duke University and University of New Mexico, published in March of 2025, concluded that these concentrations rose by roughly 50 percent in the eight-year period between 2016 and 2024.
They estimated that The Human Brain May Contain as much as a Spoon’s Worth of tiny plastic shards—not a spoonful, but the same weight (about seven grams) as a plastic spoon. They also found that Microplastic levels were 7 to 30 times higher in brain tissue than in the liver and kidney tissues.
And concentrations in the brain of patients diagnosed with dementia are much higher than in patients with no dementia. Although they don’t stablish a direct connection, you should come to your own conclusions.
And I have yet to encounter a single human being who says, ‘There’s a bunch of plastic in my brain and I’m totally cool with that.
Now, it is clear that plastics are not just a human health problem, but a planetary one. They affect all living species and their environment, and are embedding themselves in the food chain
🌱The solution… Support low-waste products
About 550 million shampoo and conditioner bottles are discarded every year in the US alone. That’s about 26 million pounds of plastic that will turn into micro and nano plastics in the next few years.
Which is why Consumers, manufacturers, and policymakers must collaborate to find sustainable alternatives
On that regard,Solid shampoo and conditioner bars are gaining momentumin the fight against plastic pollution and chemical contamination.
At Organica Eco Soaps’ we make compact shampoo bars that eliminate the need for plastic packaging, offering an eco-friendly option, with minimal and compostable packaging, reducing the environmental impact ** from production to disposal **.
In addition, our Shampoo Bars contain natural ingredients, are biodegradable, without harmful chemicals, reducing the introduction of pollutants into water systems.
And what’s even better, they are easy in your pocket. A single 3 oz shampoo bar can last 2 ½ to 3 times longer than a regular shampoo bottle.
In summary, the environmental toll of plastics in the environment is a challenge that demands urgent attention.
To this regard, the rise of solid shampoo and hair conditioner bars looks like a promising solution, offering a plastic-free and environmentally conscious option that requires an adjustment to our common practices.
I encourage everyone to support these alternatives to contribute to a more sustainable future, and help and alleviate the environmental consequences of plastic pollution.
