Microplastics in Poop: The Diet Connection to Inflammation

The Plastic in Your System

A 2026 study published in Environmental Health Prev Med found a median of 7.20 microplastic particles per gram of stool in healthy adults. Researchers linked these findings to specific dietary habits, noting that seafood intake was higher in participants with the highest concentration of plastic particles. You can read the full study here.

Inflammation and Your Daily Intake

The study revealed that individuals with high microplastic density showed significantly elevated levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine linked to inflammatory responses. The particles identified were primarily polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), the exact plastics commonly used in food packaging. This suggests that the way we store and package our food is directly contributing to the plastic load in our digestive tracts.

How to Reduce Your Exposure

You cannot control the entire food supply chain, but you can control what touches your food at home. Stop using plastic containers for hot food and ditch the plastic cutting boards that shed particles every time you use a knife. Switching to glass, stainless steel, or solid wood is the simplest way to cut down on unnecessary plastic ingestion. We have curated a selection of non-toxic kitchen alternatives to help you replace your plastic gear with safer, durable materials.

Source: Tsuji M, Ishitsuka K, Ishihara Y, Koriyama C, Takahashi M (2026). Environ Health Prev Med.