Okay, imagine this: you are sipping water on a hot summer day from a plastic water bottle: feels refreshing, right?
But is it?
What if I tell you, you might be ingesting toxic plastic particles unknowingly and no, they aren’t just sitting in your body… they might sneak into your cells, interfere with your DNA, and change the way your genes work.
Let me introduce you to microplastics,….. Never heard of the term before!
Don’t worry, by the end of this article, you will get to know exactly what microplastics are and why they are a hazard to our DNA.
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Key Topics:
Microplastics and DNA damage:
Microplastics are tiny, broken pieces of plastic – so small that we can’t even see them with the naked eye. They come from things like larger plastic items breaking down– like plastic bags, bottles, containers, and even synthetic clothes.
And microplastics are everywhere, like literally, in our water, our food, the air we breathe, even sea salt, toothpaste and cosmetics.
You might be thinking this is just another conspiracy theory, but no, it is not.
Let’s understand it scientifically,
In recent years, there has been growing attention from researchers across the world to uncover how microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) don’t just pollute the environment — they can also be very harmful for our DNA and interfere with our genetic machinery.
One recent review published in the journal Cells (2024) states that exposure to MNPs leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ROS are toxic leftovers–unstable molecules that can cause damage to our cellular macromolecules, such as our DNA, proteins and lipids.
At low levels, ROS are normal and even useful. But when their levels spike due to microplastic exposure, they become a problem. One of their primary targets is DNA, causing breaks in the DNA strands and even disrupting the cell’s natural repair processes.
In the study, the researchers found that the proteins that normally fix DNA, such as 53BP1 and γ-H2AX, were found at lower levels after microplastic exposure.
Over time, this DNA damage can interrupt the cell cycle, cause premature cell aging, and increase the risk of diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and heart problems.
And in some cases, there is also a risk of effects in reproductive cells, resulting in the genetic effects being passed on to future generations.
Let’s understand this better by taking the example of an MNP that is commonly found in disposable plastic cutlery and cups, styrofoam packaging (used for containers, take-out boxes), packaged peanuts, foam trays and even in some cosmetic containers–polystyrene. These materials can release polystyrene MNPs when heated or exposed to the sun for a longer time.
Polystyrene is made from styrene, a petroleum-based chemical. When this plastic breaks down, it forms polystyrene nanoparticles(PS-NPs).
A study published in the journal Helion focuses on the possible genotoxicity and cytotoxicity that can be caused by polystyrene. These particles are small enough to penetrate our cells easily.
In this study, the researchers exposed HeLa cells (a widely used cell line for scientific experiments) to PS-NPs. They observed that the nanoparticles not only disrupted normal cellular structures but also triggered genetic instability by forming micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities – both of these are markers of DNA damage resulting in apoptosis (programmed cell death).
I hope you now understand what microplastics can do to our DNA.
Related article: 7 Daily Tech Habits That Might Be Hurting Your DNA and How to Avoid Them
Article takeaway
It’s time that we rethink some of our daily habits and pause before reheating our food in plastic containers, drinking from the water bottles that was kept out in sun and enjoying beverages that are packed and stored in plastic bottles for god knows how long–these actions can accelerate the release of toxin plastic particles into our cells and most importantly our DNA.
And it doesn’t stop at food containers–microplastics have been found in sea salt, seafood, honey, and even in the air we breathe.
Scientific evidence shows their presence from oceans to our kitchen shelves.
Wrapping up
Plastics are no longer just a pollution threat to our environment–they are also a threat to our cells and our DNA.
And we know by now that DNA damage can trigger inflammation, disrupt hormonal balance, and potentially lead to long-term health issues like cancer.
Although studies are yet to prove whether the damage caused by these microplastics and nanoplastics to our genes can pass on to our future generations or not, we still need to be cautious, because it might.
So, the next time you grab a plastic packaged meal or sip water from a plastic water bottle, I hope this article echoes in your mind and you remember that it’s not just plastic; it is a compound that has the potential to alter your genes.
It’s high time that we take plastic exposure seriously – not just for the planet, but for the protection of our own biology.
Works Cited
Feola, Antonia, et al. “Polystyrene Nanoparticles Induce DNA Damage and Apoptosis in HeLa Cells.” Heliyon, vol. 11, no. 1, 18 Dec. 2024, pp. e41298–e41298, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41298. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Mahmud, Faiza, et al. “Molecular and Cellular Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Focus on Inflammation and Senescence.” Cells, vol. 13, no. 21, 29 Oct. 2024, pp. 1788–1788, https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13211788.
