Microplastics are Everywhere: How Much Are We Ingesting?
Microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—have infiltrated our environment, showing up in everything from seafood to drinking water and even the air we breathe. A question that’s been buzzing lately is: just how much microplastic does the average person ingest each year? The answer is both surprising and uncertain, with estimates ranging widely due to the complexity of tracking these minuscule pollutants. Let’s dive into the latest research to unpack what we know, what we don’t, and what it all means.

Particle Counts: A Clearer Picture
While mass estimates are tricky, counting microplastic particles offers a more concrete metric. A 2019 study in Environmental Science & Technology by Cox et al. analyzed 26 studies on microplastics in fish, shellfish, salt, sugar, beer, water, and urban air. Their findings suggest the average person ingests 78,000 to 211,000 microplastic particles per year when considering diet, drinking water, and inhalation. This range is likely an underestimate, as it only covers about 15% of caloric intake, leaving out foods like bread, dairy, meat, and vegetables.

Here’s a breakdown:

• Diet alone: 39,000–52,000 particles per year, depending on age and sex.
• With inhalation: 74,000–121,000 particles annually.
• Bottled water: Adds up to 130,000 particles per year for those who rely on it, compared to just 4,000 from tap water.

A 2019 report from The Guardian aligns with this, estimating at least 50,000 particles from food and another 50,000 from breathing, totaling around 100,000 particles annually. These numbers highlight how pervasive microplastics are, but they also underscore the gaps in our understanding of all exposure sources.

What Drives Microplastic Exposure?
Not everyone ingests the same amount of microplastics. Your diet, lifestyle, and environment play a big role. Here are the key factors:

• Seafood: Lovers of mussels or other shellfish may consume up to 11,000 particles yearly from these sources alone, as microplastics accumulate in the animals’ digestive systems (National Geographic, 2025).
• Bottled water: Contains about 94 particles per liter, potentially adding 90,000 particles annually compared to tap water’s 4,000 (The Guardian, 2019).
• Urban living: City dwellers inhale more microplastics due to higher air pollution, with studies estimating 9.8 particles per cubic meter of air. Adults breathing 16 cubic meters daily face significant exposure (Environmental Science & Technology, 2019).
• Global trends: Microplastic consumption has risen sixfold since 1990, with higher rates in regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Scandinavia (Health Policy Watch, 2024).

Are Microplastics Harmful?
The health impacts of microplastics are still under active investigation and no one really knows the answer yet.” Preliminary research suggests particles detected in human blood, lungs, liver, and even brains (National Geographic, 2025), but conclusive evidence of harm is lacking. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report warns of a possible “plastic health crisis,” but scientists agree more data is needed to understand long-term effects. However, what is clear is that “Plastics Don’t Belong in Your Body”

The Bottom Line
The average person likely ingests 78,000 to 211,000 microplastic particles per year, with mass estimates ranging from 5.2 to 260 grams annually. While the long-term health risks are still unclear, the pervasiveness of microplastics is a wake-up call to address plastic pollution. As research evolves, we’ll get a clearer picture—but for now, it’s safe to say microplastics are an unwelcome part of our daily diet.

Sources for further reading

• Cox et al., Environmental Science & Technology (2019): Human Consumption of Microplastics
• The Guardian (2019): People Eat at Least 50,000 Plastic Particles a Year
• National Geographic (2025): Microplastics in Food
• World Economic Forum (2025): [Microplastics in the Food Chain](https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/02/how
• Health Policy Watch (2024): Microplastic Consumption Trends