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Reducing Exposure (Microplastics)

TL;DR

something.

Heat is the primary problem, especially with food and drink preparation, cooking and consumption.

Zero exposure is impossible.

Particles do travel in the air - HEPA required to filter such small particles.

It's up to you the amount of effort and cost you are willing to bear weighed against the level of exposure reduction. The 80/20 (aka Pareto principle) rule roughly applies - you'll get the greatest exposure reduction for a fairly minimal cost and effort investment. In rough order from easy and cheap to complex and expensive, here's a number of ways you can reduce your exposure to microplastics;

  • don't use cling film if it's going to touch food, use foil instead
  • switch plastic water bottles to metal ones
  • replace plastic cups with glasses
  • replace your kettle with one that has an all metal interior
  • use glass food storage containers
  • use glass, metal, wood and/or silicon kitchenware and utensils (metal or glass bowls, wooden chopping boards and wood, metal or silicon utensils)
  • avoid tinned/canned/tetrapaked food if fresh alternatives are available - note tins are lined with plastic internally
  • filter your water with a water filter jug
  • use uncoated (without a non-stick coating) stainless steel pots and pans
  • use an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
  • buy clothing and bedding made of natural materials (cotton, denim, leather, linen, mohair, silk, wool) - throw away the polyester
  • replace your coffee machine with one that doesn't use plastics in any parts that carry or store water - these can be hard to find but here's an example (still with a plastic water tank): Ratio Eight Coffee Machine
  • replace your air conditioning filter(s) with HEPA grade ones
  • filter your water by installing one or more under sink water filters or a whole house water filtration system