Expert reveals the five places in your home where you’re exposed to the most cancer-causing microplastics

American homes are riddled with DNA-damaging, cancer-fueling microplastics, and while some sources are obvious, such as plastic utensils, others are less suspecting.

Dr Paul Saladino, a wellness influencer and former psychiatrist, revealed in a recent video the top five places in your house where you are most exposed to microplastics, including places that are not so obvious. 

Saladino’s worst offenders include: paper coffee cups, plastic-lined teabags, cans, plastic cutting boards and baby bottles. Previously, he warned in a separate video that toothbrushes are also a major source of microplastics.

Scientists have found the tiny particles in bottled water, fruit juice, energy drinks and soft drinks. Microplastics have previously been found in tap water across many different states and countries, as well as in fruits, vegetables, meat, processed foods, hot tea and coffee and fish.

They are released when plastic linings in products like hot coffee cups, tea bags and baby bottles meet hot liquid. Cans also shed microplastics, as do plastic cutting boards.

The science of microplastics is new and continuously expanding. They are tiny plastic fragments, invisible to the naked eye or as large as 5 millimeters, that result from the degradation of plastic.

Research into their pervasiveness has found the particles in testicles, kidneys, the liver, placenta and even a newborn’s first bowel movement.

Previous research has found that the human brain contains 0.5 percent microplastics by weight, 7 grams, about the weight of a plastic spoon.

Microplastics have been implicated in the development of a long list of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, some cancers and early death.

Saladino said: ‘These are the five biggest sources of microplastics exposure in your life. These five things are causing you to ingest millions of microplastics, probably every day.’

While disposable cups are made of and feel like paper on the outside, they are lined on the inside with a thin layer of plastic to make them waterproof.  

When hot liquids are poured inside, the heat can cause this lining to degrade and shed microscopic particles, which are then immediately ingested.

Research has shown that a single-use cup can release thousands of microplastic particles, creating a direct and frequent exposure source.

Modern premium teabags, particularly those made from a silky-looking plastic mesh, often made of nylon, are a significant yet often surprising source of microplastics.

When steeped in boiling water, the high temperature accelerates the breakdown of the plastic polymers used to make the bags. 

Studies have shown that a single plastic teabag can release billions of nanoparticles into a single cup of tea, far exceeding the amount in tap water.

Many baby bottles are made from polypropylene, a durable type of plastic. When these bottles are subjected to standard sterilization processes, like boiling water, and then used to prepare formula with hot water, they can release millions of plastic particles per liter.

Infants are particularly vulnerable to inflammation from microplastics, hormonal disruption and neurodevelopmental issues, because of their low weight and their physiology.

Another surprising source of microplastics is canned goods. The interiors of most food and beverage cans are coated with an epoxy resin lining, often made with plastics containing the harmful chemical bisphenol, to prevent metal corrosion and preserve their contents.

But over time, and especially when the can includes acidic, salty or fatty foods, the lining can degrade, releasing microplastic and nanoplastic particles regardless of whether they are heated, which are then consumed.

Finally, the daily act of chopping food on a plastic cutting board, often made with polyethylene or polypropylene, is a major source of microplastics through direct abrasion with a sharp knife.

Each knife stroke shaves off tiny plastic flecks that become embedded in food. A person could ingest tens of millions of microplastic particles annually from this everyday kitchen staple alone.

This problem worsens over time as the board ages and develops cut grooves, increasing the surface area exposed to the knife’s edge and accelerating particle release.

Saladino said: ‘Reducing your exposure to microplastics will significantly improve your health.’

This is easier said than done, though. Microplastics have invaded every aspect of life and cannot be completely avoided. But people can reduce their exposure.

Recommendations include limiting single-use plastics, choosing glass or metal over plastic containers, avoiding plastic in food prep, like non-stick pans or microwaving plastic, washing synthetic clothes less often in cold water, choosing whole foods and filtering tap water.

Still, the global problem of microplastics appears to be worsening as they become increasingly common.

In February 2025, scientists from the University of New Mexico revealed an increase in microplastic pollution over time. For instance, individuals who passed away in 2024 had markedly greater levels of microplastics in their brains than those who died in 2016.

This trend was consistent in samples dating back to 1997, with more recent samples consistently showing higher contamination. Notably, the concentration of plastics found did not correlate with the age of the deceased.

However, this specific quantification has been met with skepticism from some specialists, who caution that certain natural fatty structures in brain tissue can be easily mistaken for plastic particles under a microscope.

In September, scientists at the University of Rhode Island found that micro- and nanoplastics can accumulate in the brain and trigger Alzheimer’s-like conditions.

Researchers specifically examined mice genetically modified to carry the APOE4 gene, a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s in humans, and exposed them to plastic particles in their drinking water. 

The results showed that male mice displayed increased apathy, while female mice showed significant memory impairment, mirroring behavioral differences observed in human Alzheimer’s patients.

Scientists are also investigating a potential link between microplastic exposure and heart health. 

A 2024 study based in Italy found that patients with microplastics detected in a major artery faced a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke or death within a three-year period.

Further, research from the University of California, Riverside showed that male mice subjected to microplastics developed an increased vulnerability to atherosclerosis, the dangerous arterial plaque buildup that can precipitate heart attacks and strokes.