Plastic makes you ill: Invisible danger for people and the environment

It's hard to imagine our everyday lives without plastic. Packaging, clothing, furniture, electronics - we encounter practical plastic everywhere. But the downside of the plastic age is becoming increasingly clear: plastic can make us ill. Not only through visible waste lying around, but above all through tiny particles and an almost unmanageable amount of toxic chemicals that end up in our bodies.

Microplastics and nanoplastics

Tiny plastic particles - known as microplastics and nanoplastics - are created through abrasion, decomposition or direct use in products. They are invisible, float in the air, end up in drinking water, in the sea and ultimately on our plates. Studies have already detected microplastics in numerous organs, in the blood and even in the placenta. The long-term consequences of this for the body have not yet been fully researched. However, evidence points to inflammation, cell damage and possible effects on the immune system.

Microplastics in care products

Particularly problematic: microplastics are not only released when packaging breaks down, but are also deliberately used in care products. They are used as fillers or film formers in shower gels, scrubs, creams and make-up. After use, the tiny particles end up directly in waste water. As sewage treatment plants are barely able to filter them out completely, they end up unfiltered in rivers and oceans. There they are ingested by fish and mussels - and later find their way back onto our plates.

These plastics are not necessary for skin care itself. Nevertheless, many conventional cosmetic products still contain microplastics, which is why consumers should take a close look when buying them.

Chemicals in plastic: a toxic cocktail of unknown proportions

In addition to the particles themselves, the numerous additives in plastics are an even greater danger. A recent international study involving the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) at ETH Zurich and the aquatic research institute Eawag showed that plastics contain more than 16,000 different chemical substances, at least 4,200 of which are classified as harmful to health or the environment.

These additives - plasticisers, flame retardants, UV absorbers and many more - make plastic stable, flexible and durable. However, they dissolve out of the material over time and enter the human body through food, drinking water, air or skin contact. Some have hormonal effects, can weaken the immune system or promote cancer. Particularly explosive: a large proportion of these chemicals have not yet been researched and their risks to humans and the environment are unknown.

In addition, many of these harmful substances are found in packaging, toys, cosmetics and care products. This means that consumers are almost constantly exposed to a complex mixture of toxic substances.

Environmental impact with feedback to us

Global plastic production has multiplied since the 1960s. A large proportion of this ends up in the environment - in landfill sites, in rivers and ultimately in the oceans. Animals mistake plastic for food, fall ill or die from it. The plastic then finds its way back to us via the food chain. This completes a cycle that not only jeopardises ecosystems, but also our own health.

Regulation and need for action

The EU plans to ban added microplastics in cosmetics from 2025, but this is not nearly enough. The sheer number of chemical additives in plastic and their unknown modes of action urgently call for stricter legal regulations and comprehensive research.

What everyone can do

• Avoid packaging waste: Use reusable bags, bottles and boxes.
• Prefer clothing made from natural materials, as synthetic fibres release microplastics when washed.
• Look for plastic-free cosmetics and care products when buying. Apps and seals (e.g. "Blue Angel", Natrue) can help.
• Avoid product samples from perfumeries, drugstores, doctors' surgeries and pharmacies.
• Utilise recycling opportunities and consistently separate plastic.

Conclusion

Plastic is practical, versatile and an integral part of the modern world - but it comes at a high price. Invisible microplastic particles and tens of thousands of toxic additives jeopardise our health and have a severe impact on the environment and animals. What is particularly bad is that many of these substances have hardly been researched to date and the risks are therefore underestimated. The future should not make us ill. It is therefore essential to reduce the use of plastic, develop safe alternatives and break the cycle of production and waste.

Sources:

https://www.srf.ch/radio-srf-1/neue-studie-plastik-als-risiko-tausende-chemikalien-und-kaum-kontrolle

Wagner et al. (2025): "PlastChem" study, Empa & Eawag, "More than 16,000 chemicals in plastics, with over 4,200 hazardous".

Article SRF Radio: "New study - Plastic as a risk: thousands of chemicals and hardly any control" (2025).