The Average American has already ingested 11 kg worth of microplastics, New Study Finds
Updated on April 17, 2025
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Fact checked by Linas Černiauskas, PhD Candidate
Image by WellnessPulse
WellnessPulse researchers analyzed most of the available, peer-reviewed scientific studies on microplastics and found that we ingest around 2.87 kg (6.3 lbs) of microplastics each decade.
The median age of a U.S. citizen is around 39 years, and by that time, they have already ingested around 11 kg of microplastics, according to the findings of the latest WellnessPulse study.
Luckily, most ingested microplastics don’t stay in the body. Still, when they do, their highest concentrations are found in the blood and the brain, raising questions about microplastics’ potential impact on health.
Due to plastic’s durability and widespread use, microplastics are now detected virtually everywhere — from the atmosphere and oceans to the food chain.
The WellnessPulse research team calculated how much plastic we ingest overall and the amount our bodies retain at different ages. They also looked into which body parts contain the most microplastics.
Data suggests that at least 17 organs and tissues contain microplastics: the blood, brain, breast milk, cardiovascular system, uterus, eye, heart, kidney, large intestine, liver, lungs, placenta, semen, small intestine, spleen, testicle, and tonsil.
The brain was found to have some of the highest microplastic concentrations, about 13 times higher than the kidney, which sits at the bottom of the top 10 list of organs and tissues containing the most MPs.
According to the WellnessPulse analysis, the average 10-year-old has already ingested 2.87 kg (6.3 lbs) of microplastic. The amount grows to nearly 23 kg (around 50 lbs) by 80.
It’s noteworthy that not all microplastics stay in the body. The average 10-year-old may retain 11.5 g (0.4 oz) of MPs, comparable to the plastic content of a small water bottle. By the age of 80, the body has accumulated almost 92 g (3.2 oz) of microplastics, worth nearly three 1.5 L plastic water bottles.
The WellnessPulse research team analyzed 20 studies evaluating the presence of microplastics in specific human organs and tissues. They extracted data on microplastic particle number, organ mass, or microplastic particle concentration measures manually and using AI tools.
Then, they aggregated data by averaging all the available data points to produce a single value, such as the concentration of microplastics in a specific organ.
Read the full methodology here.
How much microplastic do we ingest?
We may ingest and inhale large amounts of microplastics throughout our lives, but most don’t stay in the body. The WellnessPulse research team calculated how much microplastic the average American is exposed to and accumulates in their bodies throughout their lifetime.
An average 10-year-old has already ingested 2.87 kg (6.3 lbs) of microplastics, which is as much plastic as a lawn chair. However, the amount of MPs retained in the body at this age is 11.5 g (0.4 oz), comparable to the weight of a small plastic bottle.
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