Scientists tracking the “exposome” say microplastics, PFAS, and other contaminants have become ubiquitous in water, air, and even human organs.
David Wallace-Wells reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Researchers now detect plastic fibers from the Mariana Trench to human bloodstreams, with estimates suggesting brain tissue microplastics rose 50% in eight years.
- PFAS, phthalates, pesticide drift, and antibiotic-laden runoff spread through food, rain, and playgrounds, while fine-particle air pollution still kills millions annually despite cleaner air laws.
- Experts warn that even low individual doses accumulate across billions of people, linking the “contagion field” to cancers, dementia, pregnancy complications, and rising health costs.
Why this matters:
Modern life is awash in synthetic debris. Plastic polymers break into nanoscale shards that move like dust, crossing oceans on wind currents and lodging deep in lung tissue. PFAS coat food wrappers and firefighting foam, persisting for decades in groundwater and the human bloodstream. Agricultural runoff loaded with nitrogen, antibiotics, and pesticides fuels coastal dead zones and encourages drug-resistant bacteria. Fine soot from wildfires and diesel exhaust penetrates the blood–brain barrier, elevating risks of stroke and Alzheimer’s even at concentrations below current U.S. standards. The disease burden falls disproportionately on children, pregnant women, and communities near factories, yet no one can fully avoid the polluted haze. Understanding the scope of this silent infiltration is the first step toward meaningful accountability.
Related: Book excerpt: Detoxify
