How Microplastics Are Sneaking Into Your Body — Even Through Gum

We live in a world surrounded by plastic — from food packaging to clothing fibers, and shockingly, even in something as innocent-looking as chewing gum. But what many of us don’t realize is that plastics don’t just pollute the planet; they are slowly polluting us.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, often invisible to the naked eye. They come from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are manufactured intentionally for products like scrubs and toothpaste (although many countries have started banning them). These tiny fragments are now found everywhere — in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.

A Hidden Source: Chewing Gum

Most commercial chewing gums are made from a synthetic rubber base — essentially plastic. According to a study by the Journal of Hazardous Materials (2021), the gum base contains polymers such as polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate, the same materials used in plastic bags and glue. Chewing gum doesn’t just sit in your mouth harmlessly — small particles can be released, swallowed, and end up in your gut.

How Much Plastic Are We Eating?

In 2019, a study published in Environmental Science & Technology estimated that the average person could be ingesting between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles per year, depending on their diet. If we include inhalation, this number could rise to over 74,000 particles annually.

To give you a clearer picture:
🔹 That’s equivalent to about a credit card’s worth of plastic — every week.
(Study: WWF International, 2019 — commissioned by the University of Newcastle, Australia)

Now imagine swallowing 52 credit cards a year.

Where Does It Go?

Microplastics have been found in human blood, lungs, placenta, breast milk, and even deep inside organs like the liver and kidneys. A 2022 study in Environment International detected microplastics in the bloodstream of 77% of tested individuals.

These particles don’t just pass through; they can remain in the body and trigger inflammation, disrupt hormones, and potentially increase the risk of cancer. The long-term effects are still under investigation, but the early signs are alarming.

What Can You Do?

1. Read labels – Avoid gum with “gum base” or ingredients you can’t pronounce.

2. Choose natural gum – Some brands use chicle (a natural tree sap) instead of synthetic rubber.

3. Reduce plastic use – Especially single-use plastics and packaged foods.

4. Filter your water – Home filters can reduce microplastic intake.

5. Support plastic-free initiatives – Individual change matters, but systemic change is powerful.

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The bottom line? You might not see it, taste it, or feel it — but plastic is making its way into your body, one tiny piece at a time. Even in something as simple as a piece of gum. Awareness is the first step toward change.