By Dr. Suchitra Pilli | Thoughts on Innovation
When I tell patients that we’re all inhaling tiny pieces of plastic every day, the first reaction I get is usually disbelief. It sounds unbelievable, even to me as a physician. But it’s the reality we’re living in — and it deserves more attention.
We’ve long known microplastics are showing up in our oceans and the food we eat. But recent research is uncovering something even more startling: we’re probably breathing more plastic than we’re consuming through our meals. One major study in the U.K. estimates that the average person inhales the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of microplastics every single week.
Think about that for a moment — imagine a credit card’s size and weight. Now picture all those microscopic pieces of plastic making their way into your lungs. It’s not just an environmental issue anymore. It’s a health issue.
Microplastics are exactly what they sound like: tiny fragments of plastic, often smaller than a grain of rice. They come from countless sources — clothing fibers, carpets, furniture, packaging, even household dust. Over time, all those particles break down and become airborne. In fact, indoor spaces can have up to 45 times more microplastics than outdoor air. That means even when you’re inside your own home, you’re constantly exposed.
I meet many people who assume staying indoors keeps them safe from pollution. I wish it were that simple. The reality is, our homes and workplaces are often the main sources of these invisible contaminants. Every time you walk across a carpet, do a load of laundry or open a plastic container, more particles are released into the air you breathe.
As a physician, I’m concerned because we’re just beginning to understand what this exposure means for our health. Early studies suggest microplastics can cause chronic inflammation in the lungs and other tissues. Over time, that inflammation may contribute to respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease and potentially other conditions we haven’t even identified yet. While we don’t have all the answers, we have enough evidence to know this isn’t something to ignore.
Poor indoor air quality isn’t just about microplastics, either. Pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can have long-term impacts on our bodies. They don’t only affect our lungs — they can accelerate skin aging, reduce energy levels and even interfere with our immune system. In other words, the air you breathe plays a bigger role in your overall health than many people realize.
Here’s a perspective I often share with my patients: on average, each of us breathes about 2,900 gallons of air every day, that’s roughly the volume of a 10-foot round inflatable pool.
Obviously that’s far more than the amount of food or water we consume. Yet when you look at how much attention — and money — we devote to filtering our air compared to our food or water, there’s a massive gap. Many families spend thousands every year making sure their groceries are fresh and their drinking water is clean. But they might spend just a few dollars replacing a furnace filter.
I’m not sharing this to make anyone feel guilty or overwhelmed. My goal is to help people feel informed and empowered. The good news is, there are practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure to microplastics and improve the air quality in your home.
First, be mindful about ventilation. When weather permits, open windows to let fresh air circulate and dilute indoor pollutants.
Second, consider using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your HVAC system or a portable air purifier. HEPA filters can capture a significant percentage of microplastic particles, along with other allergens and irritants.
Third, take small steps to reduce sources of indoor plastics. Choose natural fibers for rugs and clothing when possible, avoid excessive plastic packaging and vacuum frequently using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Even these modest changes can make a meaningful difference over time.
I also encourage you to be proactive about your health. If you have respiratory symptoms that don’t improve — like chronic cough, wheezing or unexplained fatigue — talk to your doctor. We may not have all the data yet, but awareness is the first step in prevention.
We can’t solve the problem of microplastics overnight, but we can take steps to protect ourselves and our families. Clean air isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. Just as we make choices every day about what we eat and drink, we can also choose to breathe smarter.
The more we learn about microplastics, the clearer it becomes that we truly are what we breathe. My hope is that by shining a light on this issue, we can all start taking simple, meaningful actions to improve the air in our homes and, ultimately, our health.
Editor’s note: Dr. Suchitra Pilli is the director of Interventional Pulmonology with HonorHealth Heart Care, board certified in pulmonary, critical care and internal medicine, and is an associate professor of clinical practice at ASU’s School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering.
