Did you know that microplastics have now been found in human blood, placenta, lung tissue and brain tissue? The particles are simply there, in places plastic should never have reached. What exactly the long-term health risks of microplastics are is a question that occupies scientists worldwide. The research is still in full swing, but the findings of recent years are concrete enough to take seriously.
This article explains what is known so far about how microplastics end up in your body, what they may do there in the long term, and which sources in your direct surroundings are easiest to remove. That last point is where it starts in practice for most people: in the kitchen.
How microplastics end up in your body
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimetres. They form when larger plastic objects break down over time, but also when plastic wears during use. A good example is the cutting board in your kitchen: every time you draw a knife across a plastic surface, microscopically small particles come loose.
Researchers at the University of North Dakota calculated in 2023 that a plastic cutting board can release up to 50 grams of microplastics per year into prepared food during normal use (Yadav et al., 2023). The scientists themselves described this as "an overlooked source." Up to 15 particles can be released per cutting stroke, directly onto the food you then eat.
The particles enter the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal tract, and from there they spread further. They also enter your body through inhaling fine dust. The smaller the particles, the deeper they penetrate. Nanoplastics, smaller than 1 micrometre, can even cross the blood-brain barrier.
Microplastics accumulating in organs: what the research shows
That microplastics are found in the human body is no longer theory. Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam showed for the first time in 2022 that there are microplastics in human blood (Leslie et al., 2022, Environment International). In 2024 the same research group confirmed the findings with a larger test group: plastic polymers were found in the blood of 64 of the 68 participants, including polyethylene, PVC and PET.
Earlier, Dutch researchers from the ZonMw Microplastics & Health programme had already discovered particles in the human placenta and in amniotic fluid. This means that unborn children can already be exposed before birth to microplastics passed on via the mother.
A study published in Nature Medicine (2025) examined brain tissue from 52 donors from 2016 and 2024. The concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics in the brain were significantly higher in 2024 than in 2016: the total amount of plastic had risen by around 50 percent in those eight years. In addition, considerably higher concentrations were found in people with dementia than in healthy people. That does not mean plastic causes dementia, but it is an observation researchers want to keep actively following.
The Dutch research consortium MOMENTUM, funded by ZonMw, continues this research and focuses specifically on the spread and possible consequences of microplastics in various organs and tissues.
Long-term health risks of microplastics for the heart and blood vessels
The most far-reaching study so far on the long-term health risks of microplastics appeared in March 2024 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researcher Raffaele Marfella and his team studied patients undergoing surgery in which plaque was removed from the carotid artery. Some of those patients turned out to have microplastics in their arterial plaque, others did not.
The two groups were then followed for more than two years. Patients with microplastics in their artery wall had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death than patients without (Marfella et al., N Engl J Med 2024;390:900-910). This is the first time a direct link between microplastics and a serious health effect in humans was demonstrated in a clinical study.
This is an association, not a proven causal link. But it is the strongest indication so far that long-term exposure to microplastics can have consequences for cardiovascular health. Scientists agree that more research is urgently needed.
Microplastics and hormone disruption: the role of BPA and phthalates
Plastic is rarely pure plastic. During production, all kinds of additives are added: plasticisers, stabilisers, colourants. Many of those substances, including bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, are known as endocrine disruptors. They can disrupt the endocrine system, the system that regulates hormones.
The consequences of hormone disruption by microplastics are still the subject of active research in humans. Laboratory and animal studies indicate that these substances can leach from microplastics and affect reproductive functions, metabolism and development, particularly in young people who are still growing (source: strongme.nl, based on several reviews, 2025). A 2023 review pointed to possible effects on the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the thyroid: the brain centres that control hormones.
How great the risk is at the everyday exposure of the average consumer, science does not yet know. But the direction of the evidence is consistent: endocrine-disrupting substances are present in plastic, they can be released into food, and they are being found in ever higher concentrations in the human body.
What microplastics do to your gut
Part of the discussion about microplastics accumulating in organs takes place in the digestive system. Research indicates that microplastics can disrupt the composition of the gut flora. That is relevant, because the gut flora plays a role not only in digesting food, but also in how the immune system works and even in communication between the gut and the brain via the so-called gut-brain axis.
A 2025 study (PMC11980920) examined mice exposed to amounts of microplastics comparable to what a plastic cutting board releases during normal use. The results showed inflammatory reactions in the gut and shifts in the composition of the gut flora. Whether these effects occur in exactly the same way in humans at the amounts taken in in practice has not yet been definitively established. But the possible mechanisms have now been mapped out.
Plastic also does not break down in the body the way organic material does. The particles simply stay there. That is what worries scientists when they think about the consequences of years of daily exposure.
How relevant is the cutting board as a source?
There are many sources of microplastics in daily life: food packaging, drinking water, air, clothing. What makes the cutting board special is not that it is the biggest source, but that it is one of the most controllable sources. Getting rid of food packaging is not something you can do overnight. Replacing a plastic cutting board: you can do that today.
The cutting board is also a direct source: the particles end up straight on the food you then eat. No detour via water or air, but directly in the meal. That makes the cutting board an especially relevant place to start if you want to reduce your exposure to microplastics.
Want to read more about how the materials of different cutting boards compare in terms of hygiene and food safety? In the blog cutting board material comparison: plastic, wood, bamboo or stainless steel you will find an extensive, well-founded comparison. And if you specifically want to know what happens with bacteria and scratches on a plastic cutting board, the blog about plastic cutting board bacteria and scratches is also worth a read.
A cutting board without microplastics as a practical first step
A microplastic-free cutting board alternative does not have to be complicated. A stainless steel cutting board does not wear in the same way as plastic. Stainless steel is non-porous, does not release particles into food and contains no additives that can leach into food. The TitanChef stainless steel cutting board is made of food-grade 304 stainless steel: the highest consumer standard for kitchen contact.
In practical terms, little changes in the kitchen: you still cut on a sturdy, flat board. But the wear that is unavoidable with a plastic cutting board simply does not apply to stainless steel. No particles come loose when cutting.
The TitanChef PRO also has a non-slip rubber edge so the board stays firmly in place, and a raised rim that keeps juices on the board when cutting juicy meat or fruit. The TitanChef Original is a light, clean basic board for everyday use. Both are dishwasher safe, do not need oiling and last for years.
What Dutch science says
The Netherlands plays a prominent role in international research into microplastics and health. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC have been world leaders since the discovery of microplastics in human blood in 2022. The ZonMw-funded MOMENTUM consortium has now completed two rounds of research and started its third phase in 2025.
The consortium's message is consistent: knowledge about the exact health risks is still lacking, but follow-up research is urgently needed. That is not reassuring, but it is honest. The long-term health risks of microplastics are big enough to take seriously, small enough not to panic about, and concrete enough to take into account in your everyday kitchen.
Prevention is better than cure here, especially with sources you control yourself. The cutting board in your kitchen is one of them.
Looking for a cutting board without plastic? The TitanChef Original is made of 304 stainless steel and does not release microplastics.
Want to know more? Also read are microplastics harmful to your health?
Frequently asked questions about the long-term health risks of microplastics
Are microplastics from a plastic cutting board really harmful to your health?
Research by Yadav et al. (2023) shows that a plastic cutting board can release up to 50 grams of microplastics per year into your food during normal use. Whether and exactly how harmful that is in the long term is still being studied. The particles have, however, already been found in human blood, placenta, lung tissue and brain tissue. The precautionary principle speaks for itself: a source you can easily remove is worth tackling.
Can microplastics accumulate in your organs or blood?
Yes, this has now been confirmed in several independent studies. Researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam detected microplastics in human blood in 2022 and again in 2024 (Leslie et al., 2022, Environment International). Earlier Dutch studies also found particles in the placenta and amniotic fluid. A study published in Nature Medicine (2025) found microplastics in brain tissue, with the concentration rising by around 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.
Do microplastics disrupt your hormones in the long term?
Plastic contains additives such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates that are known as endocrine disruptors. These substances can disrupt the endocrine system, which may affect reproductive functions, metabolism and development. Whether and to what extent this really happens at the amounts people take in every day is still the subject of active research. Current insights do give reason for caution, especially for pregnant women and young children.
What do microplastics do to your gut and digestion?
There are indications that microplastics can disrupt the composition of the gut flora, which can affect your digestion and immune function. A 2025 mouse study (PMC11980920) in which animals were exposed to amounts of microplastics comparable to what a plastic cutting board releases showed inflammatory reactions in the gut and shifts in the gut flora. Whether these effects occur in the same way in humans at normal exposure has not yet been definitively established.
Can microplastics cause cancer or other serious diseases?
There is currently no proven causal link between microplastics and cancer in humans. What there is: a large clinical study in the New England Journal of Medicine (Marfella et al., 2024) found that patients with microplastics in their arterial plaque had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death than patients without. That is the strongest direct evidence so far of a health effect in humans. The science here is still at an early stage.
Are microplastics dangerous for babies or pregnant women?
There is reason for extra caution for pregnant women and young children. Microplastics have been found in the human placenta and in amniotic fluid, which means unborn children can already be exposed before birth. The Dutch government advises pregnant women to limit exposure to endocrine-disrupting substances as much as possible. Because young children take in relatively more via baby bottles and baby food, reducing plastic in their direct surroundings is especially worthwhile.
What is a safe alternative to a plastic cutting board?
A stainless steel cutting board is one of the most logical alternatives. Stainless steel does not wear in the same way as plastic, does not release particles into food and is non-porous, so bacteria and odours do not settle in. The TitanChef stainless steel cutting board is made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, is dishwasher safe and lasts for years without the wear that leads to microplastic release from plastic boards. Want to know more about which cutting board is the most hygienic? Then also read the blog are microplastics harmful to your health.
Conclusion
The science on the long-term health risks of microplastics is not complete yet, but what is already known gives enough reason to be alert. Microplastics are demonstrably present in human blood, organs and brain tissue. There are indications of possible effects on the heart and blood vessels, on the hormonal system and on the gut flora. The most direct link to health damage in humans has so far been found in cardiovascular patients with microplastics in their arteries (Marfella et al., NEJM 2024).
The sources that increase your exposure are partly in your own hands. The cutting board in your kitchen is one of the most direct: particles end up straight on the food. A cutting board without microplastics as an alternative, such as a stainless steel one, is a practical step you can take today.
Take a look at the TitanChef stainless steel cutting boards below and read more blogs on this topic.
