Study Shows Participants Halved Plastic-Related Chemicals in Blood in One Week

An Australian study published in Nature Medicine this year found that participants were able to reduce levels of certain plastic-related chemicals in their urine by half after one week of targeted changes to their diet and household products. The research recruited 211 people and surveyed their recent consumption of food, use of personal care items, and home environments before conducting urine and nasal tests.

Every participant was found to be excreting at least six different plastic-related chemicals. More than 61 percent had detectable levels of BPA in their nasal passages. Researchers replaced the diets of some participants with food that had never come into contact with plastic.

The food was supplied by 150 farmers across the country, with fragile items shipped wrapped in wool rather than plastic. Other participants received plastic-free kitchen utensils, paper liners for refrigerator drawers, or low-plastic bathroom products such as deodorant and toothbrushes.

Changing to a low-plastic diet reduced phthalate levels in urine by 37 to 44 percent in one week. BPA levels fell by 51 percent. Adding changes to kitchenware and bathroom products produced further reductions.

One participant described difficulty sourcing berries, which are sold only in plastic packaging in Australia despite being available in cardboard elsewhere. The study identified packaged and highly processed foods as the strongest predictor of plastic-chemical levels in urine.

Each additional tin can of food consumed daily was associated with a 14.3 percent increase in BPA concentrations. Associations were also found between the use of bathroom products such as skin creams and shampoos and higher chemical levels. The research team noted that plastics are used throughout the food production process, including in hydroponic glasshouses, processing machinery, and final packaging.

The study shows that individuals can reduce their exposure to plastic-related chemicals but also demonstrates the scale of the challenge. The largest reductions occurred among those who received food from the plastic-free supply chain, an option not available to the general public.

An umbrella review published in 2024 linked plastic-chemical exposure to various health risks, particularly for children. Australia's food safety regulator has stated that current levels of BPA and phthalates in food are low and unlikely to pose a risk to consumers.

The research indicates that government measures, such as a global treaty to reduce plastic production, could have a greater effect than individual efforts alone. Such a treaty effort faltered last year amid opposition from oil-producing countries.