How to reduce your household's exposure to microplastics?

Use a water filter that removes microplastics. Reverse osmosis systems remove up to 99.9% of microplastics. Activated carbon filters (Brita, PUR) remove a significant portion. Avoid drinking from single-use plastic bottles, which shed microplastics into the water.

Switch food storage from plastic to glass containers (Pyrex, Anchor Hocking) and stainless steel containers (LunchBots, ECOlunchbox). Never heat food in plastic — microwaving and dishwashing plastic accelerates breakdown and microplastic release into food.

Synthetic clothing (polyester, nylon, acrylic) sheds microfibers in every wash. A Filtrol ($140) or Cora Ball ($38) catches microfibers before they enter the water supply. Each wash of synthetic clothes can release hundreds of thousands of plastic fibers.

When buying new clothes, choose cotton, linen, wool, hemp, or silk over polyester, nylon, and acrylic. Natural fibers biodegrade and do not shed plastic microfibers. Check the fiber content label before purchasing.

Household dust contains significant amounts of microplastics from synthetic carpets, furniture, clothing fibers, and plastic products. Regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum and wet-mopping hard floors removes microplastic-laden dust before it becomes airborne and inhaled.