Testing my microplastics level

What do the results mean?

I am worried about the impact of microplastics - well, nanoplastics - on the body. Studies show that they are incorporated into atherosclerotic plaques, the brains of Alzheimer's patients, arthritic joints, tumors, and uterine fibroids. [ref][ref][ref][ref]

Studies that have come out in the last few years have made me concerned enough about the negative effects on healthspan and longevity. It's convinced me to actually make changes and then to test my blood for microplastics.

Here’s what I did - and what the blood test shows…

Changes that I’ve made to get rid of plastic:

I have been working for over six months to get plastic out of my kitchen. While I hadn't microwaved in plastic containers in years, I still had a lot of plastic in contact with food. For example, pantry items stored in plastic bags that looked like they had seen better days - with the dawning realization that a tattered plastic bag loses its integrity by adding tiny bits of plastic to my food.

I now have a collection of glass jars, large and small, that hold pantry ingredients like sugar, flour, spices, and other staples. If it was in a plastic bag or container, it’s now stored in glass. And no, I’m not posting any pics of a fabulous, Instagram-looking pantry… I used mismatched glass jars from garage sales and thrift stores. They work great, and I didn’t spend a lot.

Plastic bags are no longer welcome in my kitchen. I’ve switched to resealable silicone bags (Amazon links) for storing odds and ends in the fridge. I really like them and would use them even if I wasn’t trying to replace plastic. My salt and pepper grinders are no longer plastic - replaced with inexpensive wooden mills with ceramic grinders. My plastic cutting boards are gone (off to the workshop to be reused there), and I'm actually using some wood cutting boards that I've been saving for years because I thought they were too beautiful to use.

I often buy meat in bulk and break it down into smaller amounts to freeze using a vacuum sealer. I now wrap everything in PFAS-free parchment paper before vacuum-sealing it to keep the meat from contacting the plastic. (PFAS tests of parchment paper brands)

I’ve joined the crowd and carry a Stanley tumbler everywhere. OK, it’s not a real Stanley - smaller, different brand - but I do take it when traveling for any ‘to-go’ drinks. Plus, I now bring a coffee mug along when traveling to use for hotel coffee. I’m avoiding hot beverages in paper coffee cups (which are lined with a plastic film).

A big source of nanoplastics are fibers from polyester or synthetic fabrics. These end up as dust in the house, and I’ve stepped up my cleaning and dusting a bit. I also close the laundry room door when running the dryer.

Where am I still exposed to plastics? Milk and other liquids in plastic, synthetic fibers, contamination in the food supply, and airborne particles.

Taking the test:

I did a microplastic / nanoplastics test from Blueprint, which is part of Bryan Johnson’s “Don’t Die” outfit. It was $135 (find it here), and came in the mail fairly quickly.

The kit came with a card with a spot for your blood sample, along with a wicked little metal lancet for pricking your finger and a stamped envelope for returning the blood spot. Regular lancets, like you would use for a blood glucose test, are encased in plastic and could add plastic to your results.

I registered the kit, mailed the blood spot back, and got an email about a week later that they had received the kit. Then, I got an email that they were processing the test and that the results would be ready in 1-2 weeks. Four weeks later, I got an email saying that there were updates added to my report, along with a link to log in. I feel like I missed getting an email with the initial results somewhere along the way - or maybe they were overwhelmed since the Bryan Johnson Don't Die documentary was released on Netflix during that time.

What I didn’t like:
Somehow, registering the lab test kit signed me up for a “Don’t Die” app login and account with my phone number associated with it for 2-factor authentication. The Don’t Die app/website feels like a social media site (posts, events, shop) - with a dropdown where you can find your lab test results. I don’t like it… but that’s just me.

My results:

The test results give the number of plastic particles per size range. I had a few nanoplastic-sized particles detected in the small spot of blood. The report does not include information about the type of plastic (e.g., PVC or polystyrene).

However, the report does give some context by showing how your results compare to a reference population based on 1,000 samples. I'm guessing that the reference population here is made up of people who are very interested in their health and focused on longevity - and therefore early adopters willing to shell out $135 for a microplastics test. I don't know how that compares to the general population.

My results showed that I'm in the bottom quartile (of a group that is probably already well aware of the microplastic problem).

My efforts to reduce plastic exposure are paying off! Or maybe not…

A major contributing factor may be that I live in the middle of nowhere with low exposure to airborne particles and have a reverse osmosis filter for my drinking water. Living in the middle of nowhere also means that I rarely eat take-out food in plastic-lined containers, which new studies show is likely a major contributor.[ref][ref][ref] It may be that my efforts to reduce plastic in the kitchen have minimal impact. Hard to know.

What about you?

I would love to hear in the comments if any of you have tips or ideas for reducing your exposure to nanoplastics!

I would also love to see real studies on how synthetic fabrics influence nanoplastic levels in the body. I'm moving towards natural fabrics for clothing, but I don’t want to get rid of my current clothes that contain synthetic fibers without a quantifiable reason.

* The Amazon links are affiliate links, so I will get a little Amazon credit if you buy something. But please shop around, read reviews, and don’t buy based just on my links.