Microplastics could enter bone marrow and cause fractures, experts caution

Microplastics are everywhere—from toothpaste and clothing to bottled water and food packaging.

New analysis from Brazil highlights a worrying twist in the microplastics story: these particles, smaller than a grain of rice, may not just affect lungs or digestion, but also sneak into our skeletons.

According to the study, microplastics have the capacity to reach bone marrow and impair osteoclasts, the cells responsible for breaking down old bone tissue. This disruption could slow down bone renewal, making skeletons weaker and more vulnerable to fractures.

Why it matters beyond the pollution debate

For years, the health focus around microplastics has been on ingestion, lung exposure or hormonal disruption. Now the research puts bones in the line of fire too—especially worrying in an ageing world where osteoporosis, diabetes and inactivity already threaten bone strength. If microplastics are an environmental factor affecting bone metabolism, it opens a new front in public-health concern.

How exposure happens and what we can do

Microplastics are everywhere—from toothpaste and clothing to bottled water and food packaging. The Brazilian researchers suggest we can reduce exposure through simple steps: switch from single-use plastics, avoid polyester clothing, use filtered water and discourage burning or breakdown of plastic waste. Though definitive human studies are still pending, early evidence is strong enough to take precaution.

The takeaway

The skeleton isn’t exempt from the microplastics invasion. As we uncover more about how pervasive these particles are, it’s clear the threat isn’t just superficial—our bones may also be at risk. Paying attention to our plastic footprint might thus not just benefit marine life or air quality, but the very structure that keeps us standing.