‘I fought plastic. Plastic won.’

Annie Lowrey was worried that her skillets might kill her—specifically, her nonstick pans, coated with Teflon. A story about birds that died after breathing in the smoke from overheated Teflon pans was her wake-up call, so she threw her plastic-lined pans out. “Thus began my slowly escalating, dimly informed campaign to rid my body and life of plastics,” Annie wrote.

Scientists have found microplastics in the air, the water, and even human placenta. Polyester, a popular cheap material for clothing, has microplastics. Certain carpets and chewing gums do too. Though the effects of these microplastics on human health remain unclear, studies have shown that ingesting microplastics can lead to organ damage or predispose you to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Avoiding them in your daily life is possible—but it’s an expensive and arduous process to undertake.

“This past spring, I decided to see how long I could go without using plastic,” Annie wrote. “Eighteen minutes after waking up, I surrendered.”

Today’s newsletter brings you stories about the global microplastic problem:

• “‘I Fought Plastic. Plastic Won,’” by Annie Lowrey. Her futile quest to avoid the material that her entire world is made out of.

• “The Cost of Avoiding Microplastics,” by Zoë Schlanger. Even half measures are so expensive, they’re luxury goods. 

• “How Bad Are Plastics, Really?” by Rebecca Altman. They’re harmful to health, environment, and human rights—and now poised to dominate this century as an unchecked cause of climate change. (From 2022)

• “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula,” by Zoë Schlanger. It’s probably leaching chemicals into your cooking oil.

• “A Simple Solution for Keeping Microplastics Out of the Water Supply,” by Chris Baraniuk. The future could include lots of plastic-gobbling sponges. (From 2023)

— Stephanie Bai, associate editor