Microplastics: Long-Known Concerns and Modern Challenges

Scientists are slowly uncovering the damage tiny plastic particles cause to human health. However, documents reveal that chemical companies were aware of these risks decades ago. This information was first shared during a 1974 scientific meeting in New York City where Gerhard Volkheimer, a German gastroenterologist, presented his findings on microplastics.

Volkheimer demonstrated that these minute plastic particles could pass through the intestinal walls. This discovery showed that plastics such as PVC could travel to vital organs like the brain and liver. His research illustrated that not only PVC, but also polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET could migrate in human bodies. These findings connect microplastics to ailments such as heart disease, inflammation, and cancer.

An executive described this research as a “horror story,” highlighting industry anxiety about microplastic contamination. Despite this, chemical companies continued producing plastics for food packaging.

Internal documents have shown industry awareness since the 1970s. However, Tracey Woodruff, a Stanford epidemiology professor, compared this situation to other industries ignoring their pollutants.

The Meeting’s Impact

In 1974, concerns about vinyl chloride emerged when rare liver cancer cases appeared among PVC factory workers. Federal agencies were under-equipped to deal with this health crisis. The myth of PVC safety crumbled, even as regulators and companies had deemed these materials safe.

Renowned toxicologist Irving Selikoff convened a meeting to address these workplace hazards. The event gathered industry and governmental figures, but Volkheimer’s presentation went largely unnoticed by government scientists. His explanation of microplastic travel through the body was dismissed, though industry executives took note.

Long-term Industry Awareness

Though Volkheimer’s work was largely forgotten in public health, companies such as Firestone, Shell, and Union Carbide documented and discussed his findings internally. They recognized plastic’s potential to accumulate in human tissues over time.

The chemical industry has expressed skepticism about microplastic research. According to Craig Davis from the American Chemistry Council, evidence does not show human harm. Despite internal concerns, the industry requested more research for concrete conclusions.

Pharmaceutical Interest

While Volkheimer’s work faded from public health discussions, it gained attention in the pharmaceutical field. Companies utilized his findings to enhance drug absorption research. Interest revived in the 1990s, though mainly in drug development contexts.

Volkheimer’s contributions resurfaced in environmental and marine biology fields. His work appeared in various reports, including those by the World Health Organization.

Modern Microplastic Research

The current microplastic research field began formally in 2018 with the discovery of these particles in human feces. Since then, researchers have identified them in various tissues, necessitating laws like California’s mandate to monitor microplastics in drinking water.

Campen, from the University of New Mexico, emphasizes the increase in global plastic accumulation compared to Volkheimer’s era. Although earlier research focused on particle transfer, today’s concerns revolve around the expansive spread of plastics.